[contextly_auto_sidebar id=”lDTe6QjBXlWJaoFrI9NoZ4DgJOgleyNZ”>
Cocktail drinking is a pleasure that one derives when randomness, inebriation and powerful tastes all come together. Creating a cocktail is an art form that combines mixology with flamboyance. An art form that, like any other art form, provides a sensual transcendence that exceeds 1:1 ratios and adds a multiplier effect to the interactions. A couple of Mondays ago I wanted something exciting, something that boosted my spirits, and I found it in The Word. Gabriel Berlind, bartender that night at The Narrows, read me well and suggested The Word, even though it was not on the list. Upon first taste, The Word is explosive, releasing fire and smoke, sliding perfectly into a valley of red and green, as it carries a great story for your senses.
Gabriel coaxes the Word into existence.
The Word is a take on the classic Last Word, which is a gin-based cocktail mixed with green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice. The Narrows’ version replaces the gin with a combination of scotch whiskey and jalapeno infused tequila. It’s there where the explosiveness comes from, with a brazen smoke from one of the most smoky scotches, a 10 year Laphroaig, and the peppery and spicy jalapeno infused tequila. It is a deadly combination, in the inebriation department, but such a reaction on a combination of two spirits is definitely worth the risk. This explosion is followed by the herbal Chartreuse and the cherries from the maraschino liqueur. The lime carries the weight of the acidity and carries the drink all the way in your palate, while the Angostura bitters bring everything into place. The Word is served up and its distinct orange-like color is the living proof of an explosive and outrageous combination of spirits.
The Word is served up.
The way smoke accompanies fire, The Word is accompanied by a sweet inebriation that fuels random conversations. An explosive creation can only spark interesting comments and ideas and our night was filled with conversations around orgasms and desserts, tucked into a dimly-lit booth of The Narrows. It is a drink that shakes your tasting receptors and energizes your spirits. The lime carries the explosiveness around your palate, becoming a perfect metaphor for a cocktail that can carry a very beautiful night in your memory palate.
Bushwick Mixer is a weekly column somewhere at the crossroads of pop culture and mixology in the bars of Bushwick. Hashtag your photos of Bushwick cocktails with #BushwickMixer and let us know why they should be tasted by the author of the column.
The Word is served at the Narrows, 1037 Flushing Ave, but it is not currently on the menu due to the lime shortage.
Explosive pleasures of a Monday night.
