“Don’t tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value.” – Joe Biden

[A statement from the 107ist board of directors.]

For the past 5 years, PTFC has offered a Trimet pass for the day of each match free of charge with season tickets. This pass was a great benefit to the community.

•  It cut down on traffic in an already congested area. Having that already-paid-for pass burning a hole in your pocket made it that much easier to hop on a bus or train to get to a match.
•  It cut down on the number of people parking in a neighborhood with limited parking.
• It likely prevented any number of DUI incidents by easily inclining many fans to use a free ride before a couple of beers at the match rather than making the choice after, with their vehicle already away from home.
• It encouraged public transit usage, reducing the carbon footprint of every PTFC season ticket holder.

The Timbers are in a unique situation with historic Providence Park. They have been given keys to a stadium situated in the heart of downtown Portland in a location that money simply cannot buy.

Indeed, Providence Park is one of the few stadiums in North America without ANY parking belonging to the stadium itself. In 2011, PTFC recognized this situation and responded with innovative and unique programs from bike parking to arrangements with local garages to the free transit pass.

Are we as Timbers supporters owed a free ride to the game? No. Are we responsible for the decisions we make on game day about getting behind the wheel? Certainly. But it was nice to see our club making that smart investment in the safety and enjoyment of our community. It was a brilliant thing to do and demonstrated their commitment in making the Goose Hollow neighborhood a vibrant, pleasant, safe place to be.

It was part of what made PTFC and Portland better—a cut above every other team and city. Seeing PTFC slash that Trimet pass in the season ticket package was hugely disappointing.

They approached the board about it in the months leading up to renewals and we voiced our objection to no avail. They state that they are still “subsidizing” Trimet passes by offering them at half price, but it is hard to imagine that this is anything more than PTFC simply passing on the discounted price they get from Trimet. So, at no cost to the club how can it be reasonably described as a subsidy provided by the club? Indeed, a significant savings has been achieved by PTFC in cutting the expense of providing these discounted tickets for free as in previous years (a true subsidy).

This decision is especially puzzling when PTFC is by every metric financially healthy. Indeed Forbes magazine ranked PTFC the 4th most valuable franchise in the league with an estimated value of $185 million (remember Merritt Paulson paid $35 million for the franchise) and yearly profits of $4 million.

All of this comes at the same time PTFC has signed a sponsorship deal with Uber to provide discounted rides to and from the games. Setting aside the questionable business practices of this company, it is exceedingly difficult to believe that the deal with Uber had no influence or was not dependent on the decision to cut the budget for the Trimet passes.

From our perspective the club has traded an investment in our community and a benefit for its most loyal customers for yet another “partnership” designed to benefit the already healthy bottom line of PTFC. This is at best completely tone deaf, and at worst downright shady. Trading the expense to Trimet for the income from Uber demonstrates a change in values that is sincerely disheartening for people who love this club and this city.

—by Scott Jeffries

 This past Saturday, a group of 107ist members went to the Veterans Affairs Community Living Center in Vancouver, USA to begin improving their courtyard garden. Over the course of three hours, an army of nine people pulled a year's worth of weeds, hacking away at blackberry vines, digging up dandelions, and clearing out patches of thistle. The project was the beginning of a larger effort to make the garden a more attractive and accessible space with the ultimate intent of building some raised garden beds for the wheelchair-bound residents to use next spring. We had the privilege of being joined by Timber Jim, whose love of gardening knows no bounds. I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning than sitting in the sunshine while Jim tells the story of the first time he brought a chainsaw to Civic Stadium. As an added bonus, the courtyard looks out on the Clark College soccer field, allowing the residents to sit and take in the beautiful game.

On a personal note, I work in public health and am a student at OHSU. I've ridden the 8 past the VA hospital for the past two years and any Daily Show devotee will remember Jon Stewart's crusade to improve the state of the VA. Without going too far into a political rant, the state of our health care system is appalling, especially so for veterans who get nowhere near the funding or services they need after putting their lives on the line. This is not to malign the good people at the VA but rather a government that cares more about starting wars than taking care of its soldiers when they're over.

Before we started, we were instructed not to touch the watermelon and tomatoes that had been planted by a resident and were surrounded by weeds. As we finished up, an elderly man in a wheelchair came by, and seeing the now-pristine dirt, exclaimed, "Now that you've done that, I'm going to have to find some winter crops to plant!" It was the gardener himself, and seeing and hearing his joy was a great reward. And next year, he'll be able to tend his own garden.

