Superman and God’s Cocktail Countdown to the New Year

The Woman Warrior

I chose this cocktail because a) the name reminded me of Wonder Woman, who is of course my favorite superhero, and b) because I probably haven’t had Blue Curaçao since college. According to the New York Bartender’s guide, you add 6 parts vodka, 2 parts Blue Curaçao, and 2 parts fresh lime juice, shake in a cocktail shaker with ice, and strain into cocktail glasses.

This prompted me to go to our local, family-owned liquor store to buy Blue Curaçao and engage in a spirited conversation about maskne1 and facial care with one of the sons.

When my husband got home from work, I asked if we had a cocktail shaker. In my mind, we had one of those shiny metal ones like you see in that one movie with Tom Cruise. Nope. We have a glass cocktail mixer from a secondhand store that you’re supposed to put a battery in. As I wash it (sans battery), I say, “I don’t know how this is supposed to work, but it looks like a good way to get electrocuted.” I proceeded to add the cocktail components and shake (not stir) for a slow count of 15, which is what I found on the internet after searching “How to use a cocktail shaker”. After dribbling Woman Warrior all over the floor - this is a cocktail mixer, NOT a shaker - I used a small sieve instead of a cocktail strainer to separate the liquid from the ice, making a further mess on the counter. Finally, the moment of truth arrived. After the first sip, I dumped some of the ice back into the glass - “This will do better with a little dilution.”

The verdict: It’s really tart with kind of a funky aftertaste. It sort of grew on me after a while, but that might have been the vodka talking. It kind of tastes like if you were to make a lime Skittles into a cocktail. My husband said it tasted like a Sprite version of rum and Coke, but without the carbonation.

Needless to say, I’m getting a cocktail shaker for Christmas.


1Acne created by wearing a mask during the pandemic.