1935 Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book

B. AMENDMENTS DRINKS FROM OTHER CLIMES

r. MOSTLY WITH FRENCH SPIRIT F OR reasons earlier elaborated, the art of invention, as applied to cocktails, suffered in this country a sort of hiatus during the so-called Dry Era. Americans who trav– eled abroad became aware that determined efforts were being made by sympathetic foreigners to keep the Amer– ican School of Drinking alive-with amendments. All over Europe, in particular, visitors from this side were assured that cocktails answering to all the old familiar names would come when called, if asked for in the proper places. Many kinds were called for, but after some sampling, few varieties were chosen again. So far as I have been able to ascertain, Europe, during the Dark Interim, produced just one new cocktail that Americans took to and adopted. I first came across it in Rome. My host there, Commendatore Giulio Gelardi, General Man~ger of the Hotel Excelsior, did not, how– ever, claim the Side-Car for Italy, and Mussolini himself was silent on the subject. Americans who make their homes abroad and so have ·oeen able to watch the March of In– vention over there, trace its origin to the Ritz Bar, in Paris. The correct formula: 120