Mixtapes and Mixology | Casey Bond’s Bella Vida

Mixtapes & Mixology is a new podcast from The Bridge, Flatland, and Recommended Daily that mashes up the Kansas City music and cocktail scene. Each week, we tell the story of one band, one song, and one bartender. Then we ask the bartender to listen to that song and make us a drink based on how the track makes them feel. You can download the podcast and check out this week’s artist Jessica Paige here (you can also catch up with last week’s episode featuring Ivøry Black and Zac Snyder).

For our second episode, mixologist Casey Bond created a cocktail, Bella Vida, meant to distill the essence of long, sunny days and corn fields based on the imagery and lyrics in Jessica Paige’s “Beautiful Life.” This drink is cool and creamy with a potent hit of smoke. Editor’s Note: At the time the podcast was record, Bond was working at Blvd Tavern; she’s since left that job. 

Bella Vida

1 1/2 ounces sweet corn kernels (cut off the cob)

1/4 of a fresh peach

1 1/2 ounces Cielo Rojo Bacanora

1/2 ounce Rothman & Winter Peach Liqueur

1/2 ounce simple syrup (ratio of one part sugar to one part water)

2 bar spoons lemon juice (roughly two teaspoons)

Ice

1 basil leaf, torn into three to four pieces

1 basil leaf (garnish)

1 sprinkle smoked paprika (garnish)

Place the corn and peach in a pint glass and muddle with the back of a spoon or muddler until the fruit is well macerated and the juices are extracted. Add the spirits, simple syrup, lemon juice, and basil leaf. Fill the pint glass with ice and shake for 10 to 15 seconds.

Double strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe glass (think of when you’ve had champagne and it wasn’t served in a flute, that’s a coupe glass). Place a basil leaf into your hand and clap to bring out the aromatics. Place the leaf into the coupe, resting partway over the lip. Lightly sprinkle the paprika over the basil leaf and the top of the cocktail. Enjoy.

Mixtapes and Mixology is a four-part podcast series that culminates in a live cocktail-and-music event on Thursday, September 15. Find information and tickets here.