2020 Q1 Spirited VA - 40

An

drew

s Sister
s

Rhythm-and-blues musician
Amos Milburn popularized
multiple good-natured songs
about booze and parties in the
1940s and 1950s, accompanied
by energetic piano and horns.
He crooned the heartbreak song,
"Thinking and Drinking" and the
upbeat "House Party": "Come on
everybody, it's Saturday night, ...
let's house party tonight!" Other
Milburn nods to the temptations
of drink ranged from "Just One
More Drink" and "Let Me Go
Home, Whiskey" to "Vicious,
Vicious Vodka."
The swing and boogie-woogie
Andrews Sisters celebrated the
Cuba Libre in their 1944 hit, "Rum
and Coca Cola." And Don McLean
sang of good ol' boys drinking
whiskey and rye in 1971 (seemingly
unaware that rye is whiskey).
The Tequila Sunrise reflects
the mingling of music and drink.
Created in San Francisco in the
early 1970s, the cocktail became

a Rolling Stones favorite. Given
the drink's soaring popularity, the
Eagles released "Tequila Sunrise"
in 1973.
Longer lasting than a
frozen concoction in a freezer,
Jimmy Buffett's 1977 hit,
"Margaritaville," has become a
classic song as well as the name
of a chain of Buffett-themed
restaurants and retirement
communities. It's also been
covered by the likes of
country singer Alan
Jackson and pro
wrestlers Stone Cold
Steve Austin and The
Rock.
Country artist
Shelly West
released "José
Cuervo" in 1983:
"José Cuervo, you
are a friend of mine,
I like to drink you
with a little salt and
lime ... the music is
playing and my spirits
are high."

HEARTBREAK & BLUES
A multitude of musicians have
paired sorrow and alcohol, as
Hank Williams Jr.'s 1989 release
of "There's a Tear in My Beer."
Booze-and-blues master Amos
Milburn recorded "One Bourbon,
One Scotch, One Beer" in 1953.

J

y Buffet
m
im

N O W F AS T
FORWARD
TO

2020.

Han

kW

lia

il

ms

, Jr

.
40 VIRGINIA ABC | ABC.VIRGINIA.GOV

Spirited Virginia highlights
liquid pop-culture mixes
and a few top contenders on
Virginia ABC store shelves and
at Commonwealth bars and
restaurants.
Songs filled with heartfelt
messages, from the blues to love
songs, pair well with spirits.

The song was modified by John
Lee Hooker in 1966 and George
Thorogood in 1977. "Well I ain't
seen my baby since I don't know
when, I been drinking bourbon
whiskey, scotch and gin." At last call,
the heartbroken lover orders "One
bourbon, one scotch, one beer."
Country music duo Dan + Shay,
http://ABC.VIRGINIA.GOV
2020 Q1 Spirited VA

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2020 Q1 Spirited VA
