The Cadillac Deville, My Grandma And How I Escaped Locked Down During A Pandemic

I have always had a love for anything with wheels on it.

In my early 20s I only owned a motorcycle and I drove it year round in Chicago, somewhat “Mad Max” style. As a young bar-back, I was living pretty simply - the bike had a charging issue and I’d have to carry an extra battery with me to make sure I could get home. I had to wear huge goggles in the winter and wrap myself in scarves to battle the cold.

After winning the NBC “On the Rocks” reality tv competition, I bought myself a small gift of an old Cadillac 1964 Deville — the last year of the iconic tail fins for that car. There’s a pic of my grandmother, who raised my sister and I, in the passenger seat, she was 99 or 100 in that photo. The next time I saw her, she presented me with a red toy car to match the Cadillac.

In a typical year I’m constantly on the road. I am either traveling to speak, educating audiences on spirits or guest bartending at big events like the recent Emmy Awards. In recent years, the Cadillac has spent more time in the garage than on the road. But, like everyone else, I’ve had an unplanned summer at home. In order to stay socially distant and safe, it’s been a treat to toss the pup in the car, drop the top and go for a ride and escape along the beautiful lakefront. The winding neighborhoods north of Chicago are a great place to cruise and even do a Ferris Bueller tour. A favorite local drive at night is to head downtown, ride Lake Shore Drive and twist through Lower Wacker, a la Blues Brothers…I guess you can say, I’m also a fan of movies with cars as key characters that take place in Chicago. ;)

- Charles Joly