Happy Hour
Get In The Spirit!
Get in the Spirit! by Lee Krasnow
Puzzle historians will be well familiar with the works of Angelo John Lewis, an English lawyer and avid magician. He published a number of books on magic, and one seminal work on puzzles of the day, Puzzles Old and New, F. Warne & Co., 1893, in which he catalogued most of the known puzzles of the 1890’s London Victorian era. His book, which bears his nom de plume and stage name, “Professor Louis Hoffman”, remains the definitive source for these historical items today. In chapter two, we find a comprehensive list of wood turned mechanical puzzles, featuring delicate screw threads and clever hidden mechanisms. Although many of these Victorian turned puzzles still exist, their makers have been lost to history. Exquisite modern examples can be found by the master turner John Berkeley, who partnered with Donald Goddard in the early 2000’s to produce the Donay line of Hoffman reproductions along with a few of their own unique creations.
don’t spill the secrets …
I’ve always been fascinated by these Hoffman era puzzles, and have greatly admired the beauty of the Berkeley pieces, which I featured as a mini-series here in the past. As a cocktail enthusiast, I have always been enamored of the idea of a cocktail shaker puzzle in the spirit of the Victorian era works. After all, there are turned barrels, rooks, cylinders, rods, churns, spheres and cannons, why not a shaker tin? I once proposed this idea to the brass metal puzzle maker Rocky Chiarro, who liked the idea so much that he made one for me! It’s a treasured item in my collection and yet, the idea was still with me. Rocky’s puzzle challenges you to take the shaker tin apart into its two halves, in a special way that uses the quintessential solution for such an item. It is not, as I am most fond of, a container that can hold some item, such as, for example, a small bottle of spirits, or even a coin with which to tip your bartender. Now that would be something!
shaken, or stirred?
About a year ago, I reached out to another puzzle maker, a legendary genius known for precision woodworking and award winning creations. He occasionally resurfaces with new projects and has branched out into precision metalwork and even 3D printing, which has allowed him to reproduce some of his older designs in new ways, and to bring other almost impossible ideas to reality. ”What do you think of this idea, a puzzle with a bottle of spirits locked inside, needing to be freed. What if the solution required [having to do something rather devious]?” From that “innocent”(?) suggestion developed a series of sketches which quickly turned into the shape it was always meant to have been, a cocktail shaker. ‘Get In the Spirit!’ was born.
original image which led to the puzzle shape
Lee Krasnow is a kindred spirit when it comes to spirits as well. I have offered up many a toast on these pages over the years, of all types, but my palate tends to gravitate to the bitter and boozy. Negroni, anyone? I’ve made a few! Lee had the inspired idea to incorporate a cult favorite bottle of bitters into the puzzle, the German digestive Underberg, which dates back to 1846 and is made from a secret recipe of herbs sourced from 43 countries.
courtesy of Lee Krasnow
Underberg is classified as a “kräuterlikör”, and is technically meant to enhance well-being and digestion of a meal. It is extremely bitter, and despite containing 44% alcohol, it can be sold in the US without a liquor license. Most enjoy it as a solo “shot”, a bracing experience that you won’t quickly forget! Underberg only comes in little 20ml bottles, which makes it ideal for a small puzzle, and the bottle itself has a rather unique feature which simply begs for a Hoffman style mechanism. Lee instantly saw all of this potential.
time to sweep up the bar - courtesy of Lee Krasnow
He sent me a fully rendered CAD design rather quickly, which is too revealing to show here but was essentially the fully realized design already. Various modifications and redesigns ensued, mostly for aesthetics, including placement of novel hatched windows inside that allow glimpses of the spirit within which may (or may not) help with getting to the … solution. They are quite mesmerizing, at least.
