Saturday, August 14, 2010

Exhibit #38: Coolers & Fizzes


8/15 & 8/22, 9pm-close, at the bar.

Late summer seems like a good time to focus on the Cooler, an iced, tall drink consisting of liquor with club soda or ginger beer, and sometimes fruit juice. To the early 20th century drinker, the Cooler was a very modern drink. Following the rather baroque period of the late 19th century, the Cooler was by contrast quickly made and super-sized...more in keeping with fast paced urban living, and blessedly cold in a pre-air conditioning world. And we've got fizzes 11, 12, 13 from our 100 Fizz countdown.

Harvard Cooler $8
A generous helping of Calvados (aged French apple brandy), lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda, on the rocks. Evidently this drink is currently quite popular in Japanese cocktail lounges. I could not find out much history on the drink, but since it was served at the old Waldorf bar I think we can safely assume that it was a favorite among students and alumni of the institution for which it was named. Or maybe the thinking was that only a Harvard grad could afford a Cooler with Calvados in it.

Highland Cooler $8

Glenlivet scotch, lemon juice, simple syrup, Angostura bitters, and ginger beer, on the rocks.

Klondike Cooler $6
Old Overholt rye whiskey, a splash of orange juice, and ginger beer, on the rocks with orange rind.

Roofgarden Cooler $6
Dolin dry vermouth, Angostura bitters, simple syrup, and ginger beer, on the rocks with a lime. The old Waldorf had a rooftop garden, and this drink was its namesake.

Buck's Fizz $6.50
Orange juice and champagne, up. A Mimosa, you say? Very close. This drink was birthed in 1921 at London's Buck's Club (still active & pictured above) by Pat McGarry (he's also credited with the Sidecar by some sources) but it features more champagne than juice and preceded the Mimosa by a few years - that followed in 1924 at the Ritz in Paris and features the ingredients in equal proportions.

May Blossom Fizz $6.50
Swedish Punsch, lemon juice, pomegranate syrup, and club soda, up.

Orange Fizz $6.50
Dry gin, orange and lemon juices, club soda, up.

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