—by Garrett Dittfurth

This summer the Timbers announced they had acquired Lucas Melano from Argentina club Lanus. While the terms of the deal were not officially announced, it was widely reported the Timbers paid a $5 million transfer fee and signed Melano to a 4 year guarantee contract fee paying him just over $1 million a year; making him the 2^nd highest paid player on the Timbers and about the 20^th in the league.

The disparity in those two numbers jumped out at me: a $5 million transfer fee for a non-U.S. National team star is basically unprecedented in this league. A $1 million a year salary is not.

It was a historic move by the Timbers that in many ways represented a shift in how MLS does business for one very important reason: the Timbers expect to recoup their $5 million invesement.

A Little MLS History

MLS (and it’s member franchises) has long been a league very reluctant to play in the high stakes world of big money buying and selling players we see in international football.  There was a good reason for this: for much of MLS existence the financial wherewithal was simply not there to pay millions in transfer fees on top of the salary requirements that accompany such players.

So MLS has shopped in the “free transfer” section of the world football market. Most of the big names all came to MLS “on a free” (meaning they were out of contract and no compensation was paid to a club for their rights) : David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Carlos Valderamma, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Rafa Marquez, Frank Lampard, Andres Pirlo, Steven Gerrard and Didier Drogba.

Still the best hair to ever play in MLS.

Of course these big names command(ed) big salaries and MLS and it’s clubs have paid these salaries with no hope of recovering that cost in the world transfer market as these players are coming stateside for one last swansong prior to retirement. They are/were willing to accept these sunken costs in the form of high salaries in hope these big names would pay off in the ticketing and marketing columns of the club spreadsheet.

Even when clubs were willing to invest in buying players, the league office has famously stepped in and blocked clubs from doing so when they didn’t like the terms of the deal or precedent it would have set.

So $5 million for a relative unknown forward from Argentina represents a rather radical shift away from MLS traditional business model.

A New Approach

In fact in the history of MLS, only one non-U.S. national team player has commanded more than Lucas Melano: Jermaine Defoe.  When MLS has paid transfer fees for foreign players it has been for relatively known quantities (Robbie Keane, Obafemi Maertins etc) and generally in the $1 to $3 million range.

Here are the top 10 transfer fees paid by MLS/member clubs:

 

So why does all this matter and why should you care as a Timbers fan?

You should care for three reasons:

1) It means this club has money. Despite the recent high profile acquisition of aging Euro-stars (Lampard, Pirlo, Gerard) I believe MLS willingness to allow the Timbers to spend $5 million dollars on a “flyer” speaks volumes to the financial health of both this club and the league.

2) The Timbers invested in potential (and future profit) in lieu of current skills. Lucas Melano is NOT a $5 million a year striker. Do not confuse transfer market investment in a player’s potential with his current worth as a player. The players making $4 million a year or more in MLS are:   No sane Timbers fan will argue that right now Lucas Melano is in the same company as Keane, Martins or Giovinco. The Timbers have pegged Melano’s skill as worth $1 million a year which puts him in the same company as Federico Higuain, Innocent Emeghara, Liam Ridgewell, Kennedy Igboananike and Octavio Rivero.

3) The Timbers will want a return on their investment so don’t get too used to the player in a Timbers jersey if he starts banging in the goals for the boys in Green and Gold.

 

Only time will tell whether Lucas Melano will be a success in MLS.   If he has a great year or two in a Timbers jersey Merritt Paulson, the team and the league will profit handsomely when some European club comes calling. If that happens, the Melano signing may very well mark the moment MLS moved from a “retirement league” to a “sell on” one.

—by Andrew Brawley

Tickets are now on sale to all!

Members, use the link and password that was emailed last week.

Bus/ticket combo: $60 (member price)

Ticket only: $24 (member price)

Non-members, use these links:

Bus/ticket combo

Match ticket only

Buses and captains are:

Bus #1 - Drew Picard — Rev Nats

Bus #2 - David Auxier — Bridgeport

Bus #3 - Matt Lindley — Burnside

Bus #4 - Eric Berg — Cascade Lakes

SOLD OUT - Bus #5 - Patch Perryman — Gigantic

Bus #6 - Nick Brock — Hopworks

Bus #7 - Richard Sheals — Lompoc

Bus #8 - Sara Nelson — Lucky Lab

Bus #9 - Steph Nova — Portland Cider

Bus #10 – Patrick Musto – Rogue

 

If you are a paid-up member but have not been receiving the weekly emails please first check your spam folder, if they are not there email us at membership@107ist.org ASAP and we'll look into it.

