Uneven Appreciation

Paper Title: Graff Zivin, J and G Singer, “Disparities in Pollution Capitalization Rates: The Role of Direct & Systemic Discrimination,” NBER WP #30814.

Cocktail Pairing: Uneven Appreciation

Rationale: This is a tough one.  We generally associate cocktails with celebration, but some of my papers address issues that cannot be celebrated, but rather identify concerns in need of remedy. This paper shows that housing values appreciate when air quality improves, but that price increases are much smaller for black homeowners than for white ones due to both direct and systemic racism.  Uneven Appreciation utilizes an unusual combination of ingredients that is meant to invoke the dissonant harmony and melisma of blues music whose themes of oppression resonate with our findings.  The smokey ice cube and bourbon are a nod to the flavors of Memphis, a center for blues music and home to the National Civil Rights Museum.  The peach puree and garnish utilize the iconic fruit of Georgia, whose capital is a cultural center for African Americans and whose residents, including Martin Luther King Jr., played central roles in the civil rights movement.  The Uneven Appreciation is my own creation, offering layered flavors of sweetness, bitterness, and herbal notes and meant to be enjoyed with friends or in quiet contemplation.

Recipe: Uneven Appreciation

• 2 oz bourbon

• 1 oz Italicus liqueur

• 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice

• 0.5 oz peach puree (or muddled fresh peaches)

• 0.5 oz agave syrup (reduce if you want it less sweet)

• 2 dashes oak bitters

• 2 dashes serrano bitters

• Garnish with 1 sprig of fresh rosemary and peach slice

1. Combine all ingredients with ice in a shaker and shake vigorously until well chilled

2. Strain into a lowball or whiskey glass with large smoked ice cube.

3. Garnish with a with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a thin slice of peach on the rim.

Additional Instructions: Peach Puree

1. Combine 2 cups of (thawed) frozen peach slices, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 tsp honey

2. Blend until smooth and strain through a fine-mesh sieve

3. Store in refrigerator for 1 week or freezer for longer

Additional Instructions: Smoked Ice Cube

1. Combine ¼ teaspoon of liquid smoke with 1 cup of water

2. Add to large ice cube tray and freeze

NOTE: drink slowly become smokier as ice melts in cocktail