In one of my earliest blog posts I talked about vodka being the introverted spirit, as compared to gin who is always the life of the party. It makes sense, right? As any vodka distiller will tell you, the goal behind making great vodka is to produce a spirit that fades into the background, allowing the other ingredients in the cocktail to take center stage. The vodka is still essential to the drink, but it makes its contribution in a more subtle way than all the other spirits. As a fellow introvert, I can definitely relate. How many others of you reading this post can as well? Maybe you’re not sure. Let me offer you some guidance. According to an article in Psychology Today magazine, here are 9 signs that indicate you are really an introvert, or may at least have some introvert tendencies. There’s tons of information available on this subject, but I liked that there were some slightly different points made in this article that I hadn’t heard before.

1. You enjoy having time to yourself. Sure, of course. I think this one’s a given. I love time to myself and have no issues being home with a good book or movie, even if it’s a Friday or Saturday night. I think most introverts would completely agree.
2. Your best thinking occurs when you’re by yourself. Yes. I’ll consult other people for a solution to a problem or for advice about a situation, but only after I’ve thought it through myself first.
3. You lead best when others are self-starters. I was so happy to see this one on the list! Many people think that introverts can’t be leaders, but that’s simply not true. We can be great leaders, but we tend to motivate people in quieter ways, so it helps when the people working with us are already fairly excited about whatever project we’re working on. If the leader needs to be a person to get the group interested and excited through the sheer force of his or her personality, then we’re probably not the person for the job.
4. You’re the last to raise your hand when someone asks for something from a group. Yep. This goes back to the whole taking center stage thing. I will say, however, that it depends on the size of the group, and my familiarity with the people in it. Introverts are more comfortable in smaller groups with people they know.
5. Other people ask you your opinion. As opposed to me offering it unasked? My kids would beg to differ on this one. I suppose you might too, since I’m offering a lot of opinions right now! I think in most settings, I’d agree with this statement. I’ll wait to be asked or I myself will ask if the other person wants my opinion. Again though, it depends on who I’m with. If I’m totally comfortable with you then you’ll know exactly what I think of those highlights or whether or not that facial hair can really be called a beard, both recent discussion points in my house.
6. You often wear headphones when you’re in a public situation. I may start to now! This one is interesting to me and I think it may be generational. I would love to know what my fellow younger introverts think here. And yes, I am asking you for your opinions. It certainly makes sense. Introverts can feel a bit awkward in certain public situations and it helps to appear occupied with something else.
7. You prefer not to engage with people who seem angry or upset. So we avoid controversy? Another one my kids would totally differ with. Apparently there are numerous studies to back this one up, but I’m not 100% convinced that this is an introvert trait. I certainly would avoid controversy in a public setting with someone I didn’t know very well, but if it was what was necessary in private to resolve a situation, then I’d jump right in.
8. You receive more calls, texts, and emails than you make, unless you have no choice. Yes, to a certain extent. I’m not great with phone calls, but I actually love to text. In fact, I think electronic communication helps an introvert to feel less self-conscious about reaching out. We’re always just a little bit worried that you don’t want to hear from us, so it helps to not see or hear your reaction first hand. And we can keep it more casual. Oh so you don’t want to go to the movies with me tonight? NP – that’s cool, smiley emoji, as I stick my head back under the covers and cringe.
9. You don’t initiate small talk with salespeople or others with whom you have casual contact. I’m working on this one because I’m learning that it can be fun to initiate small talk, but I readily admit that I’ll never be a Chatty Cathy in these kinds of situations. Again, I think most introverts would completely agree.

So for my fellow introverts out there, today’s cocktail is for you. I used vodka as the base spirit, of course, and today I chose Five Saints, distilled locally in Norristown. It’s super pure and made from Pennsylvania grown corn, and the distillery is fabulous. I’ll be visiting soon for a Thursday Barlogue. I infused the vodka with cilantro, lime, and cucumber for about 4 hours, and I made a simple syrup with the same ingredients. My thought process here was to create a drink that imparts a lot of flavor, but in a very subtle and nuanced way, paying tribute to the introvert presence which tends to equally quiet and subdued, but essential nonetheless. I called it Dare You to Stay, because we’re often the first ones to leave the party, if we ever got there in the first place.

Dare You to Stay

2½ oz Five Saints vodka (infused with cucumber, lime, and cilantro)*
¾ Dolin dry vermouth
½ oz cucumber/lime/cilantro simple syrup**

Muddle 2 slices of cucumber, 1 lime wheel, and several sprigs of cilantro with the simple syrup in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add the vodka, vermouth, and some ice and stir until very cold. Double strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a cilantro sprig. Top with 5 drops of chili oil. Enjoy!

*Infuse 2 cups of Five Saints Vodka with 4 cucumber slices, 2 lime wheels, and a small bunch of cilantro for 4 hours.

**Dissolve 1/3 cup of sugar in 1/2 cup of water over low heat until it turns clear. Remove from the heat and pour into a mason jar. Add 2 cucumber slices, 1 lime wheel, and a small bunch of cilantro. seal and allow to steep for 4 hours.

Keep checking on the taste of both of these and remove the cilantro earlier if you have to. It can become overpowering.