Since only recently starting my vinyl collection, I hadn’t yet added anything vintage or used to the collection, until this week. One might now say that I have developed a problem, but that is a story for another day. After only a few minutes of sifting through a rather large selection at a local antique mall, I pulled this gem from the stacks and was staggered by nostalgia. As a kid, there were a handful of albums in my parent’s collection that I truly loved, and this was one of them.

This may not be Lennon’s most critically acclaimed work, and Yoko Ono’s part in this is like nails on a chalkboard, but this album really meant something to a lot of people, especially given the timing of its release just before his death. I was only 6 in 1980, but I clearly remember my parents being impacted by Lennon’s death, and his music and the famous final interview filled our home for what feels like countless years after his tragic loss.

On the heels of the shocking loss of Bowie this week, I am again reminded of the impact that artists have on our lives, how we feel so close to someone that we’ve never even met, and how we mourn them when they are gone. When I started writing this, I didn’t expect to go down this particular path because as I listened to this album last night, I found myself just beaming at the familiarity of the songs, being so surprised at how much of it stuck with me after all of these years, and feeling sent right back to my childhood. Now I take away something even more from this as I reflect on it. Our connection to these artists and to the memories that they give us is a gift unlike any other, and one that should be celebrated. I feel honored to have to raised a glass last night with Lennon – and thank you to my husband for putting together something fun for us to enjoy.

For a little more information on this particular album, you can check out this write up from Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Albums of the 80s.

– Her

When I think of John Lennon’s solo career, I automatically think of the wonderfully weird ’70s, despite this record being released in 1980.

In the context of booze and cocktails, nothing says “the ’70s” like Galliano. So last night’s cocktail was a Galliano Old Fashioned. Galliano has a really nice earthy-vanilla note and is quite sweet, if you’ve never had it.

I wanted something relatively high in alcohol to balance the sweetness of the Galliano, so I chose Old Weller Antique at 107 proof. I also thought the orange, cinnamon and brown sugar notes of the Antique would work really nicely with the Galliano in this cocktail. I hope you agree.

Galliano Old Fashioned:

Equal parts Galliano and bourbon (1 oz ea)
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2 dashes Fee Brothers Orange bitters
1 orange twist and 1 lemon twist for garnish

Combine the spirits, bitters and ice in a cocktail pitcher and give it all a really good stir. Then strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Add the citrus twists as garnish, making sure to express the oils from the peels onto the top of the drink before putting them in the glass (feel free to rim the glasses with the twists, too, if you like).

Cheers!

– Him