Jeanne Breen makes her New York Times debut with a puzzle in collaboration with Jeff Chen.
Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky Clues
WEDNESDAY PUZZLE — Having spent the last few days in bed recovering from a bug — but enjoying Wordplay, thanks to my colleagues — I can attest to the restorative effects of leisurely distractions. I convalesced with a cocktail of old movies, crosswords and frantic trips to the patio to stare at my soon-to-be-thriving vegetable garden (the red kale is doing well, thank you). How lovely to be reminded, once back at my desk, that one of these wonderful distractions is, in fact, my day job.
Today’s crossword was constructed by Jeanne Breen and Jeff Chen. The elixirs in their theme may not be the kind that doctors recommend for getting over a cold, but the joke that connected them all made me laugh — which really is the best medicine of all.
Today’s Theme
Bartenders who solve crosswords are finally having their day. The entries at 17-, 26-, and 36-/38-Across feature ingredient combinations for various cocktails, and our first job is to name them. Safe to say, this was not my forte: I can barely say “I’ll take a dry gin martini” without making it sound like a question. This is an example of why using your crossings — a skill we cover in our (beginner-friendly!) guide to solving crosswords — can make all the difference for a successful solve.
“Vodka + coffee liqueur + Irish cream + heavy cream” make up a MUDSLIDE (17A). Combine “Light rum + dark rum + orange juice + passion fruit syrup,” and you’ve got a HURRICANE (26A). And if you light “rum + brandy + pineapple juice + orange juice + orgeat syrup” on fire — only for cocktail-making purposes, please — you get a FLAMING VOLCANO (36/38A).
The names of these drinks imply danger — and that, dear reader, is what makes each clue a RECIPE FOR DISASTER (46/56A).
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Source: Elections - nytimes.com
