Home Stretch: White Russian and “Cosmos Factory” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

By Dave Pezza

Good golly Miss Molly do we have a line-up for the Home Stretch faithful this week. We are sharing one of my favorite, simple cocktails, and one of my all-time favorite albums: the White Russian and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Cosmos Factory.” Loosen up that tie, kick off those heels, fire up the turntable, and mosey on over to the bar. Get ready to cut the rug that really brings the room together because it’s time for the Home Stretch.

Creedence Clearwater Revival has a plethora of great albums, hits, and B-sides, but “Cosmos Factory” is the end-all be-all of CCR recordings. In a simple 42-minute span “Cosmos Factory” brings you legends like “Lookin’ Out My Back Door,” “Run Through The Jungle” (featured in every Vietnam movie ever made), “Up Around The Bend,” and “Heard It Through The Grapevine.” And this is leaving out the deep cuts! The casual, lounging, Californian vibe of CCR will most assuredly put you into better mood after that god-awful day known as hump day.

I doubt I’ll have to say more about one of the greatest rock bands in recorded history. And for those who haven’t heard CCR before, well, that I cannot abide. “Cosmos Factory,” the band’s fifth album, contains a near perfect mixture of classic rock tempo and acoustics with a crawling swamp and southern rock drawl with an attitude that will make you glad you have an ice cold beverage in hand. And that cold beverage has been, I might add, expertly selected by yours truly.

The White Russian, or Caucasian, fits exceptional well with this album for many reasons. The most important might be that it is tasty, ice cold, and disappears like a briefcase full of money in the backseat of your car. The Caucasian is not as heavy as it appears, and, despite its use of cream, makes for a very enjoyable cocktail after a long, hot summer workday.

What you’ll need:

• 2 ounces of vodka
• 1 ounce Kahlua
• Milk or cream
• Ice
• Rocks glass

Oh so cleverly named, along with its twin the Black Russian, because of its use of vodka and cream, this cocktail is dangerously simple and offers a wealth of flavor and pungency that might make you feel a little bit out of your element.

1 oz. Kahlua/“Ramble Tamble”

“Ramble Tamble” is a seven-minute, eleven-second show stopper that incorporates the band’s nuanced sounds in an expertly crafted leadoff tune. It starts off with a quick and catchy beat, a crisp Southern guitar loop, and John Fogarty’s signature vocals. The tempo is upbeat and jolly but tapers off two minutes in and leads you into a blues-infused epic of solos and jams. And just when you’ve thought the song has completely had its way with you, it breaks right back into the upbeat, leg-tapping number from the beginning.

I think it would be reasonable to compare Kahlua to “Ramble Tamble.” Both are real ringers. “Ramble Tamble” is a seemingly low-key opener before a wealth of greatest-hits worthy tunes, and Kahlua is a syrupy, sweet coffee liquor that adds a wealth of flavor to the few ingredients piled around it. Grab some ice from the freezer, and fill your rocks glass about half way with ice. Add one ounce or so of Kahlua to your glass. The exact amount here is not as important as keeping the ratio between vodka to Kahlua two to one, otherwise you’ll be over the line as far as sweetness goes once you’ve added your cream.

2 oz. vodka/“Lookin’ Out My Back Door”

How this song does not brighten your evening after a long hard day is baffling. Whether you are grooving while making a beverage at your place or cruising in your car, “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” is sure to crack a smile on that semi-permanent scowl. A short and simple ditty that is pure fun in contrast to the more complex and heavier songs on the album’s backend. Belt that chorus as you splash vodka into the rocks glass, you’ll be really glad you did, “DO DO DO, LOOKIN OUT MY BACK DOOR!”

Vodka is a hell of an alcoholic beverage, so versatile, wearer of so many hats. The vodka in this drink is going to be all but drowned out by the Kahlua and cream. But that’s okay; it adds a nice alcoholic base that cuts some of the sweetness from the aforementioned ingredients. Add double the amount of vodka as Kahlua, but here we’re adding two ounces.

Milk or cream/“I Heard It Through The Grapevine”

CCR’s version of “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” is obnoxiously catchy on all levels. The drumbeat, the chorus, the low thick guitar, everything. I also consider this song one of the all-time great summer jams, perhaps because my grandfather never failed to play it at every summer outing or perhaps because “Cosmo’s Factory” was the summer album of 1970, stealing the number one spot on the Billboard 200 for nine weeks straight that year. In any event, it’s not a bad call on this hot summer evening.

