UFO Box
Unexpectedly Fun Ordeal
Tales of the Monolith, Part II
I'm sure the universe is full of intelligent life. It's just been too intelligent to come here.
― Arthur C. Clarke
The UFO Box by Benno de Grote
According to Clarke, we must all be a bunch of primitive monkeys. I’m ok with that. I’ve seen the Monolith, after all, so at least there is hope I will evolve like in the movie. The arrival of the Monolith set something in motion. It seems to be a gateway into space of some sort, and has attracted all manner of unidentified flying objects.
Alien abductions are so 2020
The first was sighted not long after, hovering over The Netherlands. Benno de Grote (the nom de plume - or is it nom de puzzle? - of Benno Baatsen) has produced a number of clever puzzle boxes over the past few years, and has both building plans and fully constructed puzzles available on his website. Recently he acquired his own laser cutter, which has made it possible for him to experiment with all of his many ideas, and he has started to release these new designs, including the cute and clever UFO. The UFO is a departure for him, the first time he has created a puzzle box that is not shaped like a box! He went through three prototypes of the UFO, which were too small and initially too complex, until arriving at the fourth and final version. He explains the most important points to know about the puzzle, which are that it takes forty-nine steps to open (Benno likes to make extremely challenging puzzles) and that, most importantly, it includes a farmer and his cow (who have clearly been abducted by the aliens).
We are eternally grateful …
As I mentioned, Benno likes difficult puzzles. The UFO is a complex maze of forty-nine moves controlled via four individual sliders. Benno originally envisioned this as a blind maze, and was somewhat surprised to discover this was rather challenging for some of us humans. He took pity and after consulting with the alien architects was able to modify the space craft so it allows a view into the machinery. This makes the puzzle box possible to open by the evolving primates, although it won’t stop the extraterrestrials on the ship from silently communicating their confusion as to why it is still taking so long.
Star Cocktail by George J. Kappeler
Time is relative is space, so take all that you need. You might fancy a cocktail on the journey – I believe these are called comet tails in space, and are often mistaken for stars. So let’s start there, and make an old classic known as the Star cocktail. This delicious mixture of apple brandy and vermouth gets a boost from both Peychaud’s bitters and gomme syrup. Peychaud’s is the original New Orleans bitter famous for it’s bright red hue, licorice and fruit candy forward flavors, and defining role in the Sazerac cocktail. Gomme syrup was far more widely used in days gomme by, replaced now with simple simple syrup. The additional of gum Arabic gives the syrup a more lustrous texture which is also imparted to the cocktail.
You’ll be seeing stars
The Star cocktail was created by an old time star of the bar as well, George J. Kappeler. He was head barman at the Holland House at Fifth and Thirtieth in nineteenth century New York City, which had “a reputation for the excellence of its damp delights." His magnum opus, “Modern American Drinks: How to Mix and Serve All Kinds of Cups, Cocktails, and Fancy Mixed Drinks”, 1895, contains 456 recipes, including 36 of his own invention. Kappeler writes in his preface: "The recipes contained in this book are for the proper mixing of all kinds of drinks, such as [George goes on to list fifteen drinks]. The formulas are simple, practical, and easy to follow and are especially intended for use in first-class Hotels, Clubs, Buffets, and Barrooms, where, if adopted and concocted according to directions given, they will be entirely satisfactory to the caterer and pleasing to the consumer, the latter of whom will immediately notice a marked improvement in his favorite beverages.” Thanks George, you’ve got me all starry eyed.
Intergalactic pair
Star Cocktail by George J. Kappeler, c. 1895
1 ½ oz apple brandy
1 ½ oz sweet vermouth
3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
2 dashes gomme syrup
Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a favorite glass. Lemon twist garnish.
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