The Perfect Mixes for Your Mixtape
One simply cannot listen to the perfect mix without mixing up a perfect drink.
When listening to, or making, a mixtape, it’s important to stay hydrated. But as mixtapes themselves are creations, it is insufficient to merely pour a glass of beer or glass of bourbon. Instead, one must also embrace creativity when deciding what to pour.
But in this case, we’ve taken the guesswork out of the equation. Not only have we created not just one, but two mixtapes for you to listen to, we’ve also got some cocktails for you to enjoy while you listen. Take time to prepare your drink, then sit back, turn the volume up, and imbibe.
First up, we have Brad’s choice for the week, the Paper Plane. Created in 2008 by bartender Sam Ross, this drink combines equal parts of simply four ingredients and packs as much of a punch as the tunes you can listen to while sipping.
Ingredients
3/4 ounce bourbon
3/4 ounce Aperol
3/4 ounce Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Steps
Add the bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
Strain into a coupe glass.
(Recipe from liquor.com)
Next we have two options that Rich came up with: the John Collins and the Whiskey Sour, though both are made with a mint and jalapeno infused bourbon.
Start with a bunch of mint leaves and a fresh jalapeno, remove the seeds from the pepper and slice it, then throw both in a jar with about a half pint of whiskey. Throw it in the fridge and let it sit for a few days, then strain through cheese cloth.
You’ll also need simple syrup. For the recipes below, try a blood orange simple syrup. Take the juice of a few blood oranges, add enough water to bring it to a cup, bring that to a boil, skim off all the foam, and then add 3/4 cup of sugar.
First up, we have the John Collins.
2 ounces bourbon
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 tsp simple syrup
Club Soda, or Topo Chico as I used, to top
Steps
Add the bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and a handful of ice to a shaker. Shake well and then strain into a highball glass.
Add ice, top with your preferred sparkling water, and then garnish as desired
(From allrecipes.com)
Finally, we have the mint jalapeno whiskey sour. While you can omit the egg white, don’t. It adds balance and a more luscious mouthfeel to this classic cocktail.
Ingredients
2 ounces bourbon
3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce egg white (optional)
Garnish: Angostura bitters
Steps
Add bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white, if using, to a shaker and dry-shake for 30 seconds without ice.
Add ice and shake again until well-chilled.
Strain into a coupe glass.
Garnish with 3 or 4 drops of Angostura bitters.
(Recipe from liquor.com)
While we don’t recommend trying all three of these in one session, we do recommend all three. And as for the leftover infused whiskey, don’t be afraid to try it in an Old Fashioned. Because whether mixing a tape or a drink, creativity is key.