Opening Cocktail

Wow, was that stilted. I can't believe that last post. Back to business, finally.

This time the subject at hand is the Opening Cocktail, a promising mixture of grenadine, italian vermouth and rye whiskey. Alas, the reality falls far short. The drink was heavy, sweet and not much else. Perhaps a bit of soda water would lighten the load. Here's the recipe as it appears in The Official Mixer's Manual: "1/4 Grenadine, 1/4 Italian Vermouth, 1/2 Rye Whiskey. Stir well in ice and strain into glass."

Odd also that there is no garnish. Perhaps a shot of soda water and a cherry is the thing.

It's too bad that the inauguration of my music collection online should be heralded by such a threadbare cocktail; perhaps the sounds of Benny Goodman will inspire someone to rehabilitate this drink and find the inner truth that I couldn't discover.

Surely rye whiskey captures the spirit of Mr. Goodman's jazz: mellow, refined but not fancy, holding infinite nuance.

Swing, dammit!

Martini (Sweet)

2/3 Tom Gin, 1/3 Italian Vermouth, 2 dashes Gum Syrup, 1 dash Orange Bitters. Stir well with ice, strain and serve with a cherry.

Celeste made a cocktail very similar to the above recipe (pictured) and called it a Union League. But we both think, without verifying on the Cocktail DB, that that cocktail is made with port. The cocktail she made contained 2/3 Tom Gin, 1/3 Italian Vermouth, a splash Blood Orange Bitters and an orange slice. It is very good and sweet but not heavy.

Lone Tree Cocktail

1/3 Italian Vermouth, 1/3 French Vermouth, 1/3 Dry Gin, 2 Dashes Orange Bitters. Stir well with cracked ice and strain. Add a cherry. Similar to Cooperstown Cocktail. Light and sweet with plenty of aroma, also a good-looking drink.

Gazette Cocktail

1 Teaspoonful syrup, 1 Teaspoonful Lemon Juice, 1/2 Italian Vermouth, 1/2 Brandy. Stir well in ice and strain into glass.

Not particularly interesting but drinkable. A bit more lemon juice may improve it. Celeste called it "boozy".

Corpse Reviver No. 1 Cocktail

1/4 Italian Vermouth, 1/4 Apple Brandy or Calvados, 1/2 Brandy. Stir well in ice and strain into glass.

Don't drink too many or the process is reversed. They are good.

Kup's Indispensable Cocktail

1 Dash Angostura Bitters, 1/8 Italian Vermouth, 1/4 French Vermouth, 5/8 Dry Gin. Stir well in ice and strain. Squeeze Orange Peel on top. Cousin to Journalist Cocktail. Powerful and complicated with a smooth transition between flavors.

Journalist Cocktail

2 Dashes Lemon Juice, 2 Dashes Curaçao, 1 Dash Angostura Bitters, 1/6 French Vermouth, 1/6 Italian Vermouth, 2/3 Dry Gin. Stir well in ice and strain. Powerful but complex, lots going on in sharp citrus of bitters and mellow citrus of vermouth. Thumbs up.

Jack Withers Cocktail

Juice of 1/2 Orange, 1/3 French Vermouth, 1/3 Italian Vermouth, 1/3 Dry Gin. Stir well in ice and strain. Rich, sweet drink, similar to Satan's Whiskers but not as heavy.

Cooperstown Cocktail

1/3 Gin, 1/3 French Vermouth, 1/3 Italian Vermouth, 1 Sprig of Fresh Mint. Stir well with cracked ice and strain. Add a Cherry. Nice clean flavor, warmth of Italian Vermouth punched up by mint. Attractive.

Bronx Cocktail

1/2 Dry Gin, 1/4 French Vermouth, 1/4 Italian Vermouth, Juice of 1/4 Orange. Shake well with cracked ice and strain. Nice orangey flavor, fairly heavy.

Manhasset

1 1/2 oz. whiskey, 1/4 oz. sweet vermouth, 1/4 oz. dry vermouth, 1 oz. lemon juice. Shake and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a lemon twist. (The Bartender's Black Book by Stephen Kittredge Cunningham)

Celeste liked it, I didn't. It tasted like lemon juice spiked with whiskey.

Manhattan (Dry)

2/3 Whiskey, 1/3 Italian Vermouth, 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Stir well with cracked ice, strain and serve with an Olive and a twist of lemon peel on top. (Official Mixer's Manual p. 119)

Celeste made this with rye; I prefer it to bourbon for its lighter flavor.

We drank them and I thought about Gerry Rafferty who had just died. I was sad because I'd only recently acquainted myself with his album City to City and it had been steadily growing on me. The track Baker Street was a fixture of my childhood, ever-present as it was on local radio. So long Gerry; the world is diminished.