Billows & Thieves Mocktail, Links of the Week, & Recent Podcasts
Issue No. 4 - February 20, 2023
I appreciate all the great feedback and comments from the “Tainted Love Cocktail & Have We Reached Peak Amazon.com?” newsletter this past week. Nothing can make a journalist or analyst more happy than when people you know happen to know the subject matter very well - as in, they worked at Amazon too and know what I am talking about - and they tell you they enjoyed it and overall buy the analysis and ideas. (long sentance, but you get the idea.)
Some nice comments on the cocktail too. Anyone out there make it?
Again, thanks very much for those of you you have liked, commented on, or shared the newsletter. Really appreciate it, and I can use your help and support to get it out there. Truth is, I would not be putting in the effort if I did not want to grow the subscriber list. My goal at this stage is to add twenty subscribers each week. I don’t know why, but it is kinda fun to keep score and see them roll in. Not to twenty new with the last post yet, but I just put it out there and we are starting to get close.
This week’s issue is a spill over. Issue No. 3 - ‘Tainted Love Cocktail & Have We Reached Peak Amazon.com?’ was so damn long that I came up against some sort of cut-off and decided to move the rest to this issue. But now I am thinking that I kind of like the opportunity to alternate with ICYMI and other content from the larger articles or analysis. But it also feels like I am kinda faking it, so… I made a mocktail! (That’s a joke, and I do not even mean it! The real reason is it is Monday night! Moderation!)
In truth, my thoughts on mocktails have evolved. A lot.
I will admit that at one point I definitely made snarky fun of mocktails and looked very much down on them with a bit of bitters infused bravado. But now I see it very differently. Recently I asked myself, “What do I really enjoy about cocktailing?” The answer includes culinary creativity, a dash of freedom of expression, some culture and history, taste-travel (kinda like time-travel), and a whole lot of bonding and laughing with other people. Well guess what, alcohol is not required anywhere in that answer.
I want people who are not drinking - ever, that month, that day, or that hour - to be able to be a part of the fun and not feel awkward or excluded from the fun, the laughter, the exchange of stories and the learning about each other that come from enjoying beverages and time together. (Oh, don't get me wrong - left to my own devices I am more likely to mix up some sort of spirit-forward, boozy, taste-bomb than just about anything else, but I am happy with a big tent.).
And of course, unless you have your head in the sand you should realize that alcohol is not really great for us humans, especially in volume (let alone excess). So, mocktails and shims - low-alcohol cocktails - allow someone like me - who loves to mix - a way to enjoy the craft while mixing up something healthy, or at least with very minimal downside effects.
A recent example was my brother-in-law’s birthday. We won’t discuss the number - Cam’s modest that way - but we had a great big party for him. Many people had not seen each other in some time, and the family had a recent significant loss. It was a much needed and welcome catch -up for all. I was excited to mix for the party, starting with some killer Amercano’s at two in the afternoon and kept it rolling through multiple martini variations - something the birthday boy was partial to. But my daughter and her college friend were going to be there so I decided - possibly with some encouragement from my wife - to mix them a mocktail. It was a delicious bitter-grapefruit soda, verjus, orange-juice N/A spritz - complete with showy olive and orange garnish. It was good. And then a lot of other at the party were interested - because they did not drink, or because they did not want a big buzz - and I was mixing away, having a great time.
I also noticed how appreciative people were that I was offering them something and it was fun and tasty. I enjoyed mixing those for them just as much and could take pride in the balanced refreshing beverage I handed them. In other words, just as satisfying. Though note, that I capped things off with a Little-Italy variation I cooked up using Oleo Saccharum, Cynar, vermouth, and splash of rye right about around midnight - amazing.
This Week’s Mocktail: The Billows & Thieves
This week’s drink is adapted from a great book on non-alcoholic mixology, Good Drinks by Julia Bainbridge. If you are interested, I encourage you to to get the book. Lots of good ideas.
This mocktail takes just a touch of simple prep
The spec, serves one:
3 oz. - Grapefruit juice (fresh squeezed if avail.)
.5 oz. - Lemon juice (fresh squeezed if avail.)
1 oz. - Cold-brew coffee (strong or concentrate, decaf OK)
.5 oz. - Cardamon-Cinnamon Syrup** (see note)
Pinch Sea Salt
Grated nutmeg (for garnish)
** Note: Cardamom-Cinnamon Syrup recipe, makes 1.25 cups
2 - Cinnamon sticks, broken up some
3 - Cardamom pods, cracked
.5 cup - Water
1 cup - Maple Syrup
In a small saucepan over medium heat, toast the cinnamon sticks, occasionally shaking the pan until fragrant. Add water, cardamon, maple syrup and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Strain and discard solids, store in the refrigerator for up to one week. (Note, Ms. Bainbridge provides and authors note that the syrup worked well with the next morning’s coffee. I concur.)
