Tayari's Blog: L.A. Dirty Water by Fred Smith

Posted by TayariJones on May 13, 2008 11:09 AM
Filed under Cocktails With Writers

Fred Smith, has contributed a summer club-life cocktail. (And he should know. The photo on the Tayari Jones and Fred Smithleft is of Fred and me at El Rey in LA. I'm the one in the false eyelashes.)

So, with no further ado--Here's his drink & pitch!

"Jeremy and Kenny, the main characters in my latest novel, Right Side of the Wrong Bed, are one of those couples.

You know them, they’re probably among your circle of friends, and most definitely among your circle of distant relatives. High drama. Lots of chemistry. Love hard. Fight hard. Love hard again. The type of couple that makes you wonder, “What do they see in each other? Why are they together? And how long before it finally ends?”

Of course it never ends when expected. Because when it seems to be over, one of them picks up the phone after a couple drinks – much like Lee Ann Womack sings in one of my favorite songs “I May Hate Myself In The Morning (But I’m Gonna Love You Tonight)” – and the ride begins again.

One thing that bonds Jeremy and Kenny, besides their obvious emotional and physical attraction for each other, is their love for a good cocktail. Early in their relationship, Kenny ends up caretaking for Jeremy, who enjoyed a night out on the town a little bit too much.

The following recipe is the kind of drink I imagined Jeremy drinking in that scene. It’s called a “Dirty Water,” though here in Los Angeles I’ve heard it called “L.A. River” or “Sewer Water.” I’m sure the name changes in every city. I’ve seen it as a full cocktail and also as a shot. Either way, it should be taken in slow and responsibly."


Dirty Water

  • 2 parts Absolut Apeach
  • 1 part Absolut Citron
  • 1 part Absolut Mandrin
  • 1 part Aged Rum Of Cuban Type
  • 1 part Coke
  • 1 part Cruzan Coconut Rum

    Fill a highball glass to the rim with ice cubes. Pour absolut apeach, absolut citron, absolut mandrin, aged rum of cuban type, cola and cruzan coconut rum into a shaker. Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake it until the shaker is very cold. Strain the drink into the highball glass.

    "Funny, touching, and intoxicating. Smith has written yet another compulsive read." --Maurice Jamal

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    There are 1 comments on "L.A. Dirty Water by Fred Smith". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.

    Comment #1, by Ladylee [TypeKey Profile Page]

    *blank stare*

    Is it really possible to mix that much liquor together? Shouldn't that be cut with some orange or cranberry juice?

    My goodness, I got drunk just reading that. LOL!


    May 14, 2008 12:46 PM

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