One would think that with the cold, icy night here in Charlotte I would have selected a mellow and moody album to settle in to. Instead, I know just what I need – my own brand of comfort music: INXS – Listen Like Thieves. Not only is INXS likely to show up on any given day in my playlist (if you’ve ever been around me when I’m playing DJ, you know this to be the case), but today also happens to be Michael Hutchence’s birthday, so it seems all the more appropriate.

As a freshman in high school, a friend gave me her copy of Kick on cassette because she didn’t care much for it, and from that day forward I wore that tape out. INXS immediately became one of my favorite bands, and 27 years later, that still rings true. Sure, I was a little late to the party just discovering them with Kick, but hey – I was young and too immersed in New Order and OMD to notice much else at the time. After exposure to Kick, I quickly dug back and figured out what I had been missing with Shabooh Shoobah and the glorious Listen Like Thieves. It’s no surprise that one of the first additions to my newly expanding vinyl collection would be this album, and on a night such as this, with another fabulous cocktail concoction, things are starting to warm up nicely.

-Her

Since it’s cold and icy outside, I figured a little spice would be welcomed tonight – so I decided on a rye whiskey cocktail.

Enter the Old Pal. We used an overproof, single barrel Whistle Pig tonight, I wanted something boozey to stand up to the Campari. It was a hit with the Mrs. and me both, the right fit for the right evening.

Another simple recipe, which I favor because it lets the main spirit shine.

Old Pal:

1.5 oz Rye whiskey

.75 oz Campari

.75 oz Dry vermouth

Lemon twist

Add the rye, campari and vermouth to a cocktail pitcher about 2/3 full of ice. Stir well, until the cocktail is good and chilled (30-40 seconds), then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the lemon twist.

-Him