Rocktail # 6 – My Evil Twin

Artist: Bleu
Hails From: Los Angeles, CA

1: The one bottle of liquor that is on your rider at all times:
…we try to get Makers Mark..but, we usually get Beam..my drummer Joe and I are bourbon guys….if i thought i could get it?! – i’d ask for Woodford Reserve (he’d ask for Basil Hayden)…..
..biggest pet-peeve:
guy from the club – “what bottle of booze do you want?”
us – “what’s the best bourbon we can get?”
guy from the club – “Jack Daniels”
us – “Jack Daniels isn’t bourbon…what kind of BOURBON can we get?”
guy from the club – “Jack Daniels”
…boOo..

2. The cocktail or spirit that best describes your personality:
…well…i’m definitely in love with Manhattans…and, i guess that describes me pretty well actually!…pretty boozy, but slightly sweet..just a hAir bitter, but, with a cherry on top!…..haA!!…

3. Favorite bar you discovered on tour:
…The Patterson House in Nashville…spectacular atmosphere, fantastic personal service, and, of course, great cocktails: http://www.thepattersonnashville.com/

– favorite number 2
….when we can, my drummer Joe and i try to visit the Bourbon County distilleries when we’re on our way through KY on tour…so far we’ve hit Woodford Reserve (my fav) and Buffalo Trace (who also make Blantons and Sazeraz Rye amongst other things)…it’s not exactly a “bar”..but, it’s a pretty fun experience learning about how that stuff’s made (and then getting the samples at the end!)…at Buffalo Trace we sort of ended up getting a little private tour after the regular tour ended..the guy took us around a let us see them putting the labels (and KY derby figurines) on top of Blantons..it’s still a very small, hand-done operation..really cool…he took us in the barrel room too..whAt a smeLL…it was pretty awesome…and of course, you can buy stuff that they only sell at the distilleries (specialized bottles, moonshine, liquers, etc….mmmm..)

4. Most tragic or triumphant inebriated moment on stage. Spill it!
…the last tour i did was with Tracy Bonham and Jim Boggia (The Killer Bs we call ourselves)..we performed the whole tour “in-the-round”…for the most part, we were all on stage all the time..switching songs back ‘n forth..accompanying each other..telling jokes, etc…it was really fun….anyway..Jim is a Philly guy, he’s got a great crowd there, and we played a pretty classy venue called World Cafe Live…we actually diD get our Makers Mark at this gig (thank you WCL)..real glass tumblers and everything (niCe!) and we were all definitely enjoying it!…at a certain point in the show, each of us gets our own little mini-set were the others walk off-stage for a couple songs..and on my way to walk off-stage for Jim’s mini-set i tOtally tripped and dropped my glass of Makers on the hard-wood stage..smASh…ooof…veRy embarrassing…we got some good jokes out of it that night, but, i definitely got voted tour-lush…

5. Raw eggs in cocktails: Gross or Glorious?
…c’mon!..glorious!!….i’m so glad this is becoming more popular…the booze kills the bugs anyway right?

6. Best late night grub hub after a night of drinking:
…i just discovered this place in LA…it’s not too far from where i live either..i don’t know why it took me so long to try it out?…only been there once, but, it was great…i’ll be hitting it again: http://www.swingersdiner.com/
…wide variety of comforting foods for every possible dietary variation (important in LA)…and..they’ve got booze!..not great drinks i think, buuut, are we done drinking?…just one more?….a pabst is probably fine then…
and then, there’s always Canters….a classic…kinda hard to beat (and you’ll probably see a TV celebrity from the 80s) –> http://www.cantersdeli.com/ …they got booze too…

7. Your band’s drinking toast of choice (think “cheers” not “bread”):
…”to drinking” (as we clink)….or, i say “Kanpai!” a lot (japanese for “cheers”)…

8. Finish this sentence: Last time I took home a bar man or maid…
…really?…you can take them home?….why am i just now finding this out!!

9. Your favorite hometown watering hole:
…in Boston – Deep Ellum, (actually in Allston, MA)..no question….Max Toste (my old bass player) has created a real “if you build it” type place…he’s the Mario Batali of cocktails..a true genius..(and just as obsessed with beers)…aaand the food at this place is pretty freakin’ spectacular too….i don’t eat meat really, but, they cure their own sausage, make their own pate..shit you just don’t find at a “bar”….they’re tearin’ it up..looks like he’ll open a new place (in Cambridge, MA) soon-ish…cAn’t wAit! http://www.deepellum-boston.com/

10. The song on your newest album best enjoyed with a boozy buzz:
…that’s easy..”Evil Twin” is about -that guy- who we become when we have a few (gallons) too many….eeEeee….

Rocktail: My Evil Twin

Description: My Evil Twin, aka The Attention Cocktail (originally invented by Jamie Boudreaux, of Vessel in Seattle) is a masterful, potent concoction that is wholly reminiscent of the diverse spectrum that is Bleu’s music. His unique blend of singer-songwriter pop sits on the cusp of lightness and darkness: at times celebratory, triumphant full band pop, while at others, melancholic, introspective heartfelt ballads; the sum of which quantifies the human experience. My Evil Twin (cocktail), translucent and elegant with a light violet hue, looks innocent – perhaps even harmless, but in the right light you can almost see it’s ominous spirits swirling about. Good v.s. evil? After a few of these delicious elixirs you be the judge. In honor of Bleu’s affinity for the Manhattan, this silky spirit-forward drink is of a similar school but with Gin as the base, harmoniously stirred into equal parts absinthe, creme de violette (liqueur made of violet petals), dry vermouth, with a touch of orange bitters to bind everything together. Mmm a devil of a good time!

Recipe:

2 oz Plymouth Gin
1/4 oz Vieux Pontarlier Absinthe
1/4 oz Rothman and Winter Creme de Violette
1/4 oz Dolin Dry Vermouth
2 dashes of Orange Bitters (I used a 50/50 blend of Fee Brothers West Indian Orange Bitters, and Regan’s Orange Bitters No. 6)

Glass: Coupe

Preparation:

Chill coupe in the freezer or let sit with ice water for a few minutes while prepping.
In a mixing glass, stir all the ingredients together over fresh ice for 30 seconds. Do not shake this drink as it will alter the color and the taste.
Strain into pre-chilled coupe glass and serve with a devilish grin.

Watch!: