How to drink like Gatsby
In his blue gardens, men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.’ F Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, The Great Gatsby, vividly captures the style and sophistication of the roaring 1920s, a time when a cocktail was never far from reach.
Now, a new book brings together some of the classic recipes of the jazz age so you can recreate the speakeasy experience in your own front room.
One of the earliest recorded cocktails, the Sazerac first appeared in the 1850s. It was originally made with brandy, but there’s nothing quite like a good rye whiskey. It involves some rather exotic ingredients, but it will surely impress your guests.
What you’ll need
Serves 1
Stir all the ingredients, except the absinthe, in a mixing glass fi lled with ice. Rinse a chilled rocks glass with the absinthe. Strain the contents of the mixing glass into the rocks glass and garnish with the lemon zest.
This Martini is also known as the FDR after the man who called an end to Prohibition in the 1930s. The President was an accomplished bartender who loved nothing more than flourishing his shaker for any head of state with a like mind or a dry palate.
What you’ll need
Serves 1
Add the gin, dry vermouth and olive brine to a shaker filled with cracked ice. Shake sharply and strain into a chilled martini glass with a lemon-zested edge. Garnish with an olive.
This granddaddy of cocktails was a favourite at Jay Gatsby’s infamous parties – and it’s very easy to make.
What you’ll need
Serves 1
Muddle the sugar, one mint sprig and the bourbon in a rocks glass. Add crushed ice and garnish with the remaining mint sprigs. Serve with two straws.
Add a little champagne to your fizz and you have a Royal Gin Fizz – the perfectly elegant cocktail to make that occasion extra special.
What you’ll need
Serves 1
Put the gin, lemon juice, sugar and egg white into a shaker fi lled with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a Collins glass fi lled with ice. Top up with champagne (or sparkling wine.
Gatsby Cocktails: Classic Cocktails From The Jazz Age (Ryland Peters & Small, £6.99). The book is available to readers for the special price of £5.99, including p&p. Phone 01256-302699, quoting GLR 7GF.
Now, a new book brings together some of the classic recipes of the jazz age so you can recreate the speakeasy experience in your own front room.
Sazerac
One of the earliest recorded cocktails, the Sazerac first appeared in the 1850s. It was originally made with brandy, but there’s nothing quite like a good rye whiskey. It involves some rather exotic ingredients, but it will surely impress your guests.
What you’ll need
- 50ml/2oz rye whiskey
- 10ml/2 barspoons sugar syrup
- 2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
- 10ml/2 barspoons absinthe
- A thin lemon zest to garnish
Serves 1
Stir all the ingredients, except the absinthe, in a mixing glass fi lled with ice. Rinse a chilled rocks glass with the absinthe. Strain the contents of the mixing glass into the rocks glass and garnish with the lemon zest.
Dirty Martini
This Martini is also known as the FDR after the man who called an end to Prohibition in the 1930s. The President was an accomplished bartender who loved nothing more than flourishing his shaker for any head of state with a like mind or a dry palate.
What you’ll need
- 50ml/2oz gin
- 1 dash dry vermouth
- 12.5ml/2 barspoons olive brine
- Lemon zest, for the glass
- One green olive, to garnish
Serves 1
Add the gin, dry vermouth and olive brine to a shaker filled with cracked ice. Shake sharply and strain into a chilled martini glass with a lemon-zested edge. Garnish with an olive.
Mint Julep
This granddaddy of cocktails was a favourite at Jay Gatsby’s infamous parties – and it’s very easy to make.
What you’ll need
- 15ml/½oz sugar syrup
- 3 mint sprigs
- 60ml/2oz bourbon
Serves 1
Muddle the sugar, one mint sprig and the bourbon in a rocks glass. Add crushed ice and garnish with the remaining mint sprigs. Serve with two straws.
Royal Gin Fizz
Add a little champagne to your fizz and you have a Royal Gin Fizz – the perfectly elegant cocktail to make that occasion extra special.
What you’ll need
- 50ml/2oz gin
- 25ml/1oz fresh lemon juice
- I barspoon white sugar
- 1 egg white
- Champagne
Serves 1
Put the gin, lemon juice, sugar and egg white into a shaker fi lled with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a Collins glass fi lled with ice. Top up with champagne (or sparkling wine.
Gatsby Cocktails: Classic Cocktails From The Jazz Age (Ryland Peters & Small, £6.99). The book is available to readers for the special price of £5.99, including p&p. Phone 01256-302699, quoting GLR 7GF.