Home Stretch: Manhattan and the Home Stretch Mixtape

By Dave Pezza

Hey all, welcome back to Home Stretch! We’re mixing it up a bit this week (pause for laughter). It’s summer; it’s hot and muggy, at least here at Writer’s Bone’s Providence, R.I., branch; and we’re all groggy and tired from our first full week since Independence Day.

Woof.

I attempted to choose an album and a cocktail that best represented that mushy feeling and continually fell short. So I resorted to an old friend: bourbon. Hence the Manhattan, a classic bourbon cocktail. And what works best with bourbon on a warm, muggy, Wednesday night other than country music? Nothing.

Now I am a self-professed opponent of country music, especially that contemporary dross. However, I'm human, and even I have a bullpen of folk and country tunes that hit me where I live after a long day. So because of my country music album ignorance, I have crafted a Home Stretch playlist of mostly folk and country tunes with a surprise here and there. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope it complements your Manhattan—and for the lucky ones in New York City, your Manhattanhenge— adequately.

What you’ll need:

• 2.5 or 3 ounces Maker’s Mark 46 Kentucky bourbon whiskey (Maker's Mark give us money, please)
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• 1 dash angostura bitters
• Maraschino cherry
• Ice
• Cocktail shaker
• Cocktail glass

The Manhattan was purportedly invented at the Manhattan Club just before the turn of the century. The cocktail gained a following, and people began to request the cocktail served at the Manhattan. And just like that, a cocktail was born! I’m a notorious bourbon fiend, and for me the Manhattan offers a bourbon-based drink that doesn’t overly drown out the whiskey. Rather, the Manhattan gives bourbon a wider accessibility, making it a nice pairing with dinner or a more casual cocktail (say on a Wednesday night). Bourbon is not the only whiskey used to make a Manhattan though. Rye is the more traditional, pre-Prohibition option, and Canadian whiskey the go-to during that time period. Choose your own adventure there.

2.5 or 3 oz. bourbon/”You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive”

I love pairing these two things together more than I should. First up, grab that cocktail glass and throw it in the freezer. You’re hot, sweaty, and tired. You deserve an ice-cold cocktail in an ice-cold glass. While you are in the freezer, grab enough ice to fill the cocktail shaker a quarter of the way. I like less ice in the shaker. It allows more contact against the shaker, causing the ice to bang and chip more often and thereby chilling the contents more.

Now for the bourbon! Any brand will do, but please don’t use high-end stuff. It’s not me being a snob; it’s just not cost effective. High-end bourbon is meant to be drunk straight or with a very small amount of ice, which is why you break the bank for just a 750 ml. I’m using Maker’s 46 Kentucky bourbon whiskey. Maker’s 46 tiptoes that line of mixable bourbon and drinking-straight bourbon. I love the taste and afterglow of bourbon, so I chose Maker’s 46 because it’ll retain more of the bourbon flavor once mixed. If that isn’t your jam, and you’d prefer to limit that bourbon aftertaste, I’d suggest a less robust bourbon. I’d also suggest you add 2.5 oz. instead of 3 oz. You’ll taste more of the sweet vermouth and bitters that way, perhaps rounding out the flavor profile a bit more. Your Wednesday night, your call. Add your appropriate amount of bourbon to the contents of the shaker.

Bourbon is synonymous with Kentucky, and Harlan County might be the most famous part of Kentucky. This killer track was originally written and performed by Darrell Scott, a country artist extraordinaire, who has played with the likes of Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris. This lesser known track of his was made famous by Brad Paisley, who covered the song for the finale of the first season of hit television show “Justified.” Every season finale thereafter, a new artist covered the song. A sobering look into the lives of coal miners Appalachia, “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” manages to emote the tragedies and beauties of a hard life in a mere six minutes. I’m opening the playlist with this track to set the tone both musically (banjo, fiddle/violin, acoustic guitar) and thematically. Many of these songs are stories about hard working folks like you and me that have no option than to wade through downs and skip along with the ups.

