When you really want to like a smokey whiskey, but just can't

It's a better than average Friday when a free whiskey sample crosses your desk.
"This is Stolen?" What's that about? And is that a 45 rpm record jacket?
Taking inspiration from a quote from Picasso that "great artists steal," Stolen is the name of a new-to-the-U.S., 46% alcohol by volume, aged 11 years artisanal spirit that originated in New Zealand. The gimmick is using charred whiskey barrel staves, plus a secondary barrel-finishing process -- where what the makers refer to as "the juice" is continually analyzed for taste and nosed for aroma till it meets the boldness test.
"Drink it like it's stolen," they seductively say.
Smokey whiskey is quite manly, and I feel like I should've sipped it while smoking a cigar. But just like with Jim Beam Black, I have a hard time getting into it because the smoke flavor is overkill. but that's nothing that ginger ale can't fix. Does that make me a wuss, or a whiskey snob? I mean I do know the difference between whiskey with an "E" and whisky without it.
Give me Evan Williams' Honey or Cherry, or Jim Beam Apple on the rocks any day!
What I wish Stolen would've sent me is a link to cocktail recipes so I knew what the heck to do with it. I took the liberty of supplying it to you here. 
They also have a smoked rum and something called "Overproof" rum.
Since Talk About the Passion is mostly a music blog, I need to mention what was in the 45 rpm jacket in the package, besides cards introducing me to Stolen Whiskey. No, there was no record.

 Rapper Phranchyze and alt country singer Nikki Lane and rocker Jonathan Tyler (did they spell his name wrong on this photo?) are into Stolen.

However, I think Phranchyze prefers Hennessey and Horchata. He has a song about it.

 

Whoa, am I actually a better DJ than Moby?

For the last year, I've come to rely on my Spotify at work more than I ever thought I'd have to.
CNN, a staple in our newsroom, is slowly discovering the dire consequences of prioritizing entertainment value over journalism by not holding Trump's feet to the fire. Cannot stand all the idiotic talking heads trying to brainwash us that a repulsive bullying fascist is normal. So to drown out that nonsense, I've created this playlist that borrows heavily from 30 Days, 30 Songs (which it looks like is morphing into 1,000 Days, 1,000 Songs), and a little from Moby's imagined playlist if he were to DJ the inauguration.
 WARNING: Some of my playlist songs contain rather strong language. But too bad. These are my not-so-subtle thoughts on Dumb Donald, and it keeps me from losing my mind by reminding me I am not alone.
What's disappointing is Moby's Spotify leans too much on Vietnam War era protest songs. Sure, you can nitpick me for choosing W-era songs like "Mr. President" by Doylestown native Pink & The Indigo Girls, folk songs from the World War II era (when Americans shot Nazis instead of electing them), an impeachment-urging song from the Nixon years and an '80s new wave throwback by Heaven 17 that quaintly references President Ronald Reagan (which the British group pronounces "Ree-gan"). But don't my songs fit the nightmare we're in a little better than John Lennon's "Imagine?"
I look forward, albeit reluctantly, to adding more tunes as they come out.