Brokeback Mountain

Image Credit: Brokeback Mountain, 2005

During the Heath-A-Thon I held on New Year’s Eve, I had the pleasure of watching the critically acclaimed drama, Brokeback Mountain (DVD/Download). The tale of two cowboys and the forbidden attraction they share is an unexpected love story, but absolutely essential viewing.

Directed by Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain is full of quiet moments that pull the viewer in. The Wyoming (or Canada?) scenery is gorgeous, as are the two lead characters played by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. I love that the story isn’t so much about their sexuality as it is about the difficulty of finding happiness in one’s life. The only place Ennis Del Mar is truly happy is on Brokeback Mountain with Jack Twist, but he can’t see a way to make that happiness last. Work, family, and fear of the unknown gets in the way, until he becomes trapped in a life he hates. Too late he realizes all that he’s lost, and the final scene has me weeping every time. At the end of the 2.5 hours, I feel like my heart has been ripped out right along with Ennis’.

To get through this tearjerker, I need a good cocktail to cheer me up. One of my favorite scenes is when Ennis’ wife Alma, played by Michelle Williams, confronts her husband about his “fishing trips” with Jack Twist. “Jack Twist? Jack NASTY” she spits. It’s not supposed to be funny, but something about her accent makes me giggle every time. While watching Brokeback Mountain, I recommend drinking a Jack Nasty.

Jack Nasty

2 oz Jack Daniel’s Honey Whiskey

1 ½ oz Apple Cider

¾ oz Lemon Juice

Lemon Twist

Mix whiskey, apple cider, and lemon juice in a shaker (dry shake). Pour into a rocks filled glass, and garnish with a twist of lemon.

Contrary to the name, this cocktail is amazingly tasty, and allows me to use one of the 52 mini bottles of liquor I found in my Christmas stocking this year. Win-win! Watching Brokeback Mountain makes me feel incredibly lucky that I was able to build exactly the kind of life I want with the person I love. For so many people in the world, it isn’t that easy. Also, I can be glad that ranching was never a career path laid at my feet. I’ve never been a fan of beans. Cheers!