Tom Smith at The Society Club, Soho

Christmas Cheers

 

Looking through some vintage cocktail recipes for alternatives to Egg Nog I've come across the following which may be of use during the festive season.

 

FLAMES OVER JERSEY

 

1          Quart of Apple Brandy

1          Cup of sugar

1          Jigger of Angostura Bitters

            Lemon peels to taste

Pour ingredients into a large saucepan and warm gently before setting alight.

Stir carefully as the blue flames flicker. Douse flames with a quart of boiling water,

stir again and pour into sturdy glasses or silver mugware.

A hot Christmas punch suggested by Esquire Magazine in 1952, calvados is the obvious substitute for Apple Brandy. This should only be attempted when sober.

BISHOP

 

1          Orange

1          Quart of Port

Although simple, this does require a little patience - beginning with taking one large orange and studding it with cloves before roasting in an oven until soft and brownish.

Quarter the orange and immerse it into a saucepan of port wine, which should then

simmer for at least half an hour. Serve in punch glasses.

No connection, aside from nominally, with Joey Bishop - the man whose autobiography declared I Was a Mouse in the Rat Pack. In fact Joey was (whisper it) teetotal.

Favourite Joey story:

Supporting Sinatra at the Copa in 1954, his act was interrupted by the late arrival in the audience of Marilyn Monroe, looking stunning in a white ermine coat. Naturally all eyes turned away from the stage to watch Monroe. Bishop waited until she was seated before

barking out: "Marilyn, I thought I told you to wait in the truck." It brought the house down.