Exhibit #65: Back to Basics

Given that we've now presented somewhere in the neighborhood of three to four hundred different drinks over the last year and a half, it's easy to forget about some of the more commonly resurrected cocktails out there. Tonight we'll focus on these somewhat familiar but universally delicious iconic drinks:
The Aviation $7
Plymouth gin, lemon juice, Luxardo maraschino, creme de violette, up. The first printed mention of the drink occurred in 1916 (Hugo Ensslin), and although the drink had a steady audience in the immediately following years nearly every recipe is in disagreement on proportions. We prefer a middle road with an equal amount of lemon juice to the sweeter components, and the lot deferring a bit to the gin.

Baltimore Eggnog $6
Madeira wine, cognac, rum, eggs, sugar, milk, nutmeg, now aged 11 months. Probably just enough remains to last the night...

Bijou Cocktail $8
Equal parts Plymouth gin, green Chartreuse, and sweet vermouth with a dash of orange bitters, up. Of late 19th century provenance.

Jack Rose $7
Applejack, lime juice and pomegranate syrup, up. Although the name refers to the drink's ingredients and color, the fact that it was also the name of a hit man involved in a 1912 NYC police scandal has only fanned its notoriety in more recent years.

Mai Tai $9
Trader Vic's iconic tiki tipple, mixed to the original specifications - more tart than sweet, no pineapple juice. Appleton 12yr rum, Barbancourt 8yr rum, Grand Marnier, lime juice, orgeat, demerara syrup, crushed ice.

Saratoga Cocktail $9
A worthy late 19th century booze ode to upstate NY's somewhat degenerate gaming resort town: top shelf cognac and rye whiskey, red vermouth, Angostura bitters, up.

Sloe Gin Fizz $8
Authentic sloe gin, lemon juice, demerara syrup, club soda, up. Perhaps even more delicious than you imagined it could be.

Ward 8 $11
A double shot of rye whiskey, lemon and orange juices, pomegranate syrup, mint, and club soda. Served in its original style - in a beer goblet with a very large ice cube. A warm weather drink from Boston circa 1910 with some alleged connections to vote-buying.