Saturday, December 4, 2010

Year in Review I

52 weeks. 196 different drinks presented for the first time, many of them featuring obscure ingredients or requiring elaborate preparation or special tools. Perhaps you missed the original Zombie, or the blended, chunky delight that was the Missionary’s Downfall? You’ll have another chance. Beginning tonight (and continuing on December 26 and January 2) we’ll present the drinks that were the most well-received and requested this past year. I’ve excluded those that have wound up on our cocktail or specials menus, and hot drinks that are currently available otherwise.

The Communist $6.50
Beefeater gin, Heering cherry liqueur, orange and lemon juices, up.

Don the Beachcomber’s Coffee Grog $7
Donn Beach’s flaming, baroque after-dinner masterpiece: coffee, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, orange and grapefruit peels, butter, orange blossom honey, cinnamon and vanilla syrups, and allspice liqueur…ignited by a ladle of gold and overproof demerara rums. 1937 recipe.

Florodora $5.50
Plymouth gin, lime juice, raspberry syrup and ginger ale, on the rocks. Associated with a turn of the century hit Broadway show of the same name.

Ford Cocktail $6
A slightly sweet but very herbal Martini: Old Tom gin, dry vermouth, Benedictine, and orange bitters, up. Late 19th century, likely named for an athlete of the day.

Last Word $7.50
Beefeater gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice, up. A prohibition era cocktail from Detroit’s Athletic Club.

Morning Glory Fizz $7
Blended scotch, lemon and lime juices, sugar, egg white, and a little absinthe, up. We’ll belatedly number this #34 in our fizz countdown.

Royal Bermuda Yacht Club $7
Barbados rum (Mt. Gay), lime juice, Falernum, and a little Grand Marnier, up. An early Trader Vic creation and a missing link between classic cocktails and tiki.

Vieux Carré $6.50
Rye whiskey, cognac, dry vermouth, Benedictine, Angostura and Peychaud’s bitters, on the rocks. An early 20th century specialty of New Orleans’ Carousel Bar, often incorrectly served with sweet vermouth.

Breakfast Nogg $7
1 part homemade, aged Egg Nogg to 2 parts Founder’s Breakfast Stout. Not historical.. a bit of my own nonsense that people seem to like. Add a half shot of bourbon and some coffee (+$3) for a real breakfast of champions!

Dec. 12: Charles Dickens’ Hot Brandy & Rum Punch
Dec. 19: More Dickens: his Christmas Bowl of Bishop
Dec. 26: Year in Review II
Jan. 2: Year in Review III + Rocky Mountain Punch

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