Episode 136: Kathe Koja's Skin

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The Mikes round out their reading of Kathe Koja's first three books by wrestling with art and possession and the perils of hanging around with artists. Especially theatre-types. Do we have piercing insights or merely make cutting remarks? You're the judge.

It's Cocktail Time!

Stud in the Tongue

In a martini shaker with crushed ice, add

• 2 shots good gin
• 1/2 or 1 shot good dry vermouth
• 1, maybe 2, drops Liquid Smoke

Shake and strain into chilled martini glass

garnish with a lemon peel spiked on a 10-penny nail

Episode 135: Kathe Koja's Bad Brains

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The Mikes beat their heads against Kathe Koja's second novel until something finally breaks loose.

It's Cocktail Time!

A Blow to the Head

In a cocktail shaker with ice, add

• 1.5 shots rye whiskey
•  .5 shot Benedictine
•  .5 shot dry vermouth

Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass

Garnish with orange twist.

Chin chin!

Episode 134: Kathe Koja's The Cipher

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The Two Mikes shove it into an unspeakable hole with Kathe Koja and her first novel The Cipher.  What goes in does not always come out quite right, and that should be a lesson to us all. 

It's Cocktail Time!

The Black Hole Martini

• 2 oz. good vodka
• 1 oz. Creme de Ciel or some other blue curaçao
• 1/2 oz. Chambord or some other black raspberry liqueur

Shake with ice and strain into martini glass.  Garnish with a lemon peel.
Chin Chin.

Episode 133: Michael McDowell's Blackwater

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The Mikes (Moncada, Stoffel, McDowell) sandbag furiously to keep from gushing about the excellence of this book.

It's Cocktail Time!

Blackwater

1/2 tsp. food-grade activated charcoal

1 shot simple syrup

2 shots Tennessee whiskey

zest of 1/2 lemon

3 dashes Angostura bitters

Mix all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice; strain into chilled martini glass.

Closing Music: "Perdido" by Spade Cooley Band