FAQ

I bought a "ticket only" for the Seattle away game. Where do I get the real ticket?

• Tickets will be distributed in Seattle. You will receive an email closer to match day with all the details on where and when.

I bought a bus/ticket combo. Where do I get my ticket for the match?

• You will be given your match ticket as you get on the bus. Make sure to put it in a secure place as we do not have replacement tickets. If you lose it, you will need to pay for another one.

I'm taking the bus. Where can I put all my stuff when I'm at the match?

• You can leave your personal belongings on the bus. The bus will be secured.

I'm not a member, can I buy a ticket to the match?

• Tickets are available to 107ist members at this time.

I just joined, should I use the link above?

• You will be mailed a link to purchase tickets at the member price within 48 hours of you joining (sooner if we can)

How many tickets can I buy?

• Members may purchase two tickets, one of which can be for a non-member.

Are the tickets general admission or assigned seats?

• Tickets will have a seat number printed on them. However, the section is general admission and you are free to stand anywhere within our designated area.

What section will we be in?

• 301 & 302

I can no longer attend, can I get a refund or sell my ticket to someone else?

• Refunds only given in the case of a genuine personal emergency*
• You may sell or transfer your ticket to someone else. IMPORTANT - Email awaytravel@107ist.org with the purchaser's name, email address and contact info

 

What if I can't get to the ticket pick-up in time?

• It is imperative that you pick up your ticket on time.
• Due to security procedures mandated by Seattle front office and CenturyLink, we are required to enter the stadium as a group.
• If you cannot make it in time due to a genuine emergency**, please contact awaytravel@107ist.org AS SOON AS POSSIBLE and we will leave your ticket at Will Call.
• Please be aware that the travel committee has their hands full on match day and are not always available by email. An emergency contact number will be emailed to everyone closer to the match

What if I get to will-call and there's an error with my order?

• Call the emergency contact number (will be emailed to everyone closer to the match)

*Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on our part.

**Staying at the bar to drink longer is NOT a true emergency.

—by Matthew Lindley

** Know that this is an opinion piece, and it doesn't reflect the official opinion of anyone (except Matt). **

This last Friday night, as the Timbers found their way into a 1-0 home win, I was wearing a scarf I had gleefully just made a trade for — a scarf dedicated to a certain classic arcade game. That’s when a friend asked the question, “What the hell does that have to do with the Timbers?” And all I could answer was “Umm… It says Rose City?” My comment properly earned a hardened look of disdain.

The thing is, he was wrong and right at the same time. I love soccer scarves and scarf culture in general. I remember seeing different scarves when I would watch EPL matches before I even moved to Portland and thinking what an amazing aspect of support that was. I bought an FO scarf the first day I walked into PGE Park in 2007 because I already knew I couldn’t quite support right without team colors around my neck. All I wanted in the world was the amazing-looking green and black bar scarf I saw so many wearing around their necks. On that day in 2009 (my first day in the TA) when I finally had one around my neck, I truly felt like I belonged.

From there, like many others, I lost my damn mind. I started collecting other Timbers- and TA-related scarves, scarves from other supporters groups, scarves of my beloved Liverpool, scarves of bands I was seeing, and so on and so forth. My true obsessive-compulsive side has been in full overdrive since that first day. I love my scarves, every single one of them, like children. Well, children you’d be willing to trade for better-looking, more sought-after children. (Note: Matthew does not actually have children.)

It used to be there was only that one scarf: Chelsea Chris paid money out of his own pocket, asking only for cost in return, so that this new group of supporters taking up behind the north goal would have a cool scarf to wear at matches. Over the years, a few more scarves found their way around the necks of the “Green White Army” — Legends, Magic Is Real, ACES, etc. All shining beacons of what was had and what was growing under that wood roof.

In the old halcyon days of pickle buckets, SCUSA, and tailgate parties, scarf-trading was about as good as it got. Sponsoring a set of the latest piece of awesome someone posted online, trading for some other piece of awesome someone brought to the parking lot or the North End. Getting a new scarf was like Indy grabbing the idol in Raiders, complete with booby traps. (Make of that what you will.)

