The Strokes - ‘Is This It’ + Manhattan
Ingredients: 2 1/2 ounces bourbon whiskey, 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth, 1 dash Angostura bitters, 1 maraschino cherry & 1 orange peel twist.
Mixing Instructions: Combine the bourbon whiskey, vermouth and bitters in a mixing glass with 2-3 ice cubes and stir gently. Place the cherry in a cocktail glass and strain the mixture over the cherry. Rub the cut edge of an orange peel around the rim of the glass and twist over drink to release the oils, but don’t drop in.
Notes: For fans of rock in its purest forms, the minimalist, gritty sound of The Strokes’ debut album was a welcome return to the roots of the genre, paying homage to influences ranging from The Velvet Underground to The Ramones. The songs aren’t overly complex in their structure and yet one can listen to this album hundreds of times without getting bored. In many ways Is This It paved the way for rock in the modern era. It is a bellwether album of our times that deserves a classic cocktail and a spin or three on the turntable.