Cocktail Thursday: UAB Edition

If your Georgia Bulldogs are going to be fighting a let down, while facing a defending conference champion, and have literally no idea who will be starting at quarterback or any of the receiver position, you could probably use a drink. I can help you with that.

I have no idea whether JT Daniels will be able to go this weekend. At this point he may not either. As Dave noted in this morning’s Dawg Bites, anyone who’s suffered through an oblique strain knows that the sufferer is often the last person to know when it will get better. I still think there’s a pretty good chance that we see JT Daniels on Saturday. If we don’t, it likely means we will against South Carolina. Or Vanderbilt. At this point, I wouldn’t mind at all if JT got a week or two of fresh legs time before we head into the meat of the schedule.

That being said, I’m not going to freak out if it turns into the Carson Beck show. For one, it was probably a pretty safe bet that Georgia was going to try to establish the run in this game anyhow. For another, it’s worth remembering that we are already (due to injury in the receiving corps) starting most of the guys at receiver who Beck has been working with on the scout team since last spring. Might as well keep the band together on the big stage.

One of the interesting points from Kirby’s press availability this week was his explanation for why we may not see more of Kearis Jackson, Dominic Blaylock, and Jermaine Burton this week. Sure, part of it is getting those guys fully healthy and mentally ready for when they are needed. But we should not lose sight of the fact that Kirby pointed out that they have to pass guys like Ladd McConkey and Jaylen Johnson to get on the field. And through this fall those guys have put together a body of work that makes the coaches comfortable trotting them out there.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see one or more of Georgia’s current no-name receiving corps have a big day against the Blazers. If we can find and hit him, it may well be McConkey, who slipped silently into the rotation and sucked up a lot of snaps against Clemson.

And when [insert name of starting quarterback here] does hit Murray County’s answer to Randy Moss to draw first blood against UAB, I hope you’ll celebrate with....

A Vlad McConkey

It’s a bourbon cocktail with elegant subtlety and an unexpected punch thanks to the inclusion of blood oranges, a misunderstood and underestimated member of the citrus family.

Blood oranges aren’t as sweet as other oranges and if you expect them to be you will be disappointed. But their acidic bitterness works well in this drink in which they’re not expected to provide cloying sweetness. Tangerines are the citrus fruit preferred by five year olds. Blood oranges are a citrus fruit for those who have many fine oil paintings and chose a fourth favorite Faulkner novel in the 6th grade.

You’ll need:

• 1 and ¹⁄₂ ounces blood orange juice
• 2 ounces of bourbon (I like Buffalo Trace for it’s subtle sweetness and not overpowering oak notes in this recipe, but drink what you like)
• 2 and ¹⁄₂ ounces sour mix
• 1 ounce simple syrup

Give the blood orange a roll on the counter to break up the flesh and release the juice. Squeeze the juice into a cocktail shaker with the other ingredients and some ice. Shake it like DJ Uiagalelei’s confidence then strain into a glass and enjoy. Until later...

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

* This will also be the Open Thread for those enjoying Thursday night college football or NFL action. Y’all be nice and play pretty.