The Pink Cadillac

When you hear "Pink Cadillac", what comes to mind? Elvis Presley's car(s)? Perhaps the first one that he almost burned to death in, or the second one that he was in during a head-on collision? (Bad mojo on the pink Caddies, Elvis). Or maybe you think of the gaudy ones that Mary Kay reps win for hustling makeup? Or perhaps you immediately conjure up Aretha Franklin belting out "Pink Cadillac" on the radio? (Gotcha - that's not Aretha Franklin. That's crooner Natalie Cole, daughter of Nat King Cole. You're never too old to learn something new.)

Well, fans of The Boss will know that it was on this day in 1984 that the song Pink Cadillac was released as the B-Side of Springsteen's Dancing in the Dark single. (If you don't know what a B-Side is, you are too young to be reading this blog). Interestingly, even though released as a single in 1984, it never appeared on a Springsteen album until the 1998 release of Tracks.

Nowadays, there as many recordings of Pink Cadillac as there are versions of the Pink Cadillac Cocktail, today's Drink Diva recipe. Choose your favorite version of this now-classic song (The Boss, Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, Clarence Clemons...) and enjoy it while also sipping one of my favorite versions of the Pink Cadillac Cocktail.


The Pink Cadillac Cocktail

2 oz. tequila
1 oz. triple sec (or other orange flavored liqueur)
2 oz. lime juice (fresh is best)
1 oz. cranberry juice
1 tsp. sugar or 2 tsp. simple syrup

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well frosted. Serve over ice in a cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry or twist of lime if desired.