1 oz. sweet vermouth/“Save It For Later”

Any old sweet vermouth should suffice, but I use the Martini brand for all of my vermouth needs. It’s certainly a reliable taste. Add a single ounce of vermouth to the shaker. Don’t put too much vermouth in any cocktail because it ruins both the subtle flavor of the vermouth itself and the main liquor you with which you are mixing it.

About half way through the playlist you come across a little gem that I have not been able to keep out of my head. Sure it’s not country…or folk. But it is acoustic, and it details some serious heartache. Close enough, right? This track, originally written and performed by The English Beat, is magically covered by the incomparable Pete Townshend. Townshend nails the constant guitar undertone that is accented by trumpet and some raw vocals. Much less poppy than the original, Townshend’s version allows the song’s lyrics about keeping love from slipping through your fingers to firmly grip you by the heart and yank it this way and that.

1 dash angostura bitters/“Laundry Room”

A single dash of angostura bitters will do plenty here. I am not a huge fan of bitters, but they play the same role in the Manhattan as they do in an Old Fashioned. It allows distinct flavors to appear on the palate by punctuating the sweet vermouth before the bourbon finish. Add that dash to your cocktail shaker.

“Laundry Room” by The Avett Brothers performs a similar role in this playlist. It’s a casually sweet, hopeful, and still somewhat brooding tune that I’ve adored from the first time I heard it. It’s also a very strong road trip song. The back end of the playlist will leave you with a sorrowful taste. “Laundry Room” will hopefully preempt that taste with a reminder of all that is good and right with the world. After all, would we know the true joy of good times without the bad? Have fun with this one!

1 Maraschino Cherry/”River”

Close up that shaker, shake it good and proper, making sure it is so cold you can’t stand holding it any long. Grab the cocktail glass from the freezer, add a lone Maraschino cherry for garnish, and pour.

“River” is absolutely the cherry on the bottom of this playlist. If you felt the pain, brooding, relief, and joy of the previous songs, “River” will wash it all away and lull you into a state of quite being. Close your eyes, sip your cocktail, and drift for a little. Forget what is ahead and behind and just enjoy the present.

Cheers!

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Home Stretch: The Original Margarita and “Gun for You” by The Greenhornes

By Dave Pezza

Hey everyone, welcome back to Home Stretch where we present to you a DIY cocktail and an accompanying album to help you ride out the rest of your week with some semblance of sanity.

This week we’ll be making a wonderfully easy and delicious version of the margarita and listening to “Gun for You,” the 1999 debut release of Detroit garage rockers The Greenhornes. These selections take a classic approach to both genres. The classic margarita is a stripped down, no frills version of a popular and over-thought cocktail. The Greenhornes are a 1990s version of 1960s pop rock. Think Beatles meets The Doors but playing in dive bars in downtown Detroit during the late ‘90s. The Greenhornes didn’t have much commercial success, unlike their friend and fellow Detroit rocker Jack White of The White Stripes.

After a few albums, The Greenhornes split, returning to record a new album in the late 2000s after the band's rhythm section, Jack Lawrence (bass) and Patrick Keeler (drums), hit success with Jack White’s second band The Raconteurs (famous for “Steady as She Goes”). The band recorded one more album, “Four Stars,” in 2010 with a killer single, “Underestimator,” but nothing I have heard in a long time sounds quite like their debut album. It brings a contemporary vibe to that classic, and beloved, early rock sound. With the weather finally warming up, this album and cocktail will get you feeling alright on a Wednesday night.

What you’ll need:

• 2.5 oz. silver tequila
• 1 oz. Cointreau
• 1 oz. lime juice
• Coarse sea salt or sugar
• Lime for garnish
• Rocks glass
• Cocktail shaker
• Ice

What can you say about the margarita that you don’t already know? It’s the most palatable version of tequila known to mankind, which is no small feat. This “original” version is way more versatile and is much more geared toward lovers of simple cocktails or those that want to whip up a quick drink for the lawn chair on a summer night. It’s also pretty potent, but that’s a good thing. It’s a cocktail after all!

2.5 oz. of silver tequila/“The End of the Night”

The key here is Blue Agave Silver Tequila. I went with your garden variety Jose Cuervo Especial. It gets the job done for sure. I wouldn’t bother with higher priced tequila here. Start off by filling your cocktail shaker with ice about half way. Then add 2.5 oz. of the tequila.

