New York Cocktails State of Mind
A previously unpublished excerpt with playlist from the 2017 book!
It’s incredible for me to fathom that my first book, New York Cocktails, turned seven years old this week!
It’s a big deal to have your first book published. No matter what happens with it, it’s a life changing experience knowing complete strangers are holding your words in their hands. I am forever grateful to Carlo Devito for connecting me with Cider Mill Press (now part of Harper Collins) for the opportunity.
The book, which has 100 recipes from what were at the time the most famous places to drink cocktails in the Big Apple, had to come together quickly. They came up with a fanceh design to match the snazzy drinking dens, and for reasons that have never been made clear to me, only commissioned it in January of 2017. In order for a book of such intricate construction to be released in time for the holidays, I had only six weeks to write it and get it through to the production team.
Writers, seriously, do not try that at home. Or anywhere.
Somehow, I got it done. Mostly thanks to the incredible NYC bar community for understanding what kind of pressure I was under and sharing their coveted recipes with me through such a tight time window (it was really more of a porthole).
The thing is, not only did I understand the assignment, I was pretty obsessed with fulfilling every bit of the outline CMP laid out for the book. I actually sent them more material than they could fit to match their layout. To that end, to my utter dismay, some of it never made the final published text.
That’s right. There are sections of the original New York Cocktails that no one except my dad — who proof read the whole manuscript as I was writing it — has ever read.
Until now.
Exclusive Content Alert!
So here it is, an exclusive excerpt from the lost pages. CMP had asked me to suggest an NYC-themed playlist to accompany the book. I did as told. I still have it.
Note: This list was created before most of the streamers had easily shareable playlists, so the official New York Cocktails themed one was never manifested as an actual playable song cycle until just now. Here ya go. I added some tracks that came out more recently for texture. I tweaked the recipe, if you will.
Mix up my Manhattan, or a variation like When You’re a Jet, and read on!
When You’re a Jet
by Amanda Schuster (it’s one of the only successful cocktails I’ve ever made up, I’m not a bartender!)
New York Cocktails, p. 51
1 1/2 oz (44 ml) dark rum
1/2 oz (8 ml) dry vermouth
1/2 oz (8 ml) Bigallet China-China liqueur
2 dashes mole bitters
Garnish: lime twist
Stir all ingredients with ice until well chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Express the lime over the drink and discard.
Here’s to you, New York, New York (and beyond)! 🍸
This list was to be part of “Chapter 10, New York Groove”:
While preparing the drinks, you should have songs to play. These are not listed in order of importance or bests (you know how I feel about calling out bests), but rather as a song cycle with different moods. This city has states of mind just like the rest of us.
Yes, I know there are some I left out. Forgive me.
New York Cocktails State of Mind
To listen to this playlist on Apple Music, please click here (sadly, they don’t have the first track available).
“New York New York” from On the Town
written by Leonard Bernstein, 1944
performed by Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, and Jules Munshin for the 1949 movie
“New York”, a riff on “The Theme From New York, New York”
written by John Kander and Fred Ebb
performed by Cat Power, 2008
(the Sinatra version is iconic but I like to mix things up)
“On Broadway”
by George Benson 1976
“Manhattan”
by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, 1925
performed by Dinah Washington, 1959
“New York Groove”
by Ace Frehley 1978
“New York”
by St. Vincent, 2017
note: released after the book
The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)
by Simon & Garfunkel, 1966
“Another 100 People”
by Stephen Sondheim, for the musical Company, 1978
performed by Patti Lupone, 2017
“Take the ‘A’ Train”
written by Billy Strayhorn in 1939
the Duke Ellington Orchestra performance in 1941 becomes the signature recording
“Take the L Train (To 8 Ave.)”
by Brooklyn Funk Essentials, 1994
“No Sleep Till Brooklyn”
by Beastie Boys, 1986
“Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters”
by Elton John, 1972
“Summer in the City”
by The Lovin’ Spoonful, 1966
“Rockaway Beach”
by the Ramones, 1977
“Walk on the Wild Side”
by Lou Reed, 1972
(RIP bassist Herbie Flowers)
“Across 110th Street”
by Bobby Womack, 1973
“Nights On Broadway”
by Bee Gees, 1975
“Pounding the Pavement”
by New York Citizens, 1988
Sadly, this song is not available to stream, but this is its honorary place on the list.
Here it is on Discogs.
“New York I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down”
by LCD Soundsystem, 2007
“I Happen to Like New York”
by Cole Porter, for the 1930 musical The New Yorkers
performed by Bobby Short, Live at the Carlyle, 1973
“Autumn in New York”
by Vernon Duke, 1934
performed by Billie Holiday, 1952
“Fairytale of New York”
by the Pogues, featuring Kirsty MacColl, 1988
“New York State of Mind”
by Billie Joel, 1976
“Empire State of Mind”
by JAY-Z with Alica Keys, 2009