About Gin Season

Many years ago, in the great year of 1989, The Rest was playing a gig at the Phantasy Nightclub in Lakewood, Ohio. After we finished setting up, I ventured to the crowd to mingle with friends. Two friends, Mike Lascu and Tom Los were especially chipper that evening and each had a clear glass from the bar with an amber colored liquor on ice cubes. I asked what they were drinking and in no time at all Laz (Mike Lascu) had quickly returned with a cup for me. I took a sip and was immediately warmed to the bone. Laz and Los both smiled to me and said “SCOTCH.” From that day forward, it became the drink of choice for me. Obviously Laz was on the Scotch train long before me, and I’m grateful that he introduced me to such a good friend.

As time passed, it became apparent that while Scotch was a toasty treat in the cold winter months, it was a little overbearing on a hot summer day. Through natural selection, we found ourselves NOT choosing to have a Scotch for months on end. Finally, on the way to a Tryptiks rehearsal, Laz and I had a serious discussion about what to do. While we LOVED Scotch, we felt as though we weren’t being fair to it by neglecting it for almost half a year at a time. Concurrently, we found that we were drinking martinis with great frequency as the outdoor temperature increased.

After a heartfelt deliberation, Laz and I knew a decision had to be made. Not an off the cuff, arbitrary decision, but a well thought-out settlement. As we drove along winding Riverview Road, we were blessed with the butcher knife that slashed the Gordian knot.

It was then that Scotch Season and Gin Season were bestowed upon us. Like the Japanese, who for countless centuries have enjoyed certain sushi at just the right time each year, we Americans finally understood fine liquors and their relation to the natural world.

The infancy of the Seasons was an exciting time, often drenched with Scotch tastings and Martini parties, but, there was very little consensus as to when the Seasons began and ended. Did they ever overlap? What if there was an 80 degree day in December?

Many meetings were held both in person and online to tackle these issues. After months of deliberation, the following were agreed upon:

Scotch Season would run from September 15 until April 30

Gin Season would run from May 1 until September 14

The amendments:

1. If the temperature ever reaches 63 degrees (f) in Scotch Season, Gin may become an appropriate choice of drink

2. If the temperature ever dips below 63 degrees (f) in Gin season, a Scotch my be consumed

3. In Las Vegas, regardless of temperature, either beverage can be consumed

While the above amendments can be invoked by anyone, orthodox Seasoners will NEVER call them into play. Hence, my last drop of Gin was consumed on September 14 at about 7pm. Since then, I’ve been happily drinking Scotch.