Tequila is the firebrand of alcohol. Always has been, always will be. “The End of the Night” is the album’s opening track, and gets you grooving to The Greenhornes sound early and often. Clocking in at only a minute and fifty-one seconds, this track gives you the full breadth of the band’s sound in a perfectly compact package—simple guitar melody, modest lead guitar riffs, and Ringo Star-styled drums that aren't putting anyone through college but never miss a beat. You’re swaying, you’re grooving, and just the smell of the tequila has got you loosening up.

1 oz. of Cointreau/“Hold Me”

You should still have that bottle of Cointreau I made you buy in Home Stretch’s first post back in May. Don’t worry, you’ll be getting your money’s worth on that bottle in the next few weeks. As previously mentioned, Cointreau helps round the sharper flavors of the alcohol it accompanies. In this case, Cointreau takes a little bit of that tequila bite out, smoothing it with citrus undertones. And at 80 proof, Cointreau is truly a silent killer, helping to make this cocktail all the more potent. Add one ounce of Cointreau to the shaker.

“Hold Me” is a quieter, organ transfused The Doors-esque ballad that breaks the album in two. You can sing along and sway because the groove is simultaneously immense and calming. Perhaps it’s the album's hidden gem, I’ll let you decide.

1 oz. lime juice/“Show Me Love”

“Show Me Love” is this album’s “Love Me Do.” Suggestive, fun, and sure to crack a smile on that crinkled, Wednesday face. This track is the first of a double feature that works really well together to offer a mild and measured almost rockabilly nature. “Show Me Love” really gets you moving and rocking as you wrap up your cocktail.

Lime goes well with tequila, it’s a thing. Don’t shy away from it here. I’d offer that in addition to lime juice, add some fresh squeezed lime juice from the lime you’ll be using in part for garnish later. Add an ounce of lime juice to the shaker.

Shake, coarse sea salt, garnish, pour/“So Cold”

Everyone loves the heartbreak song. You just can’t help it. “So Cold” will hit you where it counts, but this track offers solemn organs, delicate guitar, and a laid back drum beat that makes it an entirely enjoyable ballad. Don’t fear, there is a trio of tracks left that ends the album on a lively note.

Go ahead and shake the contents of the cocktail shaker well. Slice off a wedge of the lime and run it along the edge of your rocks glass, squeezing as you run it along the rim. Then pour your course sea salt or sugar, depending on your taste, into a plate and dip the rim of the glass into the salt or sugar, turning to make sure the lime juice picks up as much of the salt or sugar as possible. Add some ice to the rocks glass and pour! Finally garnish with a wedge of lime.

Salute!

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Home Stretch: Gimlet and 'Ash & Ice' by The Kills

By Dave Pezza

And we’re back with the third installment of Home Stretch, a cocktail and album paring designed to shoo away those hump days fits and tantrums. This week’s choices are as straightforward as they are enjoyable: the gin-based Gimlet and The Kills’ 2016 album “Ash & Ice.”

The Kills are composed of Nashville-based vocalist Alison Mosshart (also of the band Dead Weather) and U.K.-based guitarist Jamie Hince. For a band that is just vocals, guitar, and occasional percussion, it packs a wallop of noise into each song. Their earlier albums are a bluesier, dirtier version of The White Stripes. I highly recommend their self-titled first album—it’s raw, powerful, and danceable—but “Ash & Ice” forms a complex and intricate tapestry of sounds from the band's simple parts unlike any of their previous releases. Similarly, this week’s cocktail, the Gimlet, incorporates simple ingredients into a shockingly enjoyable flavor profile that is preferable to the ubiquitous gin and tonic.

What you’ll need:

• 2.5 oz. dry London gin
• 0.5 oz. simple syrup
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1 cup of water
• 0.5 oz. lime juice
• Lime for garnish
• Cocktail or highball glass
• Cocktail shaker
• Ice

Legend has it that the Gimlet was developed in the British Navy to fight off scurvy. The drink neatly combined the sailor’s daily ration of lime and gin. If you like gin and tonics, you’ll love the Gimlet. If you don’t like gin and tonics, still give it a try. The simple syrup and lime complement the gin as opposed to attempting to mask it with tonic.

