'Ol Blue Eyes - a new cocktail recipe !

PREVIEW of the Sinatra cocktail conceived for next week - Waterstones, Piccadilly

‘Ol Blue Eyes

3          measures of Stolichnaya Vodka

1          measure of Blue Curacao

3          large ice cubes

1          orange wheel
 

Place three good sized ice cubes in an Old Fashioned (Lowball) glass and gently pour over the Blue Curacao. Pause, then slowly add three measures of chilled vodka. Garnish with an orange wheel or wedge before presenting.

Of course Bourbon was his first and most enduring love, but Sinatra was more than fond of vodka, good vodka, especially the smooth, triple-distilled Stolichnaya Premium Vodka. Not only was it a pleasant alternative to the usual Jack Daniel’s – it also had similar healing properties. When a guest at a poolside party stumbled and cracked his head it was Sinatra who came to the rescue, immediately sprinting to the bar and returning with a bottle of vodka which he then poured over the cut to staunch the bleeding.

The Empire State Building was bathed in blue light the night after Sinatra passed, a tribute to one of his most famous aliases – ‘Ol Blue Eyes. Sinatra’s intimates talked about The blue-eyed ray – an intense beam he would unleash in moments of passion and anger; it could indicate romance or an imminent fury. The ‘blue’ in blue curacao however is usually Brilliant Blue E133, since the liqueur itself is naturally colourless and has a taste of bitter and sweet oranges.

Which is complemented by the orange wedge. Orange, the colour not the fruit, was not a colour most people would associate with Sinatra. He looked to dress mainly in white shirts and dark suits. Blacks and midnight blues were what he wore at night; but he loved touches of orange (on a tie, a sweater, a sports shirt). “Orange is the happiest colour” he once said, which is why he nominated it his favourite.

The glass is his usual choice and the number of ice cubes was the precise number Sinatra judged to chill but not dilute the drink.

DRINK UP AND BE SOMEBODY    

June 16th - Waterstones, Piccadilly - All Aboard ?

Sadly, Peter Owen passed away last week

but they are going to go ahead with the event below to celebrate his extraordinary achievements.

It would be swelegant to see any of you there!

http://www.peterowenpublishers.com/celebrate-the-65th-anniversary-of-peter-owen-publishers/

you can read more about Peter Owen here

http://www.peterowenpublishers.com/

Bartender Please !

Joe Gilmore
(1922-2015)

 

 Joe Gilmore at the Savoy in 1970, where he created the Moonwalk cocktail Alamy.

The American Bar at the Savoy was the home of the cocktail in England for decades, and has boasted a succession of legendary Head Barmen. The third (there have been only 10) was Harry  Craddock. Born in England in 1875, as a young man he left for America and worked at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York. At the beginning of Prohibition in 1920, he returned to England and helped make the Savoy the centre of London’s social scene. He drew large, appreciative crowds and became so famous himself that a figure of him was modelled for Madame Tussaud’s. In 1930 he published the first edition of his masterwork The Savoy Cocktail Book.

 

Last year saw the death of one of Craddock’s successors – Joe Gilmore. Widely loved and much admired as a skilled mixologist and good listener (a pre-requisite for a good barman); Gilmore created cocktails for the great and the good; from film stars to American presidents. Whenever Sinatra visited London he would always make time to visit the Savoy and greet Gilmore with the shout “set ‘em Joe”. On receipt of a perfectly mixed Dry Martini he would then settle himself near the piano for a rendition of One For My Baby.


The American bar at the Savoy today.

Savoy Hotel Special

2 measures Gin
1 measure Dry Vermouth
1 dash Absinthe
2 dashes Grenadine

Shake ingredients well with cracked ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Squeeze lemon peel on top before presenting.

Song lyrics to use in conversation today

Taken from:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1ntGV4Dhq4g41r2xdsVN988/seven-song-lyrics-to-use-in-conversation-today

One More for the Road

Frank Sinatra

We’ve all used this one. It comes from a song called Home James and Don’t Spare the Horses, sung originally in 1934 by Elsie Carlisle and the Mayfair Hotel Orchestra. No lyricist is credited, but some say it was something Queen Victoria said!

Book signing event Waterstone's Piccadilly, London

All welcome to the exciting book signing event with Peter Owen authors.

16th June 2016, time tbc
Waterstone's, Piccadilly, London

Where Tom Smith will be mixing up some favourite Frank Sinatra cocktails from his book One For My Baby.

Well, it might as well be Spring..

 

Dry Martini by Tom Smith

Feeling restless as a willow in a windstorm? Helpless as a baby on a swing?
Maybe it's the season..

