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A Spontaneous Libation for your Consideration

From the Knowledge Vault

Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails by Ted Haigh

From the Alamagoozlum to the Zombie and Beyond, 100 Rediscovered Recipes and the Stories Behind them

Buy this book. What Ted Haigh lacks in title conciseness, he gives in content quality. The book leads off with a brief history of cocktails. This background provides a context in which to understand the slew of previously little-known cocktails that he selected from the prohibition era and before. These old-and-new-again classics have been adapted as needed for modern tastes and ingredients. Many of the recipes have an interesting history which my guests uniformly enjoy. Other recipes have “drink notes” providing serving ideas, ingredient options, and helpful tips.

With a wire-bound hardcover binding, handsome faux-vintage cocktail pictures, and period photographs, VS&FC can both spiff up a coffee table and lay flat in a bar. The ingredients are clear and presented in both US and metric units. The instructions are written for someone without extensive cocktail knowledge, but the few extra words don’t irritate the experienced cocktail-maker.

The main recipe section leads into a couple dozen concise “extra credit” cocktails. Many important better-known cocktails reside here, such as the Negroni, Sazerac, and Sidecar. These recipes broaden the appeal for the cocktail novice, although many readers will already have these recipes elsewhere. That said, it’s reassuring to read Ted’s take on appropriate ratios and ingredients. He is, after all, known as Dr. Cocktail.

Ted selected twenty-five “Pioneering Champions” — influential on-line writers. For those who follow blogs and social media, the names and websites will be familiar, but the biographies perhaps not. I found this unexpected bonus entertaining. These are writers worth seeking out and following.

Recent Additions

  • Pelican Swizzle — Trinidad rum, Cynar, Mezcal, Falernum, Lime juice, Salt
  • Willa Brown — Bourbon, Maraschino Liqueur, Crème de Violette, Lemon juice, Lime
  • Last Vow — Gin, Herbal liqueur, Ginger liqueur, Islay Scotch, Absinthe, Lemon juice, Salt Solution
  • Tequila Sour — Reposado Tequila, Bitters, Lime juice, Simple syrup, Egg white
  • Mountain Pineapple Daiquiri — Pineapple rum, Amaro, Lime juice, Cane syrup

Recent Discussion

  • Re Better Sunday Afternoon, 1 day ago KateGrossman commented:

    Similar to the Negroni d'Or, which is our "house cocktail." The lemon is a nice and necessary touch, don't skip

  • Re Agnostic Monk, 1 day ago OldFashionedCock commented:

    I made major substitutions for this; I used Sazerac, I used Highland Park 12, I'm never going to stock Lactart, so I used 1/2 tsp Lime Juice, and I'm not setting anything on fire. Despite all of that, I'm here to say this is a truly elevated whiskey experience and I conceptually highly recommend it.

  • Re Sucker in a 3 (three) piece, 3 days ago danoman89 commented:

    Delicious but quite strong

  • Re Cobble Hill, 4 days ago Artur B commented:

    Dry and boozy.

  • Re Gods of Old, 6 days ago OldFashionedCock commented:

    It's good, smells wonderful, whiskey forward with complexity. My main critique is how special is it compared to other whiskey forward cocktails.