1939 The Gentleman's Companion volume II Beeing an Exotic Drinking Book

THE EXOTIC DRINKING BOOK

SWEDISH or CALORIC PUNCH . . . A much overrated affair, and which always stands neglected on our shelves for long. Drunk mainly by folk who expect a stout blow, and get a pat instead. Hints palely at rum and no one knows what else. THE SIX CHIEF SYRUPS ... Plain gomme sugar, or bar syrup-as on Page 154; grenadine as on Page 186; lime, pineapple, raspberry and strawberry-the latter quartet being those used at better soda fountains. Average to big bars need all five; small bars, plain syrup and grenadine. TEQUILA . . . An exotic from Mexico which impressed us enough to run in three or five mixed drinks and cocktails. It is buyable in most average American towns, on slight notice-and everywhere in the Southwest. . . . Distilled from the Maguey plant, see Page 127. VANILLA . . . Creme de Vanille is usually specified for cocktails but there are a very few exotics which indicate the extract, and in this case a raid on the kitchen shelf will probably bear fruit. VERMOUTH . There are two basic types: The dark, more richly flavoured Italian variety imperative in many cocktails, as well as alone, with soda, and with cassis, as an aperitif; the light, or "dry" French vermouth, without which a Dry Martini would be a wet, old-fashioned Martini. . . . Both are wines fortified, and stepped up with various secret herbs. They aid digestion, promote appetite.... No bar can be without both, and better have two bottles of each. They go fast! CREME de VIOLETTE, and CREME YVETTE . . . Made with vio– lette flower essence and of a rich violet hue used to colour certain few cocktails; much preferred by girls who think they are being sophisticated in ordering something out of such a funny shaped bottle, and by gentle– men who erroneously think it possesses congressional powers little short of miraculous. VODKA . . . This, although for a time banned by the Soviet, is still easily to be had. Theoretically it should never be sipped, but tossed off . 189 • CREME de VANILLE .. : Indicated in a few cocktails, but rarely. Only for large bars.