hey, bartender! with Brett Warnock from Sarah Morean on Vimeo.

Every story has its backstory, so they say. Take Lana Turner, who was just sipping a Coke before becoming a star. Or Abraham Lincoln, the simple rail splitter who grew to save the union. Why, even Brett Warnock was just a humble bartender before becoming an important comics publisher.

Warnock was mixing drinks for 12 years before Top Shelf took off, and it’s heartening to see that he hasn’t forgot his roots. His annual stint as bartender for the Isotope Award Ceremony is lucky indeed for the people who go, since it seems he hasn’t lost his touch. I’ll vouch for the margarita in this video — it was good.

Because we at the Cross Hatch want you to have an excellent liquor-filled weekend, here are a few variations on the trusty margarita from Warnock himself. Enjoy!

Margarita. (As per the video.)

• Salt rim of glass. Top with ice.
• In separate glass, add:
  • 1.5 oz tequila (i suggest Sauza Hornitos for mixing)
  • .5 oz triple sec
  • 1 oz. pure lime juice
  • splash of o.j.
  • 1 teaspoon superfine (bakers) sugar
• Shake vigorously in a cocktail shaker, pour, enjoy.

Margarita. (At home.)

• Same as above, but replace ingredients as follows:
• One half a ripe orange in place of o.j.
• One whole lime, cut in half, in place of lime juice
• Place ingredients in a mixing can and muddle before shaking

A toast!  To your health.

- Sarah Morean