1934 What Shall We Drink by Magnus Bredenbek

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10 What Shall We Drink? These are all the ingredients you need for a perfect Man hattan Cocktail. Curacao or Absinthe dashesappearin many formulas,butthey are not necessary. Some persons add a bit oflemon peel, but it were best left out. For the uninitiated, it might be well to explain that "gum",a term that will be frequently used,is merely granu lated or powdered sugar brought to a boil, but not allowed to boil,in enough water to make a moderately thick syrup. And now that we have everything necessary in the shaker, close it tightly and shake thoroughly, remembering that the colder the cocktail the better its flavor. Pour into two cocktail glasses—(your guest's first, yours second). Stab a Maraschino cherry with a toothpick and place it in your guest's glass. Then stab another and place in your own. The little rite of toasting each other now is in order—and if your home-made Manhattan doesn't tickle the palate, add zest to the appetite and make your meal more delightful, the fault hes with your physical condition, not the cocktail. If you wish to makea single Manhattan,just take halfthe ingredients, approximately a pony each of Rye and Ver mouth, a dash of bitters and gum. But how many drink alone of cocktails? If you wish to mix more than two, add proportionate amounts of the ingredients. Some shakers can hold up to two quarts. These same suggestions for one or many apply to all the cocktails whose preparation will be discussed as we proceed. MIXING A MARTINI COCKTAIL FOR TWO Into the shaker prepared with ice as in the case of the Manhattan pour three-quarters of a cocktail glass of sweet gin. Add an equal amount of Italian or French vermouth. Sweeten with "gum" to taste. Now add four dashes of ORANGE bitters, approximately thirty drops. Close your shaker and shake vigorously until the contents are thoroughly mixed and chilled.