9/19/10

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Liquor has a long and masculine history. From the ancient Greek gods, to prohibition, to the recent emergent of mixology as a respected profession, there is no doubt that men and liquor have made history together. Modern men, however, may be surprised by the rugged past of the cocktail, a word mostly associated with single women in the city these days. The elusive tale of the manly cocktail goes beyond what is served in a pint glass, on the rocks, or mixed with a plain carbonated soda. It is a tale of sophistication mixed with an experienced and interested palette.

Are you man enough to sip?

1. The Vesper

The manliest spy of all time, James Bond, created this drink in Ian Fleming’s book Casino Royale (well before the movie version for those of you who have never picked up a book), saying: "I never have more than one drink before dinner. But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very cold and very well-made. I hate small portions of anything, particularly when they taste bad.”

The original recipe for the Vesper (later named for Bond’s leading lady in the book) is as follows:

• 3 parts Gordon’s Gin
• 1 part vodka
• ½  part Kina Lillet
• Serve chilled, straight up, with a lemon peel

Works every time.

2. Blood and Sand

This cocktail is said to have originated on the set of the 1922 Rudolph Valentino matador film of the same name. Valentino was the George Clooney of his day, a suave, masculine man with easy charm. Make this drink and share in his bad-assery. This drink bears no relation to the show about Spartacus on cable, which looks like it'd need to feature actual blood and sand to try to be more realistic.

This one features:

• Equal parts scotch whiskey
• Sweet vermouth
• Orange juice
• ¼ oz cherry brandy
• Serve chilled, straight up

I dare you to call this a girly drink.

3. The Hemingway Daiquiri (aka the Papa Doble)

The name of this cocktail is a modern conundrum. On the one hand, you have a classic male author, who any semi-well read man will quickly list as one of his favorites, and on the other you have the title of one of the most 'flamboyant' drinks you can possibly order! Ernest Hemingway was living in Havana in the 1930s, where a bartender perfected  his specific recipe for the frozen island drink, thus giving birth to the now famous Hemingway Daiquiri.

• 2 oz white rum
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• ½ oz fresh grapefruit juice
• ¼ oz maraschino liqueur (Use Luxardo if possible)
• 1½ to 2 cups shaved ice
• Combine in a blender until mixture is frothy and serve in large cocktail glass
• Punch anyone who calls you a wuss

Heh.

4. Rob Roy

This version of the Manhattan appeared in New York City around 1890 and is named for the Scottish folk hero and outlaw of the same name. Rob Roy was also know as the Scottish Robin Hood. The cocktail simply substitutes scotch whiskey for the traditional rye or bourbon that is used in the Manhattan. The introduction of Dewars Scotch Whiskey to the US was what made the Rob Roy a popular cocktail for men at the time.

• 1 ½ oz Scotch
• ½ oz sweet vermouth
• Angostura Bitters to taste
• Garnish with a Maraschino cherry
• Serve chilled, up or on the rocks. May also be served dry or perfect.

5. Black and Tan

Ok, ok, this one is not really a cocktail, but I know how all men like their beer and this mixture has an interesting history! The Black and Tan is a combination of dark stout beer and draught bitter ale. The name is believed to have originated in British pubs in the late 1800s for the simple combination of the two colored beers. Contrary to popular belief, the Black and Tan is not of Irish origins and is significantly unpopular in Irish bars due to the fact that the Black and Tan is also a reference to an especially nasty regiment deployed to Ireland to suppress revolution. The most popular version in the US is a combination of Guinness and Bass Ale, although there are several different combinations and variations used around the world.

• ½ pint Bass Ale
• Top with ½ pint Guinness
• Use the underside of a bar spoon to gently float the Guinness on top of the ale

Elizabeth Kramsky is a writer and bartender living in Las Vegas who gets to witness first hand all the mistakes men make when trying to pick up women. She enjoys making fun of men who wear Ed Hardy, her dog Dexter, and Tom Robbins novels.

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