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NRL Great Anthony Minichiello Reveals Cold Hard Truth About Going Months Without Training

Everyone’s dealt with these pandemic restrictions differently. Some people have taken up new hobbies or new training routines. Many others have done the opposite, binging Netflix and skipping exercise. And who can blame you? If you can’t leave the house, no-one can roast your shrimpy pins. May as well just steer into the curve, let things go a little and relax.

But now that things are easing up a bit and life’s getting back to normal, you might need to get back into a fitness routine that’s more than just laps between the fridge and the sofa. That’s easier said than done, however.

Anthony Minichiello, Roosters legend, NRL Ambassador and founder of MiniFit, has revealed that even for professional athletes like himself, finding the motivation to get back into a routine after three months of not training – due to lockdown – can be a real challenge.

“My motivation is good, but some days are harder than others,” the footy legend relates.

“But on those days if you think ‘All I need to do today is 10 minutes’, that is definitely achievable.”

You can even turn a negative into a positive. Three months without training can be a source of motivation for some people, Minichiello says.

“Once you get stuck in a rut the hardest [thing] is making the first move to train or become healthier. There is discomfort when you first act on it, but the more you do it the easier it becomes… Then [when] it becomes more consistent you then see results, and you make it [into] a lifestyle.”

Once you have that spark, continuing good training habits is easy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAZfS7dhjtN/

We also picked his brain about how other athletes are dealing with the disruption to their normal training regimes. “The Count” revealed that many footy players are probably struggling with keeping up their normal routine.

“It’s pretty hard to replicate team training at home when isolated,” Minichiello explains, “but they’ve all got their own individual programs to do daily.”

What will things look like for athletes post coronavirus? Will the first few games after restrictions are lifted be a bit shaky? No fear: Minichiello is confident that things will return to normal pretty quickly.

“I think they’ll be a bit rusty first up, but they are pros, so we won’t notice too much of a difference.”

Bain Capital

As The Australian reports, “Short-listed Virgin bidder Bain Capital is expected to relaunch Virgin Australia as a hybrid airline in the mould of the old Virgin Blue, with a low cost base but offering airport lounges, a more integrated Velocity frequent flyer program and regional, domestic and eventually, international services.”

“One thing we would love to explore is whether there could be a closer brand relationship between Virgin and Velocity. We come at that from the customer experience, having those tied up a little closer could be a more seamless experience from both the web and app perspective for customers,’’ Bain Capital’s Sydney-based managing director Mike Murphy told The Australian last week.

The New Daily reported much the same: “Centred around a vision to ‘make flying fun again’ in homage to its Virgin Blue predecessor, the firm has also brought in ex-Jetstar boss Jayne Hrdlicka to help strengthen its case to take over the airline.”

“In essence, it wants to make Virgin Australia a low-cost carrier.”

What does this mean for your Velocity Points? While no one can say for sure, even though noises are being made about an “integrated” approach, a takeover could spell trouble for your points.

As expert points hacker and founder of Flight Hacks, Immanuel Debeer told DMARGE last month, “Although Virgin Australia and Velocity Frequent Flyer are two separate companies, they are very much tied together.”

“Virgin Australia owns Velocity and even stumped up a whole lot of change last year buying back the remainder of the program from an investment firm (those guys will be laughing all the way to the bank!).”

“Once the creditors swoop in it’s very likely that they will try to sell Virgin Australia and Velocity (if they can touch Velocity). Frequent Flyer points won’t just disappear but when all this is over, their value will most likely slump depending on how things play out,” Immanuel added.

“Velocity has shut down all options of redeeming points so those who didn’t act will need to hope that whoever buys out the assets knows how to run a frequent flyer program.”

While this was said before the bidding playing field had been whittled down, the point remains: if you have Velocity Points still invested in Virgin Australia, you will be at the mercy of the new policies of the Powers That Be.

Taken to the extreme, this could involve the adoption of a paid-for benefits program, like the one Ryanair flirted with last year, where frequent flyers who pay a fixed fee ($200 per year, say), to secure benefits like priority boarding and allocated seating.

This is pure speculation, however, and, given Velocity was one of the more profitable aspects of Virgin’s business throughout the last few years, is also – fortunately – unlikely, even if possible.

That said: we’ve seen US airlines crack down recently on frequent flyer benefits and had experts warn the trend could well spread across the pond.

Cyrus Capital Partners

Moving on to Cyrus Capital Partners, the other contender to buy Virgin Australia, less is known about the New York-based firm’s bid. However, initial reports suggest it intends to keep Virgin Australia as a full-service airline.

As The New Daily reports, Cyrus Capital Partners has “form” and was “among the original backers of Virgin America when it was launched in the US by Sir Richard Branson.”

If Cyrus Capital took over and Virgin remained a full-service airline, one would imagine this would lead to less disruption to the Velocity Program, and similar points earning (and spending) potential.

