November

Ok, at long last some great news on the update front. As of the first week of December, we will be on our own dedicated server. Big deal you say? Well, crashes by other sites will no longer affect us. Also, Jason is working hard on the new site. Most of his work has been in stream lining the database so we didn't crash our shared server and didn't put our bandwidth beyond our limits. The new server should take care of both of these problems.

So, this means the new look site is closer today than ever. Also, the database will have a bunch of new features. Its about time as we haven't really changed the back end programming in a few years. I can't give you a date yet on the launch but you'll know soon.

Our new server is a Pentium 4 1.5 Ghz with 1 GB of ram. We're still located with the great guys at pair networks. The picture with this article is part of their network. Perhaps one of those little black boxes belongs to us??!!

To celebrate the company of friends and family during the holiday season, Crown Royal is introducing a new drink, the Royal Gingersnap, created by "King of Cocktails", Dale DeGroff. DeGroff is author of the 2002 book, The Craft of the Cocktail, and is best known for the cocktails he concocted at New York's famed Rainbow Room for decades.

The Royal Gingersnap

• 1 1/2 oz. Crown Royal Whisky
• 1 bar spoon of Orange Marmalade
• 1 slice Orange
• 1 Maraschino Cherry
• 2 dashes Ginger Syrup

Prepare a rocks glass by frosting the rim with a mixture of powdered cinnamon and sugar. Muddle the fruits together with the marmalade and the syrup in the bottom of a mixing glass, and then add Crown Royal and ice. Shake well and strain the drink into the prepared rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a flamed orange zest.

Ginger Syrup Recipe
This spicy and warming syrup is an essential cocktail ingredient of superb quality and tradition. Ginger Syrup can be made at home or purchased online and at coffee shops, natural and gourmet food stores and some health food stores. A popular brand of ginger syrup is Monin.
Ingredients:

• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 three-inch piece of fresh ginger, finely diced

Place sugar, ginger and two cups water in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook about one hour, until ginger flavor is quite strong. Let cool; strain before using. Store refrigerated in an airtight container up to one week. Makes one cup. For a more intense flavor, make this syrup one day ahead.

Flamed Orange Zest
Hold a lit match over the top of the Royal Gingersnap. With the orange twist in the opposite hand, point the outside of the twist toward the drink and hold it over the match. Squeeze the twist to release the oils and watch as they jump through the flame onto the top of the drink. Add the orange twist to the drink.

We've got some other Holiday recipes for you. Click Here, or here.

We'll have some New Year's Recipes compiled for you in the December Newsletter!

For the 2004 holiday season, Crown Royal is offering an ornament designed as a three dimensional replica of the Crown Royal logo. The Royal Ornament is four inches round by four inches high and can be purchased by all consumers 21 years and older for $9.99. Visit www.crownroyal.com/gift or receive an order form in a marked box of Crown Royal available at local retailers.

The ornament, like the Crown itself, contains jewel- like embellishments, vibrant colors, and a purple pillow to match. The ornament can be sent directly as a gift by simply indicating the recipient's name in the "ship to" area on the reverse side of the order form. If ordered before December 6, 2004, the ornament will be received before Christmas.

The price of the ornament includes shipping and handling, and will be delivered within 7-10 business days via regular shipping services. The offer expires June 6, 2005.

Now wouldn't that look nice on your tree? Hanging right above the nice little purple bag wrapping a smooth bottle of Crown Royal. Yummy!

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