It Might As Well Be Swing was the punning title of a 1964 Sinatra album which included the song that included the lines that may have inspired this blog, to whit:"you have the cool, clear eyes of a seeker of wisdom and truth. And then the wham, bam tang reminiscent of gin and vermouth."
Gin and vermouth usually spells Martini, but could also refer to this forgotten classic:

DELMONICO

 3/4 measure gin (red)

1/2 measure of sweet vermouth

1/2 measure of dry (white) vermouth

1/2 measure cognac

2 dashes of Angostura bitters

Twist of orange peel

You could, if you so choose, strain this into a Martini glass after stirring the ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker, adding the twist as a garnish. Nice.

With Easter on the horizon why not try the:

BUNNY HUG

1/3 measure gin

1/3 measure scotch whisky

1/3 measure absinthe

A heady brew inspired not by Easter bunnies but by a post World War 1 dance craze.

Another legendary Frank..

Frank Auerbach by Tom Smith.

Legendary painter Frank Auerbach (catch him if you can at Tate Britain).

Dry January? are you kiddin'..

by Tom Smith

The end is nigh. As Dry January crawls to a close those of you who were foolhardy, conscious-stricken or simply deluded enough to embark upon a temporary period of abstinence will soon be free to pick up where you left off. To initiate a Fabulous February why not try this unusual vintage cocktail – a colourful variation on the classic Old Fashioned.

RAINBOW OLD FASHIONED
5 teaspoons of sugar syrup
2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
1 teaspoon of Maraschino cherry juice
3 measures of Bourbon, Rye or Tennessee Whiskey
1 Maraschino cherry
½ a slice of orange
1 twist of lemon peel
½ a fresh strawberry

 Take an Old Fashioned Glass (the squat, heavy-bottomed tumbler that was Sinatra’s drinking vessel of choice) and add two ice cubes. Pour over the syrup, add bitters, cherry juice and whiskey. After finally adding the fruit stir twice gently and serve.

Darkness is lifting; a rainbow appears.

Early January - hangover time

He doesn’t get hangovers – he gives them was the opinion of one associate, and Sinatra himself was proud of his capacity and resilience. Sammy Davis was ready to swear that he only ever saw Frank really drunk once; but of course there were times that, even by his own generous standards, he overindulged and suffered horribly as a result. I feel sorry for people who don’t drink, he would quip onstage, When they wake up in the morning that’s the best they’re gonna feel all day.
On the mornings (or more realistically, afternoons) when he awoke feeling unwell the flag with the Jack Daniels insignia would be replaced with one featuring Alka Seltzer and he was likely to call for a Ramos. The Ramos Gin Fizz was a favourite hangover cure, introduced to Sinatra by Robert Mitchum. Mitchum had called it Mother’s Milk and Sinatra was so grateful for the introduction that for years he sent Mitchum thank-you cards on Mothers Day.
The Bloody Mary also played its part in recoveries. In September 1961 Sinatra was invited to the Oval Office to be personally thanked by Kennedy for his work on the presidential campaign. Dave Powers, a presidential aide, recalled Sinatra and Kennedy sipping Bloody Marys on the Truman Balcony. According to Powers Sinatra had instructed the White House maître d on how to prepare his own personal recipe for the famous curative. He also set a record while staying at The Sands by placing a single order for 300 Bloody Marys.

Dean Martin’s advice on avoiding hangovers was Stay drunk, faced with the inevitable however he resorted to malted milk.

Ramos Gin Fizz
2    measure of Gin
1       measure of lemon juice
¾    measure of fresh lime juice
3     drops of orange flower water
1     egg white
1       measure of full cream milk or light whipping cream
a   teaspoon of fine powdered sugar
3    measures of soda water

Mix all ingredients except soda water in a chilled metal shaker with half a glassful of crushed ice. Shake vigorously for at least five minutes. Pour, unstrained, into a frosted Highball Glass. Add sparkling soda water and garnish with mint sprig and/or lime wedge. Present with straw. 

The Ramos Gin Fizz was invented in 1888 at Henrico Ramos’ Imperial Cabinet Saloon, New Orleans. The precise formula was a closely guarded secret for over thirty years. The Imperial Cabinet Saloon was closed in 1920, a victim of Prohibition, Henrico’s brother, Charles Henry, was so enraged that the so-called Noble Experiment was depriving loyal customers of their beverage that he posted a copy of the recipe on the shuttered and padlocked doors. He further distributed copies throughout the city – this was, perhaps, one of the few good things to come out of Prohibition.A tray of Fizzes was often delivered to the steam rooms of The Sands the morning after the night before.