Booze serves many a local musician not only as a muse, but also as a source of employment. To celebrate the long, strong marriage of alcohol and music, we asked some people expert in both fields for cocktails inspired by other local musicians.
*****
Ryan Devlin
Bands: Hounds of the Wild Hunt, Smokey Brights, Virgin Islands
Bar: Tutta Bella
History: “At the Strong Killings record-release show this past year, one dude was being a real a-hole. I was standing right next to him as he continually told frontman Nate Mooter that he ‘wasn’t punk’ and that he all-around ‘sucked.’ Nate put up with it longer than you or I would have been able to. However, when the a-hole leaned in close to Nate for one last slurred heckle, Nate delivered a well-deserved backhand to the a-hole’s face, deftly dropping him to the Rendezvous’ carpet. ‘TALK SHIT, GET HIT,’ Nate cried before tearing into the DIY anthem ‘The Basement,’ which was likely the most punk/least sucky song that semi-conscious heckler will ever hear. Strong Killings is one of the most exciting, musical, and, yes, punk bands in Seattle; this drink is for them.”
Drink: The Strong Killings
2 oz. The Black Grouse blended scotch
2 oz. coconut water
Dash of lime
Float of Oly
Serve on the rocks.
*****
Drew Church
Bands: Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands, the Cops, the Basements, Little Cuts, Puberty
Bar: Hazlewood
History: “I thought of Davidson Hart Kingsbery because over the last year I think I’ve seen them play about 20 times. And they rule. And they are awesome dudes. But they are a country band, so the drink has to have whiskey in it. Also, due to the fact that they are a country band, the drink had to be a little bit bitter and a little bit sweet.”
Drink: Davidson Hart Kingsbery
1 ½ oz. rye
¾ oz. green Chartreuse
¾ oz. lemon juice
¾ oz. Punt e Mes
Garnish with grapefruit twist.
*****
Mackenzie Mercer
Band: Young Evils
Bar: Skylark Lounge
History: “The story goes that the ‘first time’ I went out and got drunk after my 21st birthday, I decided I needed to have a standard drink. Troy [Nelson] had his white-wine spritzers, Brent Amaker had his vodka sodas, and gosh darn it, I needed one too.
Whiskey ginger? I’d heard of that before. Why not? I’ll drink them all night long at every bar we stop at!
We slowly made our way from Linda’s all the way down to the Lava Lounge, where I danced on tables to the Runaways’ ‘Cherry Bomb.’ The hazards of drinking whiskey all night when you don’t know what’s about to hit you are similar to seeing the First Times for the ‘first time’—they are simply that good. It’s like Tom Petty and Thin Lizzy’s long-lost love child, and you may find yourself facedown on the ground like a drunk young lady all of 21 years old.”
Drink: The First Time
Bulleit bourbon
Snap gingersnap liqueur
Whiskey-barrel bitters
Splash of soda
Orange-peel garnish
*****
Terry Radjaw
Band: Mad Rad
Bars: Elysian Brewing Company, Moe Bar
History: “I made this drink inspired by Fresh Espresso’s music. When I hear Rik say ‘Coffee in my cup, it wakes me up on a rainy day,’ I don’t necessarily think about an actual caffeine drink. Alcohol is the stimulant here. Coffee liqueur was where I wanted to start, and end with a ‘Smoov’ finish. Putting it in the martini adds to the glamour that these two represent.”
Drink: Fresh Espresso
1 oz. Kahlua
1 oz. Frangelico
1 oz. cream
Shake the shit out of it. Add float of Chambord. Serve in martini glass.
*****
Jeff Fielder
Bands: Mark Lanegan, Lindsay Fuller, Sera Cahoone
Bar: Ocho
History: “My Drink is the Widower, inspired by the band and the music of Kevin Large (a Seattleite now residing in Portland). Just like him, it’s classic, slightly bitter, and good lookin’.”
Drink: The Widower
1 ½ oz. rye
½ oz. yellow Chartreuse
½ oz. Gran Classico Bitter
½ oz. grapefruit juice
Dash of Angostura aromatic bitters
Dash of grapefruit bitters
Garnish with a brandied cherry.
Terry Radjaw’s Fresh Espresso.
Jeff Fielder’s Widower.