Cut to now, present day, and a whole new world — a dystopian land where SCUSA is dead, the evil Lord Facebook rules, and scarf-trading culture is overrun by greed, saturation, and completism. It’s no longer “Spread the Love,” it’s “What can you do for me?”

Gone are the days of “Who did you scarf?” threads; instead, it’s “Who did you persuade to give you 35 of their scarves for the one they think is rare this week?” Also gone is the idea of “Hey, remember that cool thing that happened on the pitch?”; it’s “Caleb wore a tan jacket this week. Let’s make a tan scarf that says CALEB on one side and NICE JACKET on the other, and we can all hold it up, in for a set, YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!” And absolutely finished are the days of “Boy howdy, that’s a cool scarf! I sure hope I find my way into one!”; instead, it’s “I didn’t get one of those back in the day, so let’s make another run of it!” “Who the hell is this Clive guy?” “Let’s make a Legends scarf with Jorge Perlaza and Kenny Cooper on it!” Trust me: If you’ve watched the Total Recall reboot or listened to the Flaming Lips “cover” of Sgt. Peppers, some things should just be left classic.

Now look, I know I may be coming off harsh at best, and at worst, curmudgeonly, and I know there are some newer TA members who really wish the “Care Like We Do” crowd would just curl up and die, but when venom and vitriol reaches the fever pitch it has lately, what the hell does it have to do with our boys in green? If this team lost every match the rest of the season, but you were able to make a seven-way trade for your all-time unicorn, would it be worth it?

All I’m saying is this: Trade scarves; they are awesome. Make scarves, even if they have nothing to do with the Timbers, but everything to do with your own little pocket of geekdom. Wear scarves, even when it’s 103 degrees out, and your non-footy-loving friends make fun of you. But please, don’t forget why we all got gathered here in the first place, and stop taking everything so godforsaken seriously. Try scarfing a noob every once in a while. Spread the Love. And if that isn’t enough, shoot over to this link and help out some amazing members of the TA… you might even score your “white whale” in the deal.

Once you’ve finished that, if you’ve got an original Tetris, I’ve got five scarves, a case of spiced IPA, and a lock of Taka Suzuki’s hair I’d like to trade.

—by Matthew Lindley

** BTW, this is an opinion piece, and it does not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Timbers Army, 107ist, or 107ist board of directors.**

By the time you read this, our yearly 90-minute nightmare will be over: Another MLS All-Star Game will have come and gone, and many a Timbers fan will join alongside fans throughout the league in dosing their torches for yet another year. Personally, I am not one of the “trophies, not friendlies” haters of all things extracurricular; in fact, the drooling junkie of a soccer nerd in me enjoys friendlies quite a bit. But there is a big factor that ruins it all for even the widest-eyed consumer such as me: They’ve sucked all the fun out of it.

There has always been a very tense marriage between the “world’s game” and “American sports culture.” The old NASL had its “fouls” for TV timeouts, loosened offside rules, and hockey-esque overtime shootouts. The MLS has its pyrotechnics, post-season playoffs, and an All-Star Game.

When I was a kid, all-star games were my favorite thing ever. “You mean I get to watch Griffey play against the National League?” Yes! “You mean Jordan and Kobe are just going to take circus shots all night long?” Sign me up. “You mean all of the players that didn’t make it to the Super Bowl are going to play each other a week after the Super Bowl, when everyone is completely burned out on football?” Ok, they can’t all be gems.

But that is just the thing: Your particular sports’ all-star game used to be their showcase night (or weekend) of the year for the best and brightest to show off and goof off in equal portions. John Kruk batting with his helmet on backwards after Randy Johnson buzzed the tower in 1993. Vince Carter giving up his spot so that Jordan could start his final ASG. Davey Allison passing at the finish and then crashing in 1992. (Yes, I mentioned NASCAR, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.)

And, like its fellow American-sports brethren, the MLS All-Star Game used to be fun, too: traditional West vs. East, Landy Cakes copying the Brandi Chastain “sports bra” celebration, legendary GK Jorge Campos entering as a position player and scoring a goal... Imagine how much press the league could grab with moments like that now that they are more popular than ever — but they won’t, because the match isn’t an all-star game anymore.

