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Fable tells us that the name "Old Tom" Gin, of certain
British brands, was so named when an old Tom cat fell
into a barrel of the spirits. This tradition is antedated
by the fact that years before the tale of the drowned cat
went the rounds, Hodge's Distillery in England named
their brand of gin for old Tom Chamberlain, a distiller
employed by them. His picture in the garb of a sailor
appears on the labels pasted on the bottles.
Sloe Gin, used in some of our fancy mixed drinks, is
named for a small, bitter black wild plum, the oil of
which is used to flavor the distilled spirit—^not because
there is anything slow about its effects. Sloe gin is fast
coming into favor because of its mild strength and the
distinctive flavor given it by the sloe berries—tart yet
somewhat sweet.
Practically all of the gin drinks, the drys. Old Toms,
and sloes, belong in the tall glass category . . . tall ones
that tinkle when filledwith iceand make hot days coolish
and hot nights cooler. Before you try any of the famous