0.5 oz. of Simple Syrup/“Doing It to Death”

We’ve talked about how to make simple syrup before, but for those that need a quick recap, just add a cup of sugar and a cup of water into a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the sugar and water to a boil, lower heat and simmer for three minutes (or until the sugar is fully dissolved), and set aside to cool.

“Doing It to Death” is similar to the simple syrup in this cocktail because it appears a little onerous at first, however, it really breaks down the entire album’s sounds, effects, and elements right off the bat. Just as the syrup adds a demurred sweetness to the cocktail, “Doing It to Death” gives you a taste of all that is too come, and perhaps leaves you wanting more. The guitar riff is spot on, but also sparse, leaving a craving in your ears for more of Hince’s absurdly good riffs. Add 0.5 oz. of your simple syrup to a cocktail shaker along with some ice. (Reminder: you can store your simple syrup covered in the fridge for a few weeks.)

0.5 oz. of Lime Juice/“Hum for Your Buzz”

Add 0.5 oz. of lime juice to your cocktail shaker. The lime in this drink plays an important role in accenting the flavor of the gin. In a gin and tonic, limes break up the strong tonic flavor used to break up the strong gin flavor. In a Gimlet, all of the elements communicate with each other. The lime adds citrus tones to the sweetness of the simple syrup and links that sweetness to the herbal, refreshing qualities of the gin.

“Hum for Your Buzz” could be the best song on this album. It's extremely stripped down, only featuring guitar and Mosshart’s vocals. The two elements are so incredibly in sync that at times the sounds create one image in your head as you listen. “Hum for Your Buzz” is quintessential The Kills, bluesy riff, kickass vocals with lyrics of heartbreak, redemption, and nonchalance that puts everything in perspective. If nothing from this article grabs you or prompts you to buy this album or make this cocktail, at the very least listen to this song on Spotify (or whichever streaming service you prefer). This track will perfectly lull you into a Wednesday night stupor of released frustrations and affirmed misgivings while you sip your Gimlet. Like the lime juice in this cocktail, “Hum for Your Buzz” takes the energy of the faster tempo of the album's first half and slows them down, easing you into some deeper, ballad-esque tracks.

2.5 oz. Dry London Gin/“Siberian Nights”

Again, I am a big proponent of Beefeater’s gin. It’s a solid middle of the road gin with a robust taste at a reasonable price. In my opinion, it’s the complete opposite of Bombay Sapphire. That being said, add 2.5 oz. of your preferred gin to your cocktail shaker. You’ll taste plenty of gin in this drink, obviously, but the selling point of gin is that it’s a sipping-friendly alcoholic beverage that is refreshing as it is potent. It’s perfect for weekday drinking, and perfect for increasingly warmer nights.

“Siberian Nights” also takes a middle road. The song's drums track is quick and sharp, Hince’s guitar crawls through the song, and Mosshart all but croons the lyrics. “Siberian Nights” presents a dichotomy that somehow gets your body swaying and your throat humming.

Shake, Pour, Garnish/“Echo Home”

Pop the lid on your shaker, shake until ice cold, pour in a cocktail or an Old Fashioned glass, and garnish with a lime wheel.

“Echo Home” is a ballad that builds slowly over delicate and soft guitar in conjunction with soft lyrics. It builds and builds and then releases without a crescendo, letting go of the energy effortlessly. This tune is a staggeringly appropriate end to your night. Sip, float away, and repeat.

Cheers!

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Home Stretch: Mint Julep and ‘I Feel Alright’ by Steve Earle

By Dave Pezza

Welcome back to Home Stretch, assuaging those Wednesday blues with tunes and booze. This week's edition features two southern classics that set the mood for fast-approaching summer nights: mint juleps and Steve Earle’s 1996 country-rock album “I Feel Alright.”

I’ve been looking for the right album to pair with mint juleps ever since finally making one on my own during the most recent Kentucky Derby. Mint juleps have always struck me as fancy, high-maintenance cocktails, similar to mojitos. Perhaps this stigma comes from its unmistakable association with that famous Louisville–based race. But it is surprisingly easy to make, and impressively refreshing on a hot and muggy evening.

