barn-burner-4

My in-laws are driving in from Mississippi tomorrow night to spend a few days with us before they make their way to Kentucky for Thanksgiving, so we’ve spent the day scrubbing and scouring, dusting, mopping, mowing and laundering.

Giving the house something between a holiday cleaning and an exorcism.

It’s not that we’re slobs, but when you’re having houseguests, you want everything high and tight, right? You want them to feel comfortable and not wonder if maybe they should check for bedbugs. So, tomorrow I’ll pick up a Sunday paper and stock the fridge, and we’ll be finished.

But tonight is all about watching “Home for the Holidays” with an adult beverage.

Right now, I’m working on a hot mug of apple cider spiked with Southern Comfort and garnished with a cinnamon stick and lemon peel. A SoCo Barn Burner. The combination works, because the flavors in Southern Comfort – especially the peach, orange and cinnamon – dance with the apple in the cider, giving you a drink that’s sweet and fruity, with an undercurrent of trouble.

Just like Thanksgiving.

Southern Comfort Barn Burner

  • 8 ounces apple cider
  • 1.5 ounces Southern Comfort
  • Cinnamon stick
  • Lemon peel
  1. Gently heat cider on the stovetop or in the microwave.
  2. While the cider is warming, pour the Southern Comfort into a mug. Add cinnamon stick and lemon peel.
  3. Fill the rest of the mug with hot cider. Commence sippin’.