Stop that!

   

*ahem*

With COGNAC please! (Though it's palatable with gin, it just ain't the same.)

And you knew I'd have to answer to this...                   

                     I have a fav bartender that I will just sob over leaving when we move, he created a champange drink for me called the Diva, he is always creating new things just for me , I will take this one to him on Saturday and see what he can do! Any others a lady who likes retro drinks might like??                   

                     Where would I be getting me one of those?? My hubby and I plan to set up a retro Viva LAs Vegas Lounge in our new home when we move, and we want all the goodies to go with it. His Dad was a bartender when he was still with us, as was Hubby for a bit of time, so he is looking forward to it.                   

                     Thanks !!                    

                     Well, I had the signal pleasure of introducing two bartenders to the delights of the French 75 while in The Windy City (a place to which I am seriously tempted to relocate). The sturdy blonde at Trattoria No. 10 caught on immediately, and did it right first time; the lanky young fellow at The Drake Hotel needed a bit more coaching (I think he was a little intimidated by my dinner jacket and cigarette case). The fellow who took his place was fast and thought he knew how to concoct a French 75--but he made the worst mistake possible: He made it with Sour mix. (I drank it anyway, just to verify my conviction that this is the wrong way to do it.)

Since it was St. George's Day Friday, I spent the evening in celebration of the famed dragon-slayer and patron saint of divorced men. After the main room of the Drake, I went downstairs to Coq d'Or, as snug and charming a little speakeasy as I've ever seen, and made fast friends with the comely cabaret singer by slipping her a billet-doux envelope with the request that she sing "The Very Thought of You" and "You Go To My Head." (I've always thought that putting your requests in writing was more dignified than just walking up and getting into the spotlight.) Evidently, these were felicitous choices indeed, as, when she took a break, she favored me with her company over yet another French 75, and then sang a succession of Porter and Gershwin of my choosing. By evening's end, she accepted, in addition to appropriate honoraria, a kiss on the cheek and an appropriate squeeze of the left hand. Much to my surprise, I found in my pocket the first note I had given her, and on the reverse side of the enclosed card was her telephone number. (How she slipped it there without my catching on is unclear, but I was and am impressed.) While I was in no condition for company or travel the following morning, but had plenty of both, I was bucked up by the card with the little bit of feminine script on the reverse. I credit the French 75s. They're magical.                   

                     If he makes it with fresh lemon juice you'll be in heaven!                    

                     

What a wonderful retelling of your evening, I could invison it and imagine it comming right out of a movie of the era and it was dreamy to do so...

Well, the tale is always in the telling, and the telling in the embellishment. Yes, there were French 75s, a singer, a note with requests, a chat, a peck on the cheek, and a phone number, but that's about it. Half of what I post here is veriest hogwash, and when it comes to tales of my amatory exploits, it is all hogwash. I've got the animal magnetism of Wally Cox, and know better than to make a prize idiot myself at this late stage in the game. I just knew enough to request good material from a professional singer, and they tend to appreciate that.

Anyway, what did you think of the 75s??                   

                     ZSC! I'm glad you checked out the er, *cocktail lounges*at The Drake.  :wink: I thought you'd like it!                   

                     Zoot sweetie~
Thats alright, I enjoyed the hogwash, in my glory days of writing long letters I too could put prose together with ease and skill, my letters where much anticipated, now days I wish I had your skill, for me it is always a "Mom when are you getting off??" so I feel rush and flustered as far as my writings. Keep it up, I escape through this site to a time where I wish I was!

Lets see, had the French 75, not knowing if it was the way it was suppose to be , I think it was divine. I took the recipie in, and Jeff my normal Barkeep was off but michael, one of the owners was there, and the place was nearly empty as it was early, so told him and he went to grab fresh lemons, everyone including barkeep on duty were eager to try the drink. Tasted like a kicked up lemon aide It was a hit. I gave him the recipie.
The Barkeep looked up the drink in his book as well and found it, only his version had tripel sec (sp?) and simple syrup as well, we all agreed it would be too sweet, then he said there was a 68 and a 76 French as well. most interesting.
Well we had one of the Frenches, a divine supper of pork loin scampi upon a bed of creamy garlic polenta, then a wonderful grilled shrimp on a bed of aldenti pasta with fresh spring peas , sun dried tomatos and garlic wine sauce, and we had a mojito (sp?) a cuban rum drink, which did not match supper, but was quite nice and free  :!:
Then it was off to the drive in, does anyone still have a drive in near them?? We have two in our area, we shared a coke, some red vines and whoppers, they were out of my fav candies. Stayed for the whole double feature and made quite the night of it. A very fun time indeed.
Anyone care to list another cocktail for me to try? Always looking for a new drink....I have one of my own that my barkeep fixes, but it is not vinatge.                   

                     I forget, Eileen--Sugar on the rims?

This is one heck of a good cocktail, folks. And you can travel with it, so long as you have someone to squeeze your lemons.                   

                     Yes are the rims sugared as well? I have never had anything with Vermouth and bitters in it, what does it taste like? Anything it can be compared to?
I normally have girly drinks    and my drink that is called the Diva ( do not ask  :wink: ) has champange , a raspberry or berry liqure (sp?) tripel sec and three cherries in it, it is yummy! Very Girly!
I have only recently started to expand beyond wines and champanges and rum drinks. Jeff , the barkeep that I mentioned is always trying out new drinks, I have found through him that gin and flavoured vodka does not make me ill, and that I can also drink many combination style drinks and handle them quite well. I have tried some and then deciede they were not for me, but Ia m brave and will try most things at least once                     

                     OK, next time we're at Shanghai, you get that version, I'll get the other, we'll sample both, and pour 'em both into Wing. Maybe we can get him to sing "Battle Hymn of the Republic"!