Well Fed Buff: Cherry Grog
Well Fed Buff serves up tasty dishes to boost your HP, stats and appetite – with that special WoW twist, of course.
We're crispy. That's not an indictment of our cooking skill – no-no, Well Fed Buff writers definitely have the (Dirge's Kickin' Chimaerok) chops to pull off some tasty stat boosts. No, the problem here is the beautiful springtime weather. After months of gaming indoors, it's almost inevitable that WoW players will at some point surrender to the siren call of the sunshine – ending up pink (if not actually crispy), sweaty and ready to ... well, to chill out.
Since springtime also gets us feeling just a wee bit silly, we thought it only appropriate to chill out with an icy-cold WoW-themed Cherry Grog. Yeah, we know that grog is traditionally made with boiling water – but we're going to offer you ideas for both hot and cold versions. And before the comments get besieged: If you're below level 21 or are acting as the Designated Raid Driver, You do not meet the level requirements for this item. Get some levels, guys, and come back when you're attuned.
Those of you who've rustled up a Cherry Grog in game will undoubtedly have noticed a relatively unusual quality: unlike most alcoholic beverages, there's no cooldown on this drink. You can chain-slam Cherry Grog to instant effect. Hmm, sounds similar to the effects of Cherry Grog on sun-baked spring chickens out for an AFK in the sun ...
You can find Cherry Grog in game from 11 various vendors (definitely more accessible to Alliance than to Horde – oh noes, a bust on WoW Insider's infamous Hordecentricness!) or dropped by Stomper Kreeg, The Drunk in Dire Maul.
A true grog is a hot drink made with boiling water, "small beer" (a weak beer) and rum, also frequently including lemon and/or lime juice, cinnamon and sugar. For the cherry version, we've taken the liberty of looking a little further afield for more ideas – and below, we present several versions to inspire your spring mixers. Enjoy!
Feeling groggy
Let's start with a classic hot grog. No, there are no cherries here – but we need to get everyone to at least Journeyman level before branching into off-spec variations.
Classic Grog
2 oz. dark rum
1 tsp./packet sugar
3 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 Tsp. lemon juice
Boiling water
Slice of lemon
Combine all the ingredients except the boiling water in a mug. Stir, adding boiling water. Drop in a slice of lemon and enjoy.
Off-Spec Hybrids
Ok, now that we've established a baseline, let's look at some tasty choices for adding cherry flavor. Our favorites: cherry brandy, cherry Schnapps, cherry juice (try Juicy Juice), Cherry Coke – and of course, grenadine.
Fizzy Cherry Grog Bowl
4 oz. crème de cassis
4 oz. dark rum
24 oz. light rum
2 oz. 151-proof rum
1 qt. chilled club soda
4 oz. cherry Juicy Juice
8 oz. sweet and sour mix
2 cans maraschino cherries
Combine all ingredients except club soda in a punch bowl and chill. Just before serving, add club soda.
Light and Creamy Cherry Grog
1 1/4 ounce light rum
1 1/2 tsp cherry brandy
1 Tablespoon light cream
Ice
Combine all ingredients, shake with ice, and strain into a glass.
Cherry Bomb Grog
1 oz. brandy
1/2 oz.Triple Sec
1 egg yolk
Splash of cherry juice
1 tsp. grenadine
Ice
Combine all liquid ingredients and add ice.
Impress your friends with fantastic treats that pair perfectly with your World of Warcraft adventures. Still thirsty? Try our Fizzy Faire Drinks or Sideways Snowman.
