The recently released cocktail menu at Pop & Hiss – the combo record store, bar and music venue in Pacific Grove – is full of hits, from the upbeat gin drink Genius of Love to the bluesy bourbon-based Love Me Like a Man. But even in a collection of solid jams, one stands out from the rest: The Born to Run is the boss of them all.
Served on ice with a candied lime, the Born to Run is refreshing and smooth, with a slight smoky bite, thanks to the 400 Conejos mezcal, which stands out as the frontman of the tiki cocktail, accompanied by the rhythm of the walnut bitters, the bass of the Brovo Lucky Falernum and the percussive pineapple juice.
Although named after the classic Bruce Springsteen hit, Born to Run pairs well with smooth jazz or a chill DJ set commonly featured at Pop & Hiss. The sippable concoction is just boozy enough to complement your conversational skills but not so strong that you’ll lose your cool or act a fool. And if you’re popping in to add the next record to your collection, it serves as an excellent companion for digging through the crates.
Pop & Hiss bartender Kaden Yamashita, who co-created the venue’s debut cocktail menu, which was released at the end of March, calls the Born to Run “user-friendly,” and says it’s a drink for people who don’t traditionally imbibe mezcal.
For a mezcal lover like myself, the Born to Run is the cocktail I was born to drink.
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