Still Life Stare
This Old Fashioned riff embodies the unsettling presence of the "Still Life" entities, with a deep, contemplative character and a subtle, lingering smokiness that suggests something is always just out of sight. It's a boozy sipper, perfect for contemplating liminal dread.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Rye whiskey
- 0.25 oz Demerara syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 dash Chocolate bitters
- Mezcal rinse
Instructions
- Rinse a chilled heavy-bottomed rocks glass with mezcal, then discard the excess.
- Add demerara syrup and bitters to the rinsed glass.
- Add rye whiskey.
- Add a large ice cube and stir for 30-45 seconds until well-chilled and properly diluted.
- Express the oils from an orange peel over the drink and drop it in.
Glassware: Heavy-bottomed rocks glass
Garnish: Large ice cube, expressed orange peel, brandied cherry (optional)
History
This Old Fashioned variation pays homage to the 'Still Life' entities, humanoid figures with distorted features that haunt the Backrooms. The mezcal rinse adds an eerie, smoky layer, hinting at the pervasive, uncanny dread that defines Parsons' vision.