The Wednesday Tipple – Criminal Intent, Karma, and Bourbon with Spiced Apple

The thought of not being able to watch the Olympics on the BBC is making me consider turning to a life of download crime. Considering, mind, I’m not actually admitting to anything, just to be absolutely clear here.

My friend Kim said she could identify with this, but warned me that Kama may well catch up to me in unexpected ways. She downloaded a costume drama from a site based in Brazil. “At first it was great, and I loved watching it, but then the computer started crashing.” The computer, I should mention, actually belonged to her husband.

“After a few days of it shutting down on him in meetings, and writing over his powerpoints, he took it in to the company’s IT guy to see if he could fix it. He took a look and then said, probably not, the Brazilian Porn Download had totally wrecked it.”

At this point, her confused and embarrassed husband called her to see what the hell she’d been watching and why she hadn’t invited him to join her. Finding out it was The Borgias explained a lot.

“That doesn’t make it any better,” said the IT guy. “In fact, it makes it worse! My girlfriend is a costume designer. She works really hard at her job and you think you can just illegally download her work? You people make me sick! Seriously, do you just hate artists? Is that it? Do you hate artists? Do you?!”

The experience made Kim think. “I have friends who are actors, and writers, and artists. I don’t hate them!” To prove it, she bought me a drink.

Bourbon and Spiced Apple (per glass)

This is the kind of comforting, warming drink that perks up a spring evening of lashing rain, thunder and lightning. This is May, New York. Seriously.

• Put the ginger into a cocktail shaker and muddle it with a handful of ice
• Add the bourbon, lemon and apple juice and shake
• Strain into a glass and garnish with slices of apple