The Donkey’s Tail
In Which Eeyore Finds His Tail
“ ‘That Accounts for a Good Deal,’ said Eeyore gloomily. ‘It Explains Everything. No Wonder.’
‘You must have left it somewhere,’ said Winnie the Pooh.
‘Somebody must have taken it,’ said Eeyore. ‘How Like Them,’ he added, after a long silence.” – A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh
The Donkey's Tail by Kathleen Malcolmson
Haven’t we all felt like we are missing our tail, now and then? I suppose we have a choice in those situations, to see things like Eeyore, where everyone else is to blame, or like Pooh, who approaches life with a sunnier disposition. I’m sure we can apply this philosophy to the great events of our time, and the great turmoils in the world, but if we can’t get past our own missing tail, seeing the bigger picture might prove difficult. The way Pooh sets out to solve this mundane mystery is a good formula for solving a puzzle box as well. Observe, but also, notice things. Ask questions, and listen with an open mind. Don’t make any assumptions, and think about what might be possible, and what might work.
Of course, there's more here than meets the eye ...
Eeyore also provides a nice segue to this wonderful puzzle box by Kathleen Malcolmson, The Donkey’s Tail, which she created almost twenty years ago when she lived in Colorado. It’s a lovely little design featuring a nicely detailed rectangular box set upon a pedestal. There is a lid which can be removed, and two felt lined internal sections. It would make a nice jewelry box or gentleman’s valet. Due to its small size and shape, Kathleen also gave it another nickname – the Canary’s Coffin. I hope it has never been used for that actual purpose! Of course, there is a secret to this box. While it remains a perfectly lovely container based on the merits of its outward appearances, gaining access to the secret space is the challenge. The solution is surprising, enlightening (regarding the puzzle’s name) and extremely well hidden. Malcolmson is a master at this, after all.
Kathleen relates that the idea for this box came from the very first visit she ever had with none other than Jerry Slocum himself. She had been searching for ideas on trick opening boxes, and came across an edition of Jerry's book, "Puzzles Old and New" in her local Denver bookstore, "The Tattered Cover". She sent the results, her first puzzle box, to Jerry for his opinion, which garnered her an invitation to his home and vast collection in Beverly Hills. There, he showed her an antique writing slope he had recently acquired. Kathleen adapted the secret mechanism she had seen, and after much testing was satisfied with the tricky invisible mechanism. This first version of The Donkey's Tail was entered into the inaugural Nob Yoshigahara Puzzle Competition in 2001. Kathleen still wasn't satisfied (the first version was too easy) and improved the design for the subsequent production run, crafted in Walnut / Primavera, Cherry / Imbuia, and Maple / Imbuia woods.
The Donkey's Tail
To toast this marvelous box I’ve created a variation on the theme, borrowing ideas from a few other cocktails in the process. It started with “Eeyore’s Requiem”, a modern classic by Chicago mixologist Toby Maloney which features no fewer than three different amari in a bitter nod to the Negroni. One of those three is Cynar, the vegetal, bittersweet amaro featuring prominent artichoke leaf and other herbs. Cynar is a really versatile amaro and gives so many cocktails a surprising and hard to place flavor. Another modern classic which relies heavily on Cynar is the “Bitter Guiseppe”, created by Stephen Cole (also from the Chicago cocktail scene). This drink is like an amaro Manhattan, with a full dose of amaro tempered by a two to one ration of sweet vermouth. I once made a variation of it using Momenpop’s Vin d’Sange, a deliciously sweet blood orange and black pepper vermouth. It made such a different drink that I called that version “Guiseppe in Love”.
Bitter and Sweet with a Tasty Treat
I’ve combined elements from the Eeyore’s Requiem and Bitter Guiseppe recipes to create this week’s pairing, The Donkey’s Tail. The Cynar remains front and center, and there’s a little Campari there as well. Keeping the Negroni formula means we have gin, and I brought back the d’Sange sweet vermouth to cheer Eeyore up a bit. The last time I made Eeyore’s Requiem for a pairing, I gave it a little tail garnish made from lemon and orange peel and a little mint leaf. I’ve upped the ante this time for something completely edible which compliments the drink perfectly. The Donkey’s Tail’s donkey tail is a fruit leather made from Cynar with raspberry and apple puree, all tied up with homemade candied lemon peel. Eeyore never had it so good. Cheers!
This pair is telling tales. How like them.
The Donkey’s Tail
1 ½ oz Cynar
½ oz Campari
½ oz gin
¾ oz sweet vermouth
¼ oz fresh lemon
2 dashes lemon bitters
Stir over ice and strain into a favorite glass. Garnish with a lemon peel, unless you are feeling ridiculously creative. Try not to be bitter, when the glass is empty.
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