Cocktails of the 30's and 40's

Anyone that that knows me will tell you I am among other things a bit of a history buff. My head is chock full of useless fun facts and historical novelties. So this weekend I would like to hearken back to a innocent however extremely challenging time in history of our great nation. The 1930's and 40's are the focus of my cocktails this weekend. Days just after the American prohibition (1920 - 1933,) Through some of the darkest days of the Great Depression (1929 - the early 1940's) and through "The Big One" World War II (1939 - 1945.) America saw some of our greatest challenges of it's very young history. Through all this we still found a way to let off steam and enjoy our lives a bit.


The roaring 20's saw dances like the Charleston. The 1930's and 40's brought in the age of swing music to blow your wig, along with the Foxtrot, Waltz and even tap made a splash. The chocolate chip cookie was created by 'brodie" (accident) by Ruth Graves Wakefield (My waist line thanks you for that nifty little doozy.) Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs was released in 1937 and The Wizard of Oz in 1939. Louis Armstrong was blowing his horn and the martini made its grand debut! The list goes on and on.


About this time as well bar-keeps started to get a little creative with their "giggle juice," "hooch" or "mule" (booze) not only in what they created but also in their naming of their cocktails. Drinks that "dames" (ladies) might want to order. The type of "sauce" (cocktails) that make the "chickadees" (ladies) with great "pillars" (legs) come to your "clip joint" (bar) and the the "sweet daddy -O's" (guys with the) "lettuce, folding green or kale" (money) set down a "checker" (dollar bill) for a concoction or two. In hopes of getting a "honey cooler" (kiss) at the end of the night. The man with on the "gobble-pipe" (saxophone) would blow his horn. The "skin tickler" (drummer) would "wail" (play the drums well) and the "canary" (female vocalist) would sing. "Cats" or "Alligators" (fans of swing music) along with the "dead hoofers" (bad dancers) and "jelly beans" (unpopular people) would get on up and "cut a rug" (dance.) While the whole night turns into a "ring a ding-dingy" (great party.) ... Did any of that make sense??


Long story short this time in history brought us more than a few good cocktails and here is my spin on these clever cocktails for all of you to guys and dolls to put up to your "kissers" (lips.)


Pink Lady
1.5 oz. Gin
.5 oz. - Grenadine
.5 oz. - Cream
Splash of Lemon juice
1 oz. - Egg white
Rim the glass with grenadine & strawberry sugar.
Shake over ice and strain
Garnish with a cherry

Orange Blossom
2 oz. - Orange Vodka
1 oz. - Grand Marnier
1 oz. - Fresh OJ
Shake over ice and strain
Rim 1/2 the glass with orange sugar
Top with Champagne
Garnish with a orange twist.

Sidecar
(otherwise known as the Cosmo for men of the era)

1 oz. - Cointreau
1 oz. - Brandy/Cognac
1 oz. - Lemon juice
Shake with ice and strain
Frost the glass with a sugar rim
Garnish with a lemon twist

Cheers!