Judging off Qantas, where you can spend your Qantas Points on Jetstar but (unless you book a fixed-price ‘Plus’ or ‘Max’ bundle) you can’t earn points by flying it, it may turn out, with Cyrus Capital, that you will be able to spend your points on a Virgin Australia subsidiary trip (i.e. TigerAir or equivalent), but not earn more in doing so.

In other words: business as usual, but leaner.

All that remains then, after the winner walks away 3.5 to 4 (according to some reports) billion dollars lighter and a whole airline heavier, is to turn a profit on some of the most valuable (and competitive) routes in the world.

Crucially, Virgin will need to start making money again on the Sydney to Melbourne corridor and the trans-Tasman flight path (which, though smaller than Sydney to Melbourne, appears set to remain busy).

Only time (and flight bookings) will tell.

Origin Of The Whiskey Sour

According to cocktail maestro Hayley Dixon of Proximo, the Sour cocktail is said to have been born out of the original way of making a punch.

“‘Punches are the earliest form of cocktail we know, and due to the similarity in ingredients, many think of the punch leading the way to the Sour. Whiskey was not, however, the first sour.”

“In 1856 the first mention of a sour appeared on Mart Ackermann’s Saloon cocktail list in Toronto, made with Gin or Brandy and then the first recipe didn’t appear until 6 years later in Jerry Thomas’ very famous ‘The Bartender’s Guide’, which contained a Brandy, Gin and Rum sour.”

“Interestingly the Whiskey Sour also never contained any egg white, instead, being made more in line with a Daiquiri or Margarita. Technically it was the Boston Sour that contained egg white, but that’s an argument for another day.”

History also suggests sours as an overruling cocktail family existed for several years prior to the publishing of that book, as they were said to be popular with naval sailors.

Why? Because it was found that eating or consuming citrus fruits provided vitamin C, vital in preventing sailors from contracting scurvy. It wasn’t uncommon to find naval ships stocked with lemons, lime and oranges and because the sailors enjoyed a drink (and didn’t have any way of refrigerating drinks) plenty of alcohol could be found on board too. In their downtime, it’s said the sailors experimented with mixing their various liquors with citrus juice (usually lemon) to create a scurvy-busting and delicious beverage.

It’s believed the rise in popularity of the drink, brought into public awareness by returning sailors, is what resulted in the recipe being published in Jerry Thomas’ guide.

Whiskey Sour Ingredients

Whiskey sours in their traditional form contain only three ingredients, although some modern interpretations include egg white as a fourth ingredient (the Boston Sour Hayley mentioned). The official recipe calls for the following:

Bourbon whiskey (Four Roses, Makers Mark, Buffalo Trace)
Fresh lemon juice
Simple syrup
Egg white (optional)
Maraschino cherry and an orange slice for garnish
Old Fashioned glass – a coupe glass can also be used, but an Old Fashioned rocks glass is the traditional way of serving one.
Cocktail shaker
Large ice cubes for serving (optional)

Different bars and bartenders may use different garnishes. Some places may use a lemon peel with cherries, others may place a few drops of Angostura bitters on top.

Classic Whiskey Sour Cocktail Measurements

Some bartenders may have their own ways of making the whiskey sour, such as using equal measures of each ingredient. It’s a drink that lends itself to being experimented with. But if you’ve never made one before, this is the best recipe to use.

60ml/2oz Whiskey
30ml/1oz fresh lemon juice
15ml//0.5oz simple syrup

If you’re using egg white, 15-30ml/0.5-1oz will be more than enough.

How To Make The Whiskey Sour Cocktail

The way you make and shake a whiskey sour will depend on whether you use egg white or not, so we’ll cover both bases, starting without the egg white.

Pour ice into an Old Fashioned glass to chill
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and fill with ice
Shake vigorously until well-chilled
Strain into the Old Fashioned glass over large ice cubes (or neat, your preference)
Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry

If you do want to use egg white the steps are as follows:

Pour ice into Old Fashioned glass to chill
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker – DO NOT ADD ICE
Dry shake all ingredients without ice
Open the cocktail shaker and add ice
Shake vigorously until well-chilled
Double strain into Old Fashioned glass over large ice cubes (or neat, your preference)
Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry

This method can be switched around if you prefer. Some bartenders will recommend shaking with ice first, straining the cocktail back into the shaker without the ice and dry shaking. It’s said this method will produce a larger, fluffier foam.

Variations Of The Whiskey Sour

Despite bartenders introducing their own variations of the classic whiskey sour, whether it be changing the garnish or the whiskey used, there are some official variations you may wish to try. If you make what is known as the Boston Sour (a whiskey sour with egg white) you can float a few bar spoons of full-bodied red wine on top, turning it into a New York Sour.