From the moment that the Taylor Twellman’s 2005 MLS all-stars took the pitch against Fulham in Columbus 10 years ago, the MLS All-Star Game became a friendly and, in some a cases, a relatively competitive one (see last year’s “Handshake-gate”). Sure, the MLS team is a ragtag group of all-stars, but any foreign team they play is usually less than a month away from the start of their regular season. They are here to be a part of Don Garber’s Cavalcade of Stars. They are here to get match fit and/or not get hurt long enough to get back on the plane.

The Mad Notebook Killa himself, Clint Dempsey, suggested this week that the league go back to an East vs West ASG, and then award the MLS Cup Final to the conference that wins. WORSE IDEA! This is the idea that has pretty much rendered the MLB game unwatchable.

As much as it makes me throw up in my mouth a little, I do agree with something Dempsey said: Go back to the original East vs West format. This would be great… Hell, it wouldn’t even need to be East vs West. Do North America vs the world. Do South America vs North America vs the World in the first-ever televised match of three-team soccer! (Google it.) While you are at it, throw in an NHL-style skills competition the night before for good measure. No matter what you do, find a way to make the All-Star Game an all-star game again!

There will forever be the haters who will pepper Twitter with vitriol halfway through each season. But for the smiling, drooling, impressionable American soccer geeks like me, oh please, Lord Garber, give us an all-star game we can enjoy again.

By registering to walk as part of the Timbers Army team for $19.78 (the year Jimmy joined the Timbers), you are not only supporting the Friends of Jimmy Conway's fundraising efforts for the Alzheimer's Association, you are also receiving a team-specific t-shirt (art pictured below). The walk is on September 13 at Portland International Raceway.

More about Jimmy Conway and the Friends of Jimmy Conway

Jimmy Conway is one of five members of the Timbers Ring of Honor. He was inducted for his 30 years of dedicated service to soccer in the Pacific Northwest.

His career started in Dublin, Ireland, and he became a distinguished player for Fulham FC, Manchester City, Portland Timbers, and the Republic of Ireland. After finishing his professional career, he joined a local amateur team, St Pat’s, which became Pierre’s SC, and played with distinction in the Oregon Adult Soccer Association.

His distinguished career in coaching included spells with Pacific University, Oregon State University, Portland Timbers, and the Oregon Youth Soccer Association, where he spent more than 28 years as state coach.

Few people have had such a positive effect on soccer in the Pacific Northwest, and odds are if you are involved with the game in any way, Jimmy contributed to the development of the organization you are a part of.

In late 2009, Jimmy was diagnosed with trauma-induced dementia, and since then has suffered the consequences of this deadly disease. He is currently hospitalized for treatment of his condition.

Each year since 2010, family and friends have joined together at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s to raise awareness and donations in Jimmy’s name (Friends of Jimmy Conway), to show our respect and gratitude for his selfless devotion to the sport of soccer, and to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s. Please join Jimmy’s wife, Noeleen, and friends in the soccer community on Sunday, September 13th, at P.I.R. to show our respect and gratitude for Jimmy’s contribution to soccer and to raise money to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s.

To register, click here.

Have questions about the Walk to End Alzheimer's: Friends of Jimmy Conway, Timbers Army Team? Contact 107 Independent Supporters Trust.

—by Matthew Lindley

Here in the North End, you are not black or white— you are green and gold.

You are not gay or straight — you are Timbers Army.

Those are the words TA board member Garrett Dittfurth used to end his amazing piece in 2013 about the tifo for International Day Against Homophobia. That tifo set into motion a partnership that saw its third chapter a few weekends ago: the Timbers Army and the Portland Pride Parade. As big a presence as we in the TA are at times, the Pride Parade is so much larger that even being in the pre-parade area is a truly humbling experience.

The day began with a contingent collecting flags from the cage at Providence Park as others began to gather at the staging area in the Park Blocks. The area was buzzing like the wristband line on Derby Day as folks collected and excitement rose about the day’s impending event. Finally, after watching the parade start for organizations such as the “Raging Grannies,” the Unitarian Church, and even Hot Lips Pizza (which brought about a fantastic chant of “WE EAT PIZZA”), the TA/Riveters group stepped off around 12:15 p.m.

