By Pierre Ratte
Cocktails have been “in” for a while at bars and restaurants. Then, when the pandemic arrived, in-home drinking soared. In addition to pouring beer and wine, folks upped their cocktail game, big time. Try and find a vintage cocktail glass at a yard sale or antique store these days; it’s slim pickings.
During 2020 and the pandemic, cocktail books flew off the shelves. Books like Death & Co. Modern Classic Cocktails; The PDT Cocktail Book: The Complete Bartenders Guide; Spirits and Cocktails from Around the World; and Artisanal Cocktails – Seasonal Drinks Inspired by the Bar at Cyrus by Healdsburg’s own famous cocktail baller, Scott Beattie, experienced a significant uptick in sales.
Recipe
The Old Greenwich Sour is: 2 parts bourbon, 1 part lemon juice, 1 part simple syrup, 1 egg white and ice. Shake well and pour. Then on an inverted spoon float 1 part Malbec. Garnish. Enjoy.
Fun facts: Jerry “The Professor” Thomas’ The Bartender’s Guide, published in 1806, laid the foundation for standard cocktail recipes. The first cocktail party was reportedly held in 1917, when a St. Louis socialite invited 50 guests to stand for one hour, at 4pm, while hors d’oeuvres were served. The event was written up in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and quickly caught on. The trend exploded during Prohibition (1920-1933) when private gatherings, either in homes or speakeasies, popularized the non-dinner, drinking-party format.
PDT stands for “Please Don’t Tell,” one of the first modern speakeasies. Located in NYC, it’s hidden behind a secret panel door. The entrance is via an old-fashioned wooden phone booth located in a hot dog restaurant. Check it out when in NYC. The hot dog place is called Crif Dogs. It’s located at 113 St. Marks Place in the East Village. Pick up the rotary phone. If you have a reservation, the back panel of the phone booth will open.
Cheers to June
Here are a few famous Junes:
· June Taylor (Dec 1917 – May 2004) founded a female dance group in 1942, later famous for symmetrical choreography as seen on The Jackie Gleason Show.
· June Carter Cash (June 1929 – May 2003) singer, songwriter of the Carter Family and wife of Johnny Cash.
· June Lockhart (June 1925 – May 2024) actress starring in A Christmas Carol and Lost in Space.
