The Camaro

 I got this glass over 20 years ago at a flea market.  I had my eye on an M&M plush wearing nerd glasses.  When I asked the gentleman at the table how much it was he said 50 cents. I handed him a dollar, he looked around the table and handed me this glass as my change. No conversation or options- this glass was the only form of currency at that moment. I held onto it because I thought it was cool looking and it was such a fun story (though I don’t think I still have the M&M). The car faded a bit after a trip in the dishwasher, but it’s still delightful and it was recently given the job of holding vintage matchbooks on my basement bar.  While evaluating all my glassware for drink inspirations I saw this and immediately thought of my mom’s Camaro. She purchased it in 1967 and it lived in our garage while I was growing up.  At that point she never really drove it, I’m not even sure if it could run those days, but it was always this mysterious beauty hiding out near our bikes.  As kids we would sneak in, sit behind the wheel, and pretend for a moment we were on the open road. The car always had a specific smell which I think may have been the vinyl seats.  When I saw this glass I realized that smell also hit a little close to Fernet Branca which I had bought for one cocktail several months ago.  So why not use it to make a drink that honors that gorgeous Camaro.  I decided to use a smokey scotch since in the 80s that car probably would have smoked a bit if turned on. I ended up with a take on a Rob Roy (my dad’s favorite cocktail).  It’s got the fernet vibe but it doesn’t take over the entire palete as fernet tends to do. I should also note that I am well aware the car represented on the glass is not an actual Camaro. We’re all living on memories and they can also become faded with our many trips through the mental dishwasher.  Mom’s Camaro was eventually sold to a friend’s son who was training to become a mechanic.  Sometimes I dream that she got fixed up and is still exploring the open road to this day.  Let’s raise a glass to that!