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Blue Blazer
1 lump sugar
1 jigger Scotch whisky
1 jigger hot water
Have two mugs, earthenware or metal, and in one dissolve the
lump of sugar in the hot water. Now add the Scots whisky; be
sure it's a good brand with plenty of alcoholic content for it has
to burn. Ignite the mixture. Hold the burning mug in one
hand, then empty the fluid rapidly from one container to the
other so that a streak of blue flame connects the two. ^rve in
a hot-drink glass after twisting a bit of lemon peel over the mix
ture and topping with a grating of nutmeg.
If you have cold feet, chattering teeth, shivers, frozen
fingers, or chilblains, in other words, if you're cold, and
want to warm up the inner man, you can do no better
than thaw out with a Blue Blazer.
This drink was a popular tipple aboard the palatial
paddle-wheeled steamboats that churned the waters of
the Mississippi during the time the Natchez and t^e
Robert E. Lee made history in upstream races to Samt
Louis. The barkeeps were expert in transferrmg the
blue-flamed liquid from one mug to another, accom
plishing the feat with an agility that kept the flames
from singeing their walrus-like moustaches. You c^
do the same, (with or wihtout the moustaches) but be
cautious; if any of this hot Scotch gets on your fingers
they'll burn like blue blazes!
Twenty-one