courtesy of Lee Krasnow
The cocktail shaker itself is gorgeously shiny, crafted from lathe turned aluminum which has been polished to a high gloss. There is a turned wood ring accent placed between the top and bottom shaker tins, made from layered maple and walnut. Pick it up, give it a shake, and you will notice how heavy it is! The “cocktail” of puzzling ingredients inside features intricate layers made from high quality 3D printed PLA, steel, springs, magnets, a brass coin, and of course, an actual full bottle of Underberg (or as Lee likes to say, a “loaded round”).
courtesy of Lee Krasnow
The overall goal of this sequential discovery puzzle is to take it apart and free the bottle and coin, but there are a few devious steps to get to the bitters - so don’t be bitter - as you try to “Get in the Spirit!”. The shaker was my exchange gift at the 41st International Puzzle Party, so many people had to suffer through this “patter” of bad puns. As a reward (as if the bottle wasn’t reward enough!) you’ll also free the shiny brass challenge coin which is engraved with a few familiar logos. In total there are about thirty individual parts that make up the whole puzzle, and it is possible, if you are an industrious over achiever, to disassemble the puzzle into all of its individual components and attempt to reassemble it, but I wouldn’t advise it!
let’s shake on it
Get in the Spirit! is notable for a few things. As mentioned it pays homage to the Hoffman era turned puzzles using mixed media and modern manufacturing technology. It is also a new puzzle by Lee Krasnow, which is news all by itself, and it is Lee’s first ever sequential discovery design. When solved correctly there are about twelve to fifteen distinct steps to get to the “solution”, not counting the reset. Like many sequential discovery type puzzles, you are provided with everything you need, so no “external tools” are required, and no excess force, banging or spinning is necessary. And if you want to experience the “full solution” and enjoy the Underberg, we have even included a cup - now that’s hospitality!
it’s five o’clock somewhere, right?
click the image to learn more about this book
Lee also has a companion display stand for the shaker in the works, which will feature a few puzzlingly locked drawers. You’ll need the shaker puzzle as well, because not only will it look fabulous atop the stand, it will also prove essential to unlocking. The drawers will contain some useful items, and will provide the perfect spot to store a copy of the greatest cocktail book ever, which is amazingly also named Get in the Spirit!. The book is a curated collection of a few favorite bespoke cocktails from the pages of Boxes and Booze over the past decade, but is simply a cocktail book - there is nothing puzzling about it except to decide which one to make first.
The Sauer Kraut
Here’s a celebratory toast to help us Get in the Spirit! in a majorly meta way. Naturally the cocktail we are making this time had to feature Underberg, which is the ultimate solution to this puzzle. Underberg tends to overwhelm any cocktail with its boldly bitter presence full of herbs, anise, gentian and clove spices. Some say it reminds them of Christmas spice. That’s a very bitter outlook on the holidays! Underberg is within the broader category of German herbal and spiced digestives known as krauterlikors, which can be thought of as German-style amaros. You’ve likely heard of at least one such spirit before, Jagermeister, which is actually sweeter than Underberg.
don’t be bitter if you love this cocktail
A great way to enjoy any spirit is via a sour cocktail, which is simply a well balanced mix of any base with fresh squeezed citrus, like lemon juice, and a sugar solution. A margarita is a classic example. Underberg plays well within this template and benefits from the addition of a little whiskey to soften the blow (believe it or not). Dry sherry lends needed balance and enhanced flavor, turning this into a proper cocktail. So we have a krauterlikor sour, which I am playfully calling the Sauer Kraut, to toast this cocktail shaker that holds the key ingredient inside itself. What’s more, by using a plastic ring adapter on the shaker, it can actually be used to make this cocktail – now that’s meta! Here’s to keeping history alive, pursuing a puzzling idea, shaking up the establishment, and trying not to be bitter about it – cheers!
now that’s the spirit!
Sauer Kraut
½ oz rye
1 ½ oz fino sherry
1 bottle Underberg
¾ oz fresh lemon
¾ oz simple syrup
Shake with ice and strain into a coupe. Lemon twist.
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