Portugal, The Man - ‘Evil Friends’ + Vodka Soda
Ingredients: 1 ounce vodka, 3 ounces club soda, 1 lime wedge & 1 lemon wedge.
Mixing Instructions: Combine ingredients in a rocks glass over ice with a lemon and/or lime wedge.
Notes: The seventh studio album from Portland-based rockers, Portugal, The Man, isn’t an album one should listen to passively. Of course, many of you will and who the hell are we to tell you otherwise, but to do so ensures you will be listening to a completely different album than if you were to sit down with a drink in hand and pay attention. The band’s first collaboration with producer Danger Mouse (Broken Bells, Black Keys, Beck) is noticeable and pleasing to the ear. Much like Foxygen’s We Are the 21st Century…from earlier this year, there is a seemingly infinite number of influences, styles, time changes, etc. packed together in a finite space and yet it all miraculously fits together. I reached out to the band about which cocktail to pair with the album and got the following: “…in Berlin I ordered a vodka soda. A German observer turned & said ‘a clean drink. R U a nihilist?’” Not going to improve on that - with such a complex album best to keep the drink simple and “clean” - unless you’re a Bazarov, then drink whatever you want.