Night Beds - ‘Country Sleep’ + Bourbon Bramble
Ingredients: 1 ounce bourbon, 1 ounce St. Germain, 1/2 ounce creme de cassis, one squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Mixing Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for 45 seconds and strain into a rocks glass.
Notes: It takes some balls to start off your debut album with an opening track sang entirely a capella — unless, of course, you’re the 23-yr old Night Beds frontman, Winston Yellis, in which case it’s the exact right thing to do. In fact, with a voice so pure (think Ray LaMontagne & Ryan Adams) one might be tempted to wonder if other instruments are necessary at all. Nashville by way of Colorado Springs, the alt-country songster seems to have found his stride since moving to the land of the Smoky Mountains, recording the arresting “Even If We Try” in the former home of Johnny Cash. Twinged with youthful energy, this is an artist who will be interesting to watch in the coming years as he matures - for now, however, place his record on the platter and sip a bourbon cocktail as pitch-perfect as Yellen and just as potent.