You surely already know by now, but it bears repeating: live music venues and bars are in trouble. As some of the first businesses to close when the pandemic struck in full force, venues will be some of the last to reopen, and while bars in some places are faring marginally better, it’s incredibly difficult to pay bills and keep staff employed when it’s unsafe to allow in only a fraction of your normal capacity.
Lucky for you, drinking is recession-proof. To that end, to help out some of our favorite metal venues and bars around the country and bring visibility to this important issue, Metal Injection and MetalSucks have teamed up to on Metal Cocktail of the Week, a series which features one cocktail each week concocted by one of the venue or bar’s resident hesher mixologists. What’s more, we’ve partnered with Metallica’s Blackened Whiskey to present the entire series, which will consist solely of delicious beverages you can make with the most metal whiskey of all.
We’re also giving away some fun Blackened swag! Read on to find out more.
Today’s recipe comes from the infamous GWARbar in Richmond, VA, a watering hole and restaurant owned by metal's intergalactic masters of blood and gore, Gwar! In "a low rent take on the classic New Orleans cocktail," Gwar's resident guitar slayer, Balsac the Jaws of Death, has concocted a most unique version of the Sazerac appropriately titled "The Balzerac." Here's how to make it:
GWARbar's "Balzerac”
2.5 parts Blackened whiskey (or a heavy pour)
1 tbsp sugar (or 1 cube)
A heavy dash of Peychaud's Bitters
A dash of Rumple Minze peppermint schnapps
A twist of lemon peel
Chill a lowball rocks glass either in the freezer or by filling it with ice and a little water and letting sit for at least 30 seconds. In a separate mixing glass, muddle sugar and bitters. Add ice to mixing glass. Add Blackened whiskey to mixing glass and stir gently. Dump out ice from rocks glass. Add a few drops of Rumple Minze to rocks glass (be careful to only use a few drops or the mint flavor can easily take over this drink!). Swirl Rumple Minze and dump out (or drink, I'm not judging). Rub the rim of rocks glass with lemon peel. Strain contents of mixing glass into rocks glass. Garnish with lemon twist.
Check back next Monday for another Metal Cocktail of the Week Powered by Metallica’s Blackened Whiskey. Previous entries in the series so far:
Elmyr’s “Master of Pickles”
Saint Vitus Bar’s “Garage Daze”
Grill 'Em All's "Whiskey Mosh Pit" BBQ sauce
As part of our partnership with Blackened on this series, we’re giving away a Blackened drum head and a Yeti Blackened-branded cooler (pictured below), everything you need to keep your drinks cold and your grooves hot. Sign up using the form here:
