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.

HOT TODDY

1          Quart of Bourbon, Scotch or Brandy

2          Quarts of boiling water

6          Clove-studded lemon slices

1          Cinnamon stick, broken into pieces

            Sugar to taste

 

Construct in a bowl, pouring the boiling water over the spiced and sugared liquor,

stir well and serve hot with a lemon slice in each cup.

 

Another Christmas cheer from the 50's.

by Tom Smith

                     

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

One For My Baby, book available now from: https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-My-Baby-Cocktail Companion/dp/0720620163/ref=sr_1_1ie=UTF8&qid=1461152527&sr=8-1&keywords=Tom+Smith+

 

Two Snowmen talking, one turns to the other, asks:
"Can you smell carrots?"

"I don't care who you are fat man, get those reindeer off my roof."

Buy this book or I post more jokes.

 

HELP SUPPORT NORDOFF ROBBINS

https://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/

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.