Ink and Chocolate

We had planned an April post featuring two of our new products in a clever little segue from 

 Sweeteeth chocolate to Ink Dish tableware.

Irezumi: Inspired by classical Japanese tattoos. Cool and Classic.

Charleston's Johnny Battles gets almost as much press for his personal ink as he does for his decadent Sweeteeth chocolate and Ink Dish's Irezumi is designed by famed tattoo artist Paul Timman.

...and I put in hours of research in an effort to add substance to the post.

Mr. Lily's Favorite: Sea is for Caramel.

So what happened to our April post? Well, to be honest...we ate it.

Recommended Reading: Johnny Battle's Interview with Design Sponge

Not Just Another Tequila Sunrise

Perhaps a bevy of beauties doing the Charleston, on ice of course, would be a good way to announce the arrival of Jack Rudy Grenadine. The cocktail company's second product debuted just in time for Charleston's Wine and Food Festival and Old Road was ready with the very first batch (000001) stocked neatly on our shelves.

Nothing like the Red Dye #40 versions, Jack Rudy's grenadine is made with pomegranates (the french word for pomegranate is grenade) cane sugar, and orange flower water.

And though Jack Rudy's new and stylish website suggests some great retro classic cocktails to pair with their new elixir, Mrs. Lily has a classic of her own.

PHOTO LA MARY POSA

The Tequila Sunrise

Circa 1972

Immortalized by the Eagles and overindulged by the Rolling Stones.

No mixologist am I (taste tester is more my field of expertise) but a few simple tweaks to the original recipe (courtesy of a vintage Mr Boston Bartender's Guide) should please Cocktail Connoisseurs. 

Oh, and loose the toxic cherry. Maybe a curly orange peel?

2 oz. Tequila

4 oz. Fresh Orange Juice

3/4 oz. Jack Rudy Grenadine

Stir tequila and orange juice with ice, and strain into an ice filled highball glass. Add ice cubes. Pour in grenadine slowly and allow to settle. Before drinking, stir...and enjoy the sun rise.

Rockin Italia

Modern Rocker by Antonio Citterio for B& B Italia

So, who goes to Paris and comes back with inspiration from Italy? Mr. & Mrs. Lily do.

Our inspirations are unencumbered by geographical boundaries and enhanced by a few glasses of very good French wine. Wandering Rue du Bac we spied this fabulous Rocker in the window of the B&B Italia showroom. It was love at first sight. 

How lovely it would look in our spare all white Parisian apartment (parquet floors, elaborate molding). I would warn Mr. Lily not to spill his red wine while rocking to the sounds of retro and relaxing 

Italian Lounge Music...

Ah, but it is our imagination.

Let's now imagine Swedish born Italian designer Daniele Semeraro, and a good bottle of wine, in a small bar in Firenze, Italy.

What he imagined was a better glass.
The Sempli Cupa.

Designed to roll about whilst aerating your particular poison.

Stylish. Amusing. Practical.

We think it rocks.

Available at Old Road Mercantile

Workcation

The shop will be closed from January 6th through January 14th
We're off to fly the friendly skies in search of the next big thing.

Limited Edition Pan Am Cufflinks and Mr. Lily's signature Eyebobs at Old Road Mercantile

Mr. Lily, always a gentleman, will try to recapture the long lost luxury of air travel attired in his tailored french cuffed shirt (a no-iron Brooks Brothers which he will have starched anyway) and cufflinks created from the fuselage of a retired Pan American Boeing 707.
He'll probably take along a vintage paperback. I will suggest Dr. No.
The sixth novel in Ian Fleming's James Bond series was published in 1958, just months after the 707's inaugural intercontinental flight from New York to Paris.
Mr. Lily, barely surviving the harsh reality of modern air travel sans Pan Am, will emerge a day later, in Paris.
Wrinkle free. Shaken not stirred.