Take some cream (milk will do just fine in a pinch) and add a few dashes of it, just enough to change the color of the drink from a thick black syrup to a coffee color and consistency. Take a spoon, and give it a good mix, making that color uniform. There you have it, a White Russian.

Cheers!

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Home Stretch: Moscow Mule and “Best Of” by Plumtree

By Dave Pezza

July is almost over. How did this happen? It is that point in the summer where we need to slow things down. I have got just the right Home Stretch combo to help you mellow out in that backyard hammock, the breeze passing by like all your burdens. This week we are showcasing the fairly obscure Canadian punk band Plumtree and the summertime favorite Moscow Mule.

Plumtree, hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, put out a few albums in the 1990s, moderately toured through the United States and Canada, and then called it quits in 2000. In 2010, they put out this monster of a compilation album. Plumtree has that laid back, easy-does-it vibe, for which 90s rock bands are famous. I picked them up from the “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” soundtrack and never turned back. The all-female band crosses teenage tales of love and awkwardness with catchy, lucid chords that span from small and delicate to expansive and badass. Throw on this album, and you’ll be infected by head bobbing and hip swaying in no time at all.

The Moscow mule is the quintessential relaxing beverage. It is easy to make, refreshing, and it packs a wallop without you being any the wiser. Another classic cocktail invented in Manhattan, the mecca of cocktail manufacturing, the Moscow Mule gets its name not from its wide consumption in Moscow or because of its use of vodka (there is also a bourbon variant called the Kentucky Mule; just replace bourbon with vodka and add mint for garnish), but from its birthplace at The Hotel Chatham in “Little Moscow.”

What you’ll need:

• 3 ounces of vodka
• ½ ounce lime juice
• Ginger beer
• Copper mug
• Ice

The Moscow mule doesn’t even require a shaker. The only real flair in this cocktail is the type of barware that it is traditionally served in: a copper mug. Like other summer beverages, including the Mint Julep, the metal mug helps the beverage and the drinker stay as chilled as possible.

1/2 oz. lime juice/“Go!”

I would recommend using an actual lime in this recipe. If you quarter your lime, each quarter should render about half an ounce of lime juice. Take the copper mug, squeeze out half an ounce of lime juice, and throw in the rind for good measure. The Moscow Mule combines three ingredients, all adding a different essential flavor. The bitterness of the lime cuts down on the overly sweetness of the ginger beer, allowing for a more mild taste.

“Go!” gets you right into mix upfront. The leadoff for the compilation album alerts you to just how much fun you’ll be having over the next hour. This track is fast, ferocious, and facile. Plumtree still manages to add a delicate touch to the guitar work in between the crashing drums and yelling. And who doesn’t love a chorus composed entirely of yelling?! Throw this track on the iPhone, sprinting out of the door from work.

3 oz. vodka/“Scott Pilgrim”

Inspired by the Canadian graphic novel series, Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O’Malley, “Scott Pilgrim” will invade your life. Listening to it once is simply not an option. The gruff opening guitar riff that permeates the entire song, the delicate melody interplayed over it, the tight drum work, and the counterpoint chorus combine to create one hell of a catchy tune.

Now add three ounces of vodka to your copper cup. Any vodka will do, but I like the mildness and affordability of Three Olives vodka. You may want to add more or less depending on how much you enjoy the taste of ginger beer. And just like that we are almost done with this drink.

Ginger beer/“My My”

The first of the compilations more laid back songs. “My My” has a slowed down reggae riff, casual lyrics, and even a low-key harmonica overplay. “My My” will put you to ease after the first two catchy, punky tracks. Expect more of this type of tone throughout the rest of the album, gliding melodies through the warm summer air.

Grab a can of ginger beer. The most famous and easily found is Gosling’s Ginger Beer, usually around five bucks for a sixer. Before you add the ginger beer, fill the mug about halfway with ice. You want about six or so ounces of ginger beer, depending on how much you enjoy the sweet distinctive taste. They are typically sold in 12-ounce cans, so half a can should be just about right. Grab a spoon, mix the concoction up just a bit, releasing some of the carbonation from the ginger beer.

Believe it or not you are done. Find a nice patch of grass in the shade, lay back, and enjoy the rest of the album.

Cheers!

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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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