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.
Reminds me of a slightly sweeter less smokey, Islay Rob Roy (AKA Smokey Rob Roy). It has more complexity from the Beny D, Cynar & Absinthe compared to Sweet V. A great Rum, non-tiki, cocktail with layers of flavors and room to improvise depending on your sweet/dry pallet. Next time I'll try 1 & 1/2 oz Rum (I used El Dorado 15), 1/2 oz Islay scotch, equal parts Beny D & Cynar totaling 3/4 oz.
Was an enjoyable and interesting last word riff and will try again with a scant 3/4 oz Green Chartreuse & Ginger liqueur each, and a generous 3/4 oz S&C rum.
Used Astral tequila and Amer dit Picon from Golden Moon. It's way less sugary than Amer Picon (so I've read) so I added two barspoons of simple. Liked a lot, might do 1/2 Amer next time.
Was expecting it to be very sweet, but it's really not. Subbed in 50% mad river straight bourbon and 50% mad river burnt rock bourbon for a little more smoke
Good and certainly not objectionable, but more a 3 than a 4. Bourbon makes this more of a spirit heavy boulevardier riff than black Manhattan riff (rye), although the wormwood bitterness and citrus zest of the Montenegro (plus lemon twist) provide more bitter balance than one might expect from the bourbon base. I admit I am not as keen on Montenegro's floral character compared to other amari.
I didn't shake this, the lack of citrus juice would contraindicate doing so.