Nico, the misspelled icon. She jumped off a Parisian runway in ’65, running from the glamour girl scene, away from the chatter of all those polished teeth, the prattle of unstrung pearls still bouncing on the staircase as she fled. Headfirst into the flash and swirl of Warhol’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable. New York had grit and grease, but she was still a polished mirror, reflecting our desires just like before. Being pretty was a bore. Inside her, songs were growing. Weird things. She’d sing and pump her harmonium, fill its lung and press out countless sighs of minor chords. On Desertshore, this is where we meet. It’s bleak, but right in the middle of it Nico puts the harmonium away and comforts us with a lullaby. “You are beautiful and you are alone,” she sings. Yes, it can be a little lonely, but it’s beautiful, too, wandering along this path, between the start and finish, between the sand and sea.
A sandy colored concoction, with fresh tarragon blooming on top…
DESERTSHORE:
- 1 ½ oz. vodka
- ½ oz. honey syrup
- ¾ oz. lemon juice
- a few dashes of Peychaud’s bitters
- white of a small egg
- 9 fresh tarragon leaves
In the bottom of a shaker, muddle 6 of the tarragon leaves along with the honey syrup. Add the vodka, lemon juice, bitters and egg white and dry shake (shake without ice, that is) for about 30 seconds to emulsify the egg. Add ice and shake for 30 seconds more, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the 3 remaining tarragon leaves in a crisscross pattern on top.
