1934 What Shall We Drink by Magnus Bredenbek

Cordial are virtually forbidden by law except to licensed distillers. I do not claim the recipes for cordials made at home can rival the fine products you buy, but they are pleasant substitutes and, when used with mixed drinks, can hardly be detected from the bought hqueurs. As for using them straight, few except connoisseurs and epicures will notice any difference). But now to that Orgeat Sjrrup recipe I promised you: Pound together in a wooden bowlone-half ounce powdered sugar, one-half ounce powdered sweet almonds, a pinch of powdered bitter almonds, three tablespoons of gum arable, and, when thoroughly mixed, add a half pint of water, hot but not boiling. Let steep for one hour. Then strain off the liquid flavor and filter to remove all powders. Now add enough"gum"to make a quart and putin bottle for use right away or to hold for use at any future time. MAKING PEPPERMINT CORDIAL Buy in your drugstore one pint of peppermint water and pour into quart bottle. Add three-quarter pint of sweet gin and a quarter pint of"gum." Let stand over night and filter into new container for use when wanted. APRICOT CORDIAL DRINK Here's a delicious cordial drink easily made. Use a 12- ounce glass, either with straight sides or in goblet shape. Squeeze into glass the juice of a whole lime and two ounces of Apricot Cordial. Stir and add a third of a glass of finely shaved ice. Fill glass with vichy,seltzer or carbonated water, stirring well. Top with sliced strawberries, raspberries, or other fruits in season. CURACAO CORDIAL Boil for five minutes a pint of "gum"in which you have put the orange colored peel of two oranges, a quarter tea spoon of powdered cinnamon and the juice of a half orange. Take off fire and strain through muslin into a small pan. Add enough 90% to 95% pure alcohol to make a quart, stir thoroughly and again strain, then filter into a quart bottle. Of course,you can obviate all this trouble by merely buying a quart of Curacao, but if you must insist on home-made Curacao, who's to stop you?