Seven Musings: On Writer's Tears, vibes at Beauty & Essex and Scottie Pippen's bourbon
The kitchen is clean. The latest episode of P-Valley has been watched. The house is quiet. Now I can clear my head with some whiskey-related thoughts.
11 p.m. PT — A few quick updates before I get to my musings.
To my Los Angeles family — This Friday will be Brown Liquor Collective’s first event of 2022 and we’ve totally sold out! At Summertime Vibes, we will serve our first-ever "Flight Cask Challenge," along with two DIY cocktails and tacos courtesy of SupaPlates. We can't wait to see you.
To my BLC family and beyond — The homie Retro Speaks asked yours truly to hop on his Retro Radio podcast to talk about our whiskey club, being multiethnic, schmoozing our wives and more. R.S. is the homie; you should take the time to listen to the episode. (Bonus: You'll get to hear about when my mama took some sneakers away from me in the 8th grade.)
To my three-week absence — It's been a lot going on with your boy over the last few weeks. I can be hard on myself sometimes, but my wife reminds me to give myself grace because I put a lot on my plate. So I'll tip my cap in her direction and rededicate myself to get these words out.
Now…on to the musings.
ONE: Death and Company’s “Highwayman” cocktail is perfect. Earlier this year, one of my best friends, Paul, was adamant about wanting to go to this speakeasy-ish bar called Death and Company in Downtown Los Angeles. Usually, when Paul is pressed to visit a watering hole, the drink offerings deliver. So when we arrived for our reservation and descended into the bowels of a dark and moody building in the Arts District, I was ready for anything.
So when the server came to our table and asked what I liked, I told her simply, "I like smoke. I like spice. I like some sweet and I don't mind the heat." And with that, she smiled and told me, "You'll be having the Highwayman."
When reading the ingredient list, you're left to wonder how this is supposed to work. "It has bourbon, Scotch AND Jamaican rum," I mused. "And then you're adding a coffee liqueur AND passion fruit liqueur? How Sway?"
The end result is everything I asked for and then some. If you're in L.A., NYC or Denver, stop in and make this your first request.
TWO: An ironically named whiskey is actually pretty good. At my neighborhood bottle shop, there's always this one bottle on the top shelf that stares at me. Its name is Writer's Tears. And every time I would pass by it, I'd chuckle and keep it moving. That stuff can't be good…can it?
I finally bought it. And I must say, it is very good.
For around $40, you'll get an 80-proof Irish Whiskey with a mash bill consisting of 60% malted and 40% un-malted barley that's finished in ex-bourbon casks. Yes, the lower-proof makes this an easy sipper, but I find that the notes are pleasantly fun to find in this one. The first thing I thought of on this was a Heath bar and Nutella spread when nosed and sipped. This is a cheeky gift to give if you know any writers, editors or creatives. The good thing is, the juice is good too.
THREE. Make more Paper Planes. I had two this weekend and they always hit the spot. I promise YOU can make this drink. Equal parts (I go 3/4 oz.) of bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino Quintessentia and lemon juice. Shake with ice and strain into a glass. You can make this drink. Yes, it'll look like the red dirt in Oklahoma from a color standpoint. It's okay. Drink it. You're welcome.
FOUR. Do you all care about celebrity-owned spirits? At my local bottle shop, my guy in the store was IMPLORING me to try basketball legend Scottie Pippen's bourbon, Digits. I was stunned because he told me it was good and I didn't want to believe him. (Disclaimer: I work at ESPN, so please understand that I will not be saying anything crazy about Mr. Pippen.)
I've always been suspicious of celebrity-backed spirits, especially in the whiskey category. Have you tried Drake's Virginia Black? (Disclaimer: I do not work for Aubrey Graham, so please understand that I can say anything crazy I'd like about Mr. Graham.) Virginia Black tastes like 5W-30 motor oil that's been sitting in a Ford Fiesta engine for 200,000 miles.
Maybe Digits will taste better. At $70 a bottle, it's priced like premium bourbon. Let's see if it can deliver as Toni Kukoc did in 1994 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
FIVE. I miss Anthony Bourdain. The documentary about his life, Roadrunner, was a sad but enjoyable watch. I’ve been on a bit of a doc run of late. Here are a few I’d recommend.
Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution (A&E)
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (HBO)
Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind (HBO)
Dream On: How the 1996 U.S. women's Olympic team helped launch the WNBA (ESPN+)
SIX. Whiskey Row Fire. Last week, Old Forester Distilling Co. announced the release of the newest installment of The 117 Series – Whiskey Row Fire.
Seven years ago, a fire on Whiskey Row nearly destroyed the historic block in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville firefighters were able to contain and extinguish the fire, preserving the site for the Old Forester Distillery at 117 and 119 West Main. A batch of barrels were filled on the day of the fire to create the 117 Series, a.k.a. “Fireman Barrels.”
Old Forester Whiskey Row Fire is bottled at 100 proof and will be available at the distillery for $59.99 in limited quantities. If anyone happens to roll by, pick me up two bottles. Please.
SEVEN. When in Vegas, go to Beauty and Essex. The food is delicious. The cocktails are fantastic. The music is on point. The views are very nice. Vegas can be tricky because finding musical vibes to accompany a night out can be hit or miss. B&E never misses. Oh, and always order The Woodsman.
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I thought Virginia Black was more like 10W-40 in an old Yugo.
the 🔥 recommendations keep coming!!!