The Mamie Taylor cocktail. Every heard of it? No? You’re not alone. This under-appreciated classic is not even on the menu of most modern hallowed halls of cocktails. This long forgotten libation first appeared in print in The Bartender’s Book by Jack T0wnsend in 1952. However, by this point, the Mamie Taylor was already long … Continue reading Mamie Yes, Mamie No?
You can’t talk cocktails without giving a nod to the daiquiri. Granted, for years my “nod” was a shaking of the head in disapproval as I watched slushy mixtures of frozen daiquiris come out of machines, or being prepared with pre-made commercial mixes. Remember the Fat Tuesdays Daiquiri Bars with the slushy machines churning out … Continue reading Vintage Cocktail Project: La Floridita Daiquiri
I was required to take a physical education class in college. It didn’t take long for me to peruse the course catalog and decide that fencing was the sport for me. After all, as a theater major, who knew when I might need those mad fencing skills on stage. Unfortunately, my fencing career was brief. … Continue reading Vintage Cocktail Project: Lucien Gaudin Cocktail
When you hear the phrase “twisting the lion’s tail”, a cocktail is not the first thing that comes to mind. Most likely visions of violence on the African plains as a result of an ill-advised activity spring to mind. But, in the 1930s, “twisting the lion’s tail” was American slang for anything distinctly British. Based … Continue reading A Twist of the Lion’s Tail
The Jupiter Cocktail is another vintage cocktails with no known etymology to its namesake. So, it can only be guessed that the cocktail may derive it’s title from the light blue color. Why is that you ask? Glad you asked! Jupiter in Roman mythology was the god of the sky in addition to his position … Continue reading Tasting the Drops of Jupiter
…would smell of bourbon if we had our way. But until that kind of Kentucky hybrid is available, we’ll be exploring another rose, the Jack Rose Cocktail. Shakespeare himself would be pleased with the misunderstandings and legends surrounding the origins of this libation’s name. The first story is the simplest with the drink deriving its … Continue reading A Rose By Any Other Name…
No, we haven’t traded cocktails for couples counseling. The honeymoon that we’re talking about is the Honeymoon Cocktail. This vintage cocktail originally appeared in the Hugo Ensslin’s book, Recipes for Mixed Drinks, in 1917, but was made famous as the signature cocktail at the Brown Derby in Los Angeles. Since then it’s been through many … Continue reading The Bitter Edge of a Honeymoon
We’ve all heard of Harry Craddock and the famous Savoy Hotel in London where he held court during Prohibition, but have you ever heard of Ada Coleman? No? Well, for the first five years Craddock was at the Savoy, he worked in the service bar while she was the face of the Savoy. Impressive by … Continue reading My Baby Drinks A Hanky Panky
While Katruska and I usually focus on creating and enjoying hand-crafted cocktails, there are times when only a fine liquor sipped slowly will do. Most of the time when this mood hits we turn to bourbons (Bulleit, Black Maple Hill, Elijah Craig, etc.) or single-malt scotches (Dalwhinne, Laphroaig, Highland Park, etc.). As National Cognac Day … Continue reading Celebrating National Cognac Day
In 1930 Warner Brothers released the film adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein operetta “Golden Dawn.” Set in a German prisoner of war camp in African during World War I, the film involved captors, captives, native uprisings, a song entitled “Hymn to Domestic Violence,” a male lead in black face, and the potential sacrifice of … Continue reading Vintage Cocktail Project: The Golden Dawn
Our Libatious Nature 