For Marion Skinner, the lone drummer of the day, marching with the TA in the Pride Parade is a culmination of the acceptance she has felt all along. “Last year, I got divorced, and though I was really new to the 107ist, it was TA who was there to support me during rough times, whether it was by inviting me to participate in volunteer and social activities, or hooking me up with an extra bed for my kids,” said Skinner. “Be it your sexuality, religion, race, class, or position in life that sets you apart, the TA is there to accept you.”

This year’s organizer, Drew Picard, led everyone in Pride-themed versions of TA chants as we marched through the streets of the Rose City. Those lining the route were excited and amused by songs such as “Pride, Not Prejudice” (to the tune of “Onward, Rose City”) and “When you hear the cheers of the Timbers Army queers/We’ll be comin’ down the road.” Even the obligatory protestors — hey, there were three of them this year! — found themselves drowned out as we jumped, clapped, and sang for equality. There would be an occasional cheer when we came into view, pictures taken, and — most rewarding of all — a thank you.

“Having the 107ist represented in the parade is a reflection of this Portland community and soccer community understanding, and supporting each of our trials and successes regardless of gender/race/ethnicity/sexuality,” said Sunday White, TA and Thorns Capo, who marched up front with the Timbers Army banner. “It is a large group of the community stating that ‘HEY! WE ARE PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY TOO, AND WE LOVE YOU!’ ”

There are a lot of things the TA does to be proud of — charity, outreach, support, etc. — but to be part of the TA, standing beside the rest of the city we call home, and showing the world that we support love and equality above all else, I’m hard pressed to find a day where I’ve been more proud to call myself TA.

As much as I don’t care to participate in sequels, I felt the circumstances justified a rehash of this modern classic. (Seriously, I still get asked about it these days. Thanks Deadspin and Seattle PI!)

In our last edition, I proposed curbing your alcohol intake on the day before a mid-day match on Sunday. In theory, less hangovers would equate to a more lively crowd to cheer on the boys in green. I still support this idea, but the overall response leaves me to believe that the pure concept of Sober Saturday is not reasonable. Apparently Portland has a penchant for beer and/or spirits. Who knew?

(Full disclosure: even I didn’t observe the original Sober Saturday, as I was returning from vacation on the east coast that day, and sitting in FIRST CLASS! That’s too long of a flight to not partake in the offerings. Plus, did I mention I'm a baller?)

With the upcoming perfect storm of a Sunday 4pm kickoff, a nationally-televised match, projected triple-digit heat, and the crapheads from craptown crossing the Interstate Bridge and invading our ‘hood for a few hours, perhaps it’s time to discuss a more appropriate version of Sober Saturday, one that Portlanders can be more willing to adopt.

I now present a list (in no particular order) of beverages considered to be acceptable for the new iteration Sober Saturday.

Hefe Shandy

By Widmer Brothers

It’s Hefeweizen, which is beer. We like beer. It’s also Shandy, which is not beer. I’m no scientist, but this seems like a local craft beer with slightly less beer in it, therefore making it appropriate for this occasion.

Zima

By Coors Brewing

It’s clear, which probably means it’s better for you. Hell, you’re probably an idiot for NOT drinking it. Which might explain why Japan is not made of idiots, cuz that’s the only place you can get Zima these days. Book your flights today!

Jack and Water

A collaboration between Jack Daniel Distillery and Portland Water Bureau

In a nutshell (which, ironically, is what Jack Daniels tastes like), this is an American whiskey that’s “cut” with water. It’s pretty simple. If your pouring ratio is exactly 50/50, you could have two of these and feel as is you just had one full drink of Jack Daniels. Consult your nearest mathematician for details. For a unique spin on this classic, try it with fluoridated water, which can be obtained 10 miles in any direction outside of the city of Portland.

Iced Tea w/ Chamomile Liqueur

A collaboration between J. Witty Spirits and the Lipton Tea bags in your pantry

If you like to make your own iced tea in the summer, add a splash of this chamomile liqueur to give it just a minor kick. And I do mean minor. This liqueur is only 40 proof, which is the equivalent of a packet of Splenda sitting out for a decade to naturally become some form of alcohol. No joke, this is my summer jam. I used to get this stuff at New Deal Distillery, but I haven’t been there in a while, so I can’t say if they still carry it or not.

Note: the author does not necessarily endorse, nor was paid by, the products / makers mentioned above. However, the author will accept free products from said makers cuz diapers ain't cheap.

Double-note: please drink responsibly.

This is an opinion piece and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the 107ist or the Timbers Army.