Columbus bar manager Jesse Hubbard releases recipe book inspired by 20 punk albums
With a love for punk rock and a flair for stimulating cocktails, bartender Jesse Hubbard combines his passions with the release of his book titled "Punk Rock & Cocktails."
Hubbard, who is set to manage a bourbon concept bar (the name to be announced) in Grandview Heights that is slated to open in June, said the project is a love letter to his punk-rock heroes, many of whom inspired the creation of some of his most recognizable aperitifs.
Hubbard, 39, said his friends and family urged him to write a book about his punk-inspired mixes and penchant for naming them after song titles and obscure lyrics. And after bartending for nearly a decade, the award-winning craftsman, ranking among the United States Bartenders’ Guild’s World Class Top 100 Bartenders in 2020, decided to go for it.
"Once I sat down and thought about what the concept would be, it was right there in front of me the whole time — to do this album-and-cocktail combination," he said.
Albums such as "Nobody's Darlings" by Lucero, "Ghosts" by the Gay Blades and Minor Threat's "Out of Step" are among 20 drink inspirations listed in "Punk Rock & Cocktails." The Grove City resident penned a short story about each album and how each inspired the accompanying cocktail's ingredients.
Hubbard said he began working on the project early last year. First, he reached out to members of each band to get their permission to add them in the book, then spent six to seven months writing and editing the manuscript.
With it being Hubbard's first time authoring a book, the Princeton, New Jersey, native said it was a fairly large undertaking. But after developing the manuscript, he reached out to workers at Biblio Publishing in Grandview Heights, who helped bring his concept to life.
"To write a book, something that was worthy in my mind, it was a big task," Hubbard said. "It was scary to really put it out there, but Biblio has been great."
Hubbard initially wanted each book to be printed as a paperback, but Biblio Publishing President Bob Sims proposed two versions, one 6-by 9-inch version and another version the size of a "coffee-table book."
But even before printing off copies of the cocktail and rock-inspired project, which was published in late February, Sims said he knew the book had the potential for a wide audience.
Although he expected support from local readers, Sims has already seen orders coming from Texas, Colorado and other states across the country. And after Hubbard's book signing this week, he anticipates sales will rise even more.
"I don't just see it as a local thing," Sims said. "I think it will be more than that for each band he chose for this book and future books."
Joe Bidinger, owner of Columbus' Echo Spirits and writer of the book's foreword, said the recognition for the book is truly a dream fulfilled for Hubbard.
"He built this as a labor of love for central Ohio spirits," Bidinger said. "He didn't seek out national attention from this, but it's happening."
Like Sims, Nate Howe, who heads an event company with Hubbard called Saint Russell Productions, which is presenting the book-signing event, said the book will garner national recognition, especially as the fan bases of the bands and artists mentioned in the book catch on to its release.
Above all things, Hubbard said he wants readers to be driven to follow their passions and do it authentically — just as he has done in making the book. And as he approaches the release-party date on Thursday, Hubbard said he already is thinking about writing future volumes to create a series.
"I want to start writing Volume II relatively soon," Hubbard said. But I want to give this book some time to breathe. But I figure, if I start writing now, a year or so from now I'll release Volume II.
"As long as (Biblio) will have me, I'm going to keep putting them out. I'm ready to rock and roll and see what the future brings for the series."
At a glance
A release party and book signing for "Punk Rock & Cocktails" is set for 7 p.m. Thursday at Echo Spirits Distilling Co., 985 W. 6th Ave. Echo Spirits also will offer a special cocktail menu comprised of some of the cocktails from the book.
Tickets cost $22.99 and can be purchased at eventbrite.com. Each ticket includes one copy of the book that will be available at the event.
A few recipes
Interested in some cocktails from Hubbard's book? Here are a few to try.
The Noon As Dark As Midnight
Inspired by Lucero's 'Nobody's Darlings,' the drink consists of 2 ounces of Woodford Reserve, 5 ounces of dry vermouth, ¼ ounce of nochino, ¼ ounce of pure maple syrup and "two dashes" of Woodford Reserve cherry bitters.
Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass and add ice. Stir for 20 seconds, strain into a coupe cocktail glass and garnish with a Luxardo cherry.
The Old Piano
The drink, inspired by "Sunshine Highway," the fifth track off Dropkick Murphy's "The Warrior Code" album, includes 1.5 ounces of Bombay Sapphire gin, ½ ounce of Dill-infused Lillet Blanc, ¼ ounce of yellow Chartreuse, ½ ounce of lemon juice and ½ ounce of honey syrup.
Combine all the ingredients with ice into a shaker tin and shake until extremely cold. Double strain into a glass and garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel.