What does France’s Frank Sinatra, Charles Aznavour, pictured here, have in common with California Chrome, not pictured here, but TD’s stand-in is as close to chrome as we can get. Aznavour and “CC” were both long shots at getting where they are today, and both are still going strong.
If somebody told you that Shahnour Vaghenag Aznavourian was voted the greatest name in 20th Century entertainment over Elvis and Dylan by readers of Time and CNN, you just might say,c’est incroyable.
No horse has won the Triple Crown in 36 years, but California Chrome, winner of the Kentucky Derby, is heavily favored to win tomorrow’s Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown. If he does win, it’s on to the Belmont, and the 36-year draught of a Triple Crown winner could be over June 8, less than a month from now. You might say, c’est incroyable.
So TD has brought them together. Pictured here is a convenient merging of two of TD’s favorite interests: The classic personality and fashion photography of Georges Dambier, a friend, whose estate has graciously given TD access to his photography of the 40s and 50s in Paris, and our friends at High West who have the closest whiskey to a “chrome” whiskey as we are going to get. Their Silver Whiskey—Western Oat is definitely a thoroughbred whiskey.
Now if you watched the Kentucky Derby, chances are you had a mint julep in-hand, the “official cocktail” of The Derby. To the best of our knowledge there is no equivalent for the Preakness.
That’s not the proposition here. Rather TD says it is time for California Chrome, win or lose, have a cocktail in its honor. TD’s whisky editor Stephen Winch has a proposed White Manhattan that might be the ticket. It uses High West’s Silver. While a Manhattan requires a rye or bourbon, for this cocktail, more chrome-like alcohols, such as gin, vodka or some tequilas, will work just as well. But the cocktail needs to be original and fitting the humble roots of California Chrome, probably aged 3 years since he is a 3-year old and has the third gate for the start of the race. Let’s hope he doesn’t come in third.
So share your concoctions. Sláinte.
