WTF is this about?

Welcome to to Tessin Rinpoche.  TR is an online saloon, sort of a projection of how I would view my living room if it were a shabby and spectacular drinking club.

So, you’ll find a lot of focus on cocktails.  This is because I really like mixing cocktails and playing with flavors.  It may sound weird to call mixology a hobby, but it is one, and it provides joy to me and those around me.  It seems like this endeavor requires a Theory of the Cocktail – some organizing force guiding my drink-making.  Developing my Theory will be a theme throughout the posts on this blog.  Hopefully I will discover more about drink-making as I make drinks.

Of course, there’s a lot to my living room beyond drinking.  Possibly more importantly, I’m not the only person who claims ownership of my living room.  If I were the only person involved, the living room would involve more duct tape, yet less comfort, function, and style.  So you can expect to hear from TR’s hostess, EE, about her household projects and her hobby of making life around here generally wonderful.  Is this possible?  You bet!  Why do you think I married her?  Of course, all of this is important because your drink should complement and enhance the existing (wonderful) milieu.

This all still begs some important questions. I imagine some would be:

Tessa on the seaside, admiring his special lady friend

Did your mother not like you?

No, it’s my call sign.

You’re a pilot?

No, but I always loved that part where Maverick says, “yes, a naval aviator.”

Alright quit screwing with me, what’s with the name?

Back off! It’s my name! Not really, my mother wouldn’t have done that to me. My brother and his pals did, though. Robert to Bert to Bertessa and so forth. Most recently, I have been honored with the designation of Rinpoche by some of those who love Tessa most. Supposedly this is all a happy reflection of my ability to embrace contentment – something I am endeavoring to pass on to others here.

Bertessa’s special lady friend of many years.

EE at her derby party (holding a Bertessa mint julep)

Why are you qualified to write this?

I’m not.

What is local for you?

Manhattan, upper west, but I got friends in low places (mainly because I like downtown, and Brooklyn, and I’m from way farther south originally).

How do I pronounce it?

Who cares? … but around here, we say TES-sin Rin-POACH-e.

Can I have a drink now?

By all means.