#atoastforrusty

I may be a little late to this but I was in a very dark place the last few weeks, and this is the first day I’ve been able to put pen to tablet and produce something.

But this post isn’t about me - it’s about remembering Rusty. As many of you know, the TumblrPon community lost a dearly loved member recently when @askrustynail fell into a coma, and then last Wednesday, March 22, passed away.

I loved Rusty’s work, loved following his drink blog and his mod blog, loved his writing, loved his drink recipes, loved how much he cared for his friends - like how he helped fund-raise when Wiggles’ kitty got sick. I’m sad that I didn’t get to know him better, we only ever met once in person. But I’m so grateful for that meeting and I will cherish the memory.

We met at Bronycon 2015, and my husband - a fellow mixologist - and I commissioned a drink for his OC Red Zircon, who sometimes appears on my Ask Bliss blog. I would be remiss if I did not share this drink with you all. So, Dear Drinkers - it’s a Red Zircon!

The recipe is residing on my fridge, where it has been proudly displayed for almost 2 years, and will continue to be displayed. For anyone who has trouble reading it, I’ll transcribe it here:

Red Zircon

1 Bottle Dry White Wine 3 tbsp Sugar 3 Shots Pear Liqueur Lemon Peel Orange Peel 1/2 a Green Apple 10 Strawberries 15 White Grapes Slice of Red Watermelon Slice of Pineapple 1.75 g Xanthan Gum Watermelon, cut into 3mm Gems

Instructions:

Cut fruit as if making Sangria Mix wine, liqueur, sugar, cut fruit and peel into pitcher Let it infuse in the fridge for 8 hrs Pass sangria through sieve Mix sangria with xanthan gum Stir and refrigerate Fill martini glass with sangria, arrange melon through glass

And there you have it! If anyone can read his writing better and corrections are needed, please let me know!

So now anyone can enjoy a Red Zircon, and anyone reading this who hasn’t seen Rusty’s work - his wonderful MLP custom drinks blog is right here.

Neither my husband or I can drink these days due to medical reasons, so I do hope someone out there will raise a Red Zircon to Rusty’s memory. For me, having my characters do so is the best I can manage.

Let us raise a toast for our dear cocktail mixing brony @askrustynail.

Raise you favorite drink in honor of his memory! If you’re to young or don’t like alcohol try a Rusty’s Ace muffin (as alcohol evaporates from baking.)

I do not know this person very much, but I have seen his interaction throughout Tumblr.

Consider this Vector as a Tribute. I know for sure he would like this as well as @technomod. I will raise my glass to you and my condolences to the family. RIP You will be missed.