Alternatively, you can make what is called a Ward 8. This cocktail is based on either bourbon or rye whiskey, uses grenadine syrup as the sweetener instead of simple syrup and will be garnished with both lemon and orange slices. A Ward 8 doesn’t use egg white.

Expert Twist On The Whiskey Sour

We once again turned to Hayley for her expert twist on the whiskey sour, and she gave us one based on another well-known variation.

“From the whiskey sour came many incredible variations. At first many were made by simply splitting the base ingredient, the whiskey, with something else. Take Sam Ross’s Midnight Stinger that uses half bourbon and half Fernet Branca for the base. From there, others went on to change the type of sweetener used to add extra complexity, like in the Penicillin that uses a ginger honey instead of simple syrup.

“A cocktail that in my opinion does not get consumed nearly enough is a cocktail called the ‘Camerons Kick’ which incorporates both of these techniques. It first appeared in The Savoys cocktail book and is a whiskey sour made using both Scotch and Irish whiskey with Orgeat as the sweetener. This little twist is simply that with some added bitters and grapefruit.”

‘Bushmills Kick’

Ingredients

30ml Bushmills 10 Year
30ml Bunnahabhain 12 Year
20ml Lemon Juice
15ml Orgeat
1 Dash Angostura Orange Bitters
Garnish Grapefruit Twist

Method

First, you are going to need to make sure you can source your Orgeat. It can be made at home after a quick Google search but it is just one of those things that even the majority of bartenders do not make. Most big bottle shops and even some of your smaller ones now stock it.
Once you have that, make sure you have enough ice prepared for shaking your cocktail
Get your coupe glass in the freezer ready to serve your cocktail in
Add all your ingredients to your cocktail shaker
Prepare your grapefruit twist, making sure you remove as much pith as possible
Fill your shaker with ice and shake your cocktail as hard as possible for around 20 seconds
Fine strain your cocktail into your coupe glass
Express grapefruit oil over the top of the cocktail using the twist and discard. No need to pop this one in the cocktail

How To Drink A Whiskey Sour Cocktail

A whiskey sour is traditionally served before dinner, but if you’re out at a bar and you order one, the bartender will likely view you as someone with sophistication. A whiskey sour is a drink that someone who knows cocktails will order to enjoy the tastes and textures, not just someone who wants to get blind-drunk. For that, you may as well just order a vodka and soda water.

Whiskey Sour FAQ

What whiskey is best for whiskey sour?

For a classic whiskey sour, bourbon is the top choice. Traditionally, the drink calls for 80-proof bourbon for the base. Still, you can use any whiskey that you like to drink neat so the flavor comes through in the cocktail.

Can you use an instant sour mix for whiskey sour?

By all means, you can use an instant sour mix for your cocktail if you do not have time to juice lemons and make a simple syrup. Just choose the good ones in the market.

What are other popular whiskey drinks?

Whiskey blends well with mixers so there a number of popular cocktails to choose from. You can try Irish Coffee, Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Whiskey Smash and Sazerac.

The Health Benefits Of A Beard

As we come into winter here in Australia, a beard comes into its own. Beards protect you from the cold and wind, and can help ward off throat diseases and asthma attacks, as long as you wash it regularly. More beard = less sick days = more productivity. Hard for your boss to argue with that, particularly when there’s a global pandemic going around.

If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere and coming into summer, a beard can also help protect your neck and face from sunburn. If you work outside, this could be a lifesaver during sunny days.

The Business Case For A Beard

Jimmy Niggles, the founder, CEO and ambassador for Beard Season, presents a strong business case for a beard in the workplace:

One of our ambassadors, Sir Richard Branson, actually credits his beard to a lot of his business success, saying it made him more memorable. I’m sure if your boss wants to stand in the way of your wonderful wooly pursuit, we’ll see if Branson can vouch for you. Plus, in six or so months time you should have something godly growing there no one on earth could argue with.

If a beard ups the charisma factor and lets you seal deals like one of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, why get rid of it?

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A post shared by Jimmy Niggles Esq. (@jimmyniggles) on Aug 12, 2019 at 1:16am PDT

Stand Your Ground

Alternatively, the easiest way to keep that quarantine beard around is to not call attention to it. It’s all about your attitude – if you treat it as normal, then the rest of the office will, too.

Looking for someone who’s made the beard an office staple, I was referred to Matt K, a regional delivery manager for DXC Technology in Adelaide. Matt’s beard is fantastic and he also had some fantastic advice:

It’s not really a matter of convincing [your] colleagues, it’s more “This is how it is now”. No different to a hairstyle that someone may have gone and had done over the weekend…

Treat your beard well. Just like the hair on your head (if I had any), it needs to be shampooed, conditioned, and brushed… Find a good beard oil.

Hopefully now you’re armed with everything you need to keep your quarantine beard around. They’re an endangered species. Do your bit and preserve them.