The process:
Combine the juices, cold-brew, syrup and salt in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously until the tin is so cold you can’t stand it anymore. Double strain into a coupe glass and garnish with grated nutmeg.
Due to length, I split off “ICYMI - Links of the Week” and some other content intoa separate newsletter edition… and another cocktail! Look for that in the nxt few days.
ICYMI - Links of the Week:
We all are overwhelmed by the content coming at us. I try my best to still find some good stuff. Some of these rest behind firewalls, sorry. But then again you are a grown up, time to pay up for quality media… who do you think writes the good stuff? Robots?
Disinflation - Inflation is going down faster than it is going up. Inflation is a supply/demand imbalance — too many dollars chasing too few goods — filtered through our expectations of the future. Six months ago, inflation was a front-page bonfire. Now inflation is in fact receding, for the same basket of reasons it went up — not math, but markets. (No Mercy / No Malice)
Why Are You Seeing So Many Bad Digital Ads Now? In a shaky advertising market in an uncertain economy, ads that few people want to see suddenly seem to be everywhere. (The New York Times)
Why Everyone Feels Like They’re Faking It. The concept of Impostor Syndrome has become ubiquitous. Critics, and even the idea’s originators, question its value. (The New Yorker)
Shopify is throwing more weight behind logistics in a bid to boost its e-commerce tools for retailers. Shopify Inc. is stepping up its logistics and fulfillment services as it expands efforts to help merchants compete with Amazon.com Inc. The company, which provides e-commerce tools for retailers, said it has struck a deal with digital-focused freight forwarder Flexport Inc. to manage the flow of imported goods and will add estimated delivery dates for companies using Shopify’s platform. (Wall Street Journal)
Why China Didn’t Invent ChatGPT. The state’s hardening censorship and heavier hand have held back its tech industry; so has entrepreneurs’ reluctance to invest for the long term. When ChatGPT launched, China's tech entrepreneurs were shocked and demoralized. It has dawned on many of them that despite the hype, China lags far behind in artificial intelligence and tech innovation. (The New York Times). See Also: Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella: ‘We brought some more competition to search’. Has Microsoft just taken a bold step forward in kicking off a new era of “Search Wars”? CEO Satya Nadella also argues publishers and advertisers will make more money from AI-powered search, but it’s difficult to see how. (The Verge).
Bonus: Culture & Travel:
Marvin Gaye’s iconic NBA All-Star Game national anthem: ‘He turned that thing into his own’. For one afternoon, America’s anointed theme song had a suede soul, velvety enough to be simultaneously sexy and spiritual. For one afternoon, the time set aside to honor America became a historic homage to the rhythm and blues of Blackness, a tribute to the resilient genius of African American culture. (The Athletic)
Recent Podcasts:
Episode 56: Marketing to the Future — How to Sell to Gen Z - A “narrative” episode we (me and the crack production team at Bloomreach/Sweetfish) did recently that we are really proud of - focusing on Gen Z. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot doing research for it. I enjoyed sharing what I found and bringing some other voices in the discussion as well.
Episode 57: Decoding Delight and Delivering Amazing Customer Experiences with Tim Lowe - Founder & CEO of Lowe’s Foods - I asked Tim to be on the show after introducing him and hearing him speak at Grocery Week late last year in Orlando, FL. I loved Tim’s approach to customer experience as he shared some unique ways Lowe’s Foods has taken routine elements of the grocery experience and turned them on their head - delighting customers along the way. He also is super fun and interesting to talk to - great guy. He will make you think about how to adapt what he is talking about to your business. I did.
Where to find me - Events:
Etail West is coming up and I will be there! Reach out if you would like to meet up or grab a drink in fabulous Palm Springs! Palm Springs is fabulous this time of year and it is a good small show that always has a good vibe. I’ll be there February 27-28, 2023 only.
Modern Retail Commerce Summit. I have never been to this show, but there are a lot of great bars in NOLA! Sazerac anyone? Peychaud's? Looking forward to it! New Orleans, LA April 11–13, 2023
Or find me here, here, or here online.
Cocktails, Commerce & Conversions Newsletter - Brian Walker