Frank Zappa may get the credit for most folks’ knowing what those initials stand for, but I read somewhere that his was a cover of an older R&B tune. The initials stand for “White Port and Lemon Juice”—a sort of simple wine cooler way before Bartles and Jaymes’ time.

What am I doing thinking about booze so early in the morning? Well, I’ve been working hard at this month’s issue of the Salon, and the end is in sight—but there’s still a big push ahead, and I almost always work better after a bit of tipple. And it’s Friday at last! Also, I awoke this morning with that song running through my head; and now I’m thinking about various drink combinations I’ve tested and liked.

With the exception of graduate school, I’ve never been much of a bar patron. High prices (compared to drinking at home), unfamiliarity with both the product and the social protocol, and the ever-tighter police dragnets have left me with a strong preference for doing my drinking at home. That in turn means that I am mostly oblivious to current drinking trends. That suits me just fine, because I enjoy trying various combinations of whatever we have around the house.

Here’s a small sampling of decent drinks I’ve concocted: cranberry juice, orange, juice, and rum or bourbon; bourbon and Coke (much better than rum & Coke); brandy and cranberry juice; brandy and Coke ... I thought that chocolate vodka would be good in coffee, but I haven’t yet hit on a proportion that pleases (I am still trying, of course – but it’s complicated by the fact that I never measure ingredients for these experiments). Grapefruit juice and plain vodka is a good one I haven’t had in a long time; in fact, I ought to get some different juices to expand my possibilities, but I like cranberry juice a lot (we all do, actually) and it’s relatively inexpensive. Tequila is okay with cranberry juice, as I recall, but it’s been quite some time since we’ve had tequila around. More so than any other hard liquor, it seems to produce a hangover even in modest quantities. Which is too bad, because I adore its flavor.

Anybody got some good combinations you’re willing to share? TGIF, and <clink>!

[Near-instant update: For those interested in exploring cocktail possibilities, I humbly present the Mixilator.]