Courtesy of Charles H. Baker, Jr., author of The Gentleman's Companion: Being an Exotic Drinking Book or Around the World with Jigger, Beaker and Flask (1939). Or as currently published, Jigger, Beaker & Glass: Drinking Around the World.
Commander Livesey’s Gin Blind $9
Dry gin, Grand Marnier, cognac, and orange bitters, up. “We shall never forget the courteous open-hearted wardroom hospitality of the British navy in Indian waters, and Commander Livesey least of all… Livesey’s head-bearer, a High-Caste high-binder in the Mohammedan priesthood on feast days, was a wizard with the shaker… Livesey’s words were: ‘We don’t prescribe this just before target practice, gentlemen.’”
Hallelujah Cocktail $9
Red vermouth, top shelf cognac and aged rum, a dash of lime juice and a bit of pomegranate syrup, up. Created by Max Bilgray in Colon circa 1929 to celebrate the presence of Aimee McPherson in his establishment one evening. McPherson was a very well known evangelist and founder of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, but also infamous for an alleged kidnapping intended to cover-up a lovers’ tryst at the height of her fame a few years previously. First published by Bilgray himself, who sent out thousands of postcards printed with the recipe, and its ingredients listed in biblical language (e.g.-Cain’s syrup [grenadine], ice from the crest of Mt. Sinai).
Mood Indigo $8
Gin, cognac, crème de violette, egg white, up. “Gould’s (casino in Nice) made the over-publicized and faintly funereal Casino at Monte Carlo look like a shabby country cousin… someone suggested a Mood Indigo… one of which we introduced to a young maiden, who then introduced herself to us… drink vis-à-vis.”
Remember the Maine $8
Bulleit rye whiskey, red vermouth, Heering cherry liqueur, and a little absinthe, up. “…a hazy memory of a night in Havana during the Unpleasantness of 1933, when each swallow was punctuated with bombs going off on the Prado, or the sound of 3” shells being fired at the Hotel Nacional, then haven for certain anti-revolutionary officers. Treat this one with the respect it deserves, gentlemen.”
Russian Cocktail $7
Cognac and kümmel (caraway, fennel & cumin flavored liqueur) over crushed ice, topped with sparkling wine. “A memory of Peking, in 1926… There was a lovely [Russian] girl who maintained a shop selling jades and Imperial tribute silks… she mixed a trio of these for old times’ sake, to Russia as she had quit it ahead of bayonets in 1917, a pale gold haired child of 11 or 12.”
Sahara Glowing Heart Cocktail $12
Equal parts gin, absinthe and apricot liqueur, and a half-measure of pomegranate syrup. “Watch this one when out under the moon in a desert overnight camp, riding camels out across the vast dunes, or strolling in the moonlight around the Sphinx with some congenial young woman companion.”
Yokohama Romance $8
Cognac, Heering cherry liqueur, lightly sweetened lime juice, up. “A yellow peril concocted by one Toyama, no. 1 bar-boy at a Yoko night spot called Romance Cabaret… truth was that [it] was a sorry place of blaring music…”
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