T.G.I.T. - let bygones be bygones with "Thank God Its (election) Tuesday".

2 cocktails: 6 cl gin, 10 cl sweet Italian vermouth, 6 cl rum, a few dashes Angostura orange bitter (optional), ice.

Who isn't looking forward to this being over and done with? I am talking about my weekly lecture ... but also the election news drumbeat.

But this Tuesday is not only the day after my Monday evening lecture, it is also election day in the US. Two excellent reasons for celebration with a dark and potent 'amnesiac'.

Preparing a new lecture series can be extraordinarily time-consuming, easily exceeding 20 hrs prep time per 90 min lecture. But it is also tremendously exciting and very educational, initially for the teacher and later - perhaps - also for the students.

This brew helps to take the edge off and sedate the usual post (e)lectural excitement from excessive adrenaline flow. It was inspired by a recent visit to Lino's bar in Heidelberg.

My choice of gin is as always Monkey 47. Martini Rosso can be a suitable Italian vermouth. Recommended rum: 'Don Papa', an aromatic and strongly vanilla flavoured Philippine distillation which I find terrible on the rocks but great if diluted in drinks. Mix with ice and pour.

BTW this concoction is strong and also works great as long drink with a tonic.

Enough said. Let's drink to a better future, whenever it may come.

Cheers.