Friday Happy Hour: Margarita

Happy 4th of July weekend -- Margaritas for everyone! The Margarita is a versatile drink that can be made a lot of ways, but here's a straight-forward recipe to start with:

Here's a little history and commentary on this popular drink:

Of course, a Margarita evokes feelings of the west and south of the border:

We've heard that tequila is unique among spirits in that it's actually an "upper" whereas all other spirits are "downers." Make of that what you will. But, don't people drinking Margaritas usually seem pretty happy?

Looks good! Happy Independence Day and cheers!

Friday Happy Hour: Aviation

The Aviation is a genuinely vintage cocktail that has gotten some attention in the recent revival of oldies-but-goodies. It fell out of fashion, we suppose, because it's mostly gin. Gin drinks, in general, have been shunned for decades -- and even the preeminent cocktail, the Martini, has become a standard vodka-based cocktail, rather than its original gin. Well, gin is back, baby! This drink might be just a little too obscure, though, because there are some variances on how it should be made. As we see above, it calls for gin and maraschino liqueur, and some lemon juice. In this recipe, from the 1946 edition of Oscar Haimo's "Cocktail and Wine Digest" we see the same basic ingredients, except with lime juice instead of lemon juice:

Plus, he adds triple sec. His recipe is startlingly close to a Corpse Reviver. Regrettably, these references exhaust our library on the Aviation. What these recipes are missing is any reference to Creme Yvette, which is a liqueur that was out of production for many years and has only very recently been reintroduced. Its robin's egg blue color lends an Aviation the soft blue of the open sky. It takes just a dash or two to do the trick; you can also use Creme de Violette. However, for some purists, they say leave out the Creme Yvette/Creme de Violette. We don't purport to be experts here at Rogers Park Retro -- rather, "we report, you decide." We'll let the true experts hash this out. Meanwhile, why not try these recipes and figure out what works for you?

Regardless, the sky is the limit for the Aviation! Cheers!

Friday Happy Hour: the Sidecar

What do Margaritas and Cosmopolitans have in common with a Sidecar?

For one thing, they're classics. They're popular (well, maybe not the Sidecar -- but it should be!). The reason is because they all follow the basic formula of what some call the "New Orleans sour" -- that is, a base spirit, an orange liqueur, and citrus. The classic ratio is 3:2:1 for these ingredients, respectively -- but that can easily be experimented with.

Anyhoo .... halting the lecture. What's a Sidecar? Here's one recipe book's take on it:
Here's another recipe, this one from a 1957 edition of Old Mr. Boston's:

Their recipe is still the same 2:1:1 ration they used above. Except, of course, they call for triple sec (which is okay, actually).

Check out this recipe from the 1971 edition of Playboy's Host and Bar Book:

Obviously, their recipe contemplates a 1:1:1 ratio -- unless, they note, you want a "strong brandy accent," in which case, use a 3:1:1 ratio. Also, curacao (instead of Cointreau or triple sec) is going to make for a lot drier drink.

It so happens that the Sidecar is kind of a house specialty at Rogers Park Retro, and here's our signature recipe:

3 oz brandy

1 oz triple sec

1 oz lemon juice

1 tsp. maraschino liqueur

1 tsp. curacao (orange, not blue, just to clarify)
Garnish with a twist.

Cheers!

Special 4th of July Happy Hour: The Sparkler

Happy Independence Day!

On the 233rd anniversary of the independence of these United States, we offer you a perfect drink for your 4th of July picnics, cookouts, family gatherings, and fireworks viewing. And it's a Rogers Park Retro original!

We call it the "Sparkler" -- it's just as scintillating as the sparklers that are so perennially associated with 4th of July celebrations.

Here's how we make it:

1.5 oz of light (or silver) rum
juice of one lime (approx. 1 oz)
3/4 oz of pineapple juice
1/2 oz of triple sec

Shake well and serve. Cap it off with American sparkling wine. Ideally, garnish it with an American flag.

To us, this is an ideal Independence Day drink because it has a light summer composition, and the ingredients even bear some symbolic significance. Rum is closely associated with the American revolution. Paul Revere is said to have fortified himself with a drink of rum before his midnight ride. General George Washington is said to have ordered a double ration of rum for his soldiers to mark the 4th of July in 1778. We won't go so far as to propose that the pineapple represents our 50th state, or that the cherry garnish calls to mind the old story of George Washington and the cherry tree. The point is that you can enjoy the drink as a patriot, too.

Here's to the Spirit of '76!