This week’s album, “I Feel Alright” by Steve Earle, is just as refreshing, not to mention relaxing. Its laid-back, ‘90s-style country rock calls to mind Tom Petty’s “Wallflowers,” and is damn near perfect for dropping the needle, kicking off your shoes, and sipping a sweet and minty bourbon-based cocktail.

What you’ll need:

• 2 oz. Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey 
• 1 oz. simple syrup
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1 cup of water
• Six to eight fresh mint leaves
• Crushed or shaved ice
• Pewter cup or highball glass

Promoted at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby since 1938, the mint julep is a southern mainstay. The cocktail is essentially a way to sweeten and chill bourbon with a little bit of flair. Even if you’re not a big bourbon fan, you’ll find mint juleps sweet and mild.

The same goes for Earle’s sixth album. He possesses a suave veneer that protects a vulnerable storyteller whose style is steeped in equal parts blues, folk, and country. This combo should put a smile on your face and ease you through the week’s final pitfalls.

1 oz. of simple syrup/”I Feel Alright”

You can buy pre-made simple syrup at many liquor stores, but it’s easy to make, and it’ll last a month or so in the fridge, saving you a step in the near future. Grab a cup of sugar and a cup of water and throw them in a medium saucepan. Set heat to medium.

While the syrup is heating up, I suggest starting with the album's title track, “I Feel Alright.” What a jam! If you are a fan of “The Wire,” you might remember this song from the Season 2 finale. A quintessential Steve Earle hit, “I Feel Alright" is smooth, a little ballsy, and shoots bravado through you like a stiff shot.

Bring the sugar and water to a boil, then simmer for three minutes or until the sugar is fully dissolved. Let that cool while you prepare the rest of the cocktail.

Six to eight fresh mint leaves/”Hard-Core Troubadour”

Flying high from track one? Prepare for a one-two punch with “Hard-Core Troubadour.” It’s a head-bobbing, Latin-tinged rock song that keeps the easy-going feeling from the album’s opener. Take the pewter cup or highball glass and add about four or five mint leaves. Lightly bruise the leaves with a muddler or spoon. Try not to mash; the idea here is to only bruise them, allowing the mint flavor to slowly seep into the bourbon.

You should be able to find fresh mint at the local supermarket, but may I suggest growing some your own. A number of terrific summer drinks are made with mint, and it grows easily in your garden or even in a small pot on the windowsill.

Crush or shaved ice/”Poor Boy”

Ice is important in this drink. It needs to be crushed or shaved so that it melts quicker than cubes would. This slowly waters down the bourbon, sweetening the cocktail the more you drink it. If you have a blender, put in two handfuls of ice and blend until crushed. Even better, but not super convenient, pick or shave ice off of an ice cube if you have one ready in your freezer.

“Poor Boy” is the album's middle track, and it alters the album’s tempo to an upbeat, rockabilly tempo. The album’s best ballads follow this tune, and “Poor Boy” attempts to ease you into the heavier mood. Disclaimer: listening to this song has been known to bring about fits of swaying, finger snapping, and unstoppable foot tapping.

Bourbon/”Billy and Bonnie”

I’ve saved the album’s most folk/country song for the bourbon. Earle tells the story of an unlikely couple that keeps the thrill of their love alive by breaking bad. Bourbon shares a similar story with anyone who has ever imbibed that sweet, sweet brown liquid.

While shaking your ass to “Billy and Bonnie,” grab the Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. Please don’t use your top-notch bourbon here! Jim Beam White Label, Wild Turkey 81, Four Roses, or even Old Grand-Dad (if you’re feeling squirrely), are all acceptable mixing bourbons. Maker’s Mark is usually considered the end of the line when mixing bourbon. Any higher quality bourbons should be consumed straight.

Add 1 oz. of the now cooled simple syrup to the cup/glass, the shaved ice, 2 oz. of bourbon, and the remaining mint leaves for garnish. Mix with a spoon and take her easy. The album will play out with some bluesy tunes as the ice melts, mixing with the whiskey, mint, and sugar into a refreshing and potent remedy for your Wednesday night blues.

Cheers!

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