Drink Recipe: “The Butterfly Sting”

This week in back in 1967, Muhammad Ali — a practicing Muslim — suffered a major blow in his battle to be recognized as a conscientious objector; a jury sentenced him to 5 years for draft-dodging. But Ali wouldn’t go down with out a fight… and we relive the battle in liquid form with a “mocktail” even the teetotaling Ali wouldn’t mind going a few rounds with.

RECIPE (c) 2009 Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, TheLiquidMuse.com

In a cocktail shaker, muddle:

• 1 thyme sprig
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice

Then add:

• 1 ounce honey syrup (1 part honey to 1 part water)
• 2 ounces apple juice

Strain into chilled martini glass and add:

• splash of club soda or nonalcoholic sparkling wine.

Lay another thyme sprig across the surface of the drink for garnish. Float like a butterfly… and sting like a butterfly.

After Dinner Mint

notes on this week’s show

For those (like us) who weren’t there, it’s hard to fathom the impact Muhammad Ali had back in the day — not just on sports, but on world culture and African-American pride. This documentary tells the tale in about two hours. UK band Faithless does the same in four minutes.

As mentioned in this week’s show, Anvil’s miraculous comeback will climax next month when they open for AC/DC at Giants Stadium. But we caught up with them at a humbler venue — L.A.’s Regency Fairfax movie theater. Following a packed screening of “Anvil: the Story of Anvil,” Lips et al kicked out a short set that left the crowd mildly deaf and very happy. Here’s the evidence.