Old Blue Eyes and Old No. 7 still make great music together
Start spreading the news: Old Blue Eyes turns 100 years old this month and the crowned whiskey king, Jack Daniels, releases “Sinatra Century” as a birthday present for his most famed supporter.
1915 was a very good year because on Dec. 12, in Hoboken, N.J., during a cold, wintry night, an Italian immigrant couple welcomed into the world music’s most legendary crooner, Francis Albert “Frank” Sinatra.
Selling over 150 million records worldwide, Frank Sinatra was an international icon, known for his hopeful, soaring songs, thousand-dollar suits and a stout whiskey beverage always in his hand.
Frank had alcohol under his skin and he never shied away from his enthusiasm for liquor. He pitied those who fell asleep and woke up feeling the exact same. The man showered himself with riches and could afford any adult beverage he wanted, yet he preferred Jack Daniels over any other brand. With Sinatra’s endorsement, Jack Daniels grew into America’s number-one whiskey, and this month the company is toasting Frank on his centennial birthday with “Sinatra Century,” a hundred-proof specialty liquor made especially for the Chairman of the Board.
Like a stranger in the night, Sinatra Century looks unlike any liquor you’ve ever purchased. Gift-wrapped inside a limited-edition collector’s case equipped with a tribute book highlighting Frank’s career, his music and the Jack Daniels company, this spirit comes with a previously unreleased soundtrack highlighting Old Blue Eyes’ performances during his stay at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. Prepare for a swinging night featuring his greatest hits, including “Fly Me to the Moon,” “It Was A Very Good Year” and “My Kind of Town.”
The best is yet to come, because after reading the book and dancing with the music, it’s time to drink the amber-colored whiskey. Take a small sip and taste the oak with subtle coconut and citrus flavors. Your palate will appreciate the smoky finish and the lasting charred barrel spice.
Throughout his career, Sinatra continuously supported the young-at-heart fighting across seas. Not only did he speak at rallies that supported housing for veterans, he also toured with the USO, visiting different camps and providing the troops with much-needed entertainment. Much like The Voice, Jack Daniels also provides support for those fighting for America’s freedom. The company sponsors Operation Ride Home, a foundation that provides soldiers travel vouchers, allowing them a chance to go home and see their family for the holidays.
Come fly with me and let’s stir up a whiskey and water to keep you warm during the holidays. This simple cocktail maximizes whiskey’s true taste while also keeping you hydrated, which in turn keeps away the hangovers. It’s a drink that will make you feel so young.
Don’t worry about buying anything other than the liquor. All you need is Jack, water, a cup and ice. Frank preferred his drink mixed at two parts Jack Daniels to one part chilled water and three ice cubes. Raise your glass high and toast New York, New York.
As time goes by, popular musicians will come and go. They’ll release a hit or two and then fade back into obscurity, appearing years later as nothing more than a Trivial Pursuit answer or an ironic karaoke rendition. But Frank Sinatra somehow found lasting power.
Decades after his last number-one single, the Sultan of Swoon remains a pop culture phenomenon. Whether it’s his croon or his swagger, Sinatra’s legacy lives on through generation after generation.
Although La Voz couldn’t be here to celebrate his 100th birthday, it’s safe to assume that he would pour himself a strong Jack Daniels drink, appreciate the brand’s growth and maturity throughout the years and toast another hundred years of doing things his way.
Prost!
Christopher Armstrong was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on a brisk morning in November when the stars aligned and Jupiter was visible with the naked eye. He enjoys the changing of seasons, vinyl records, books with lots of pages and beer that is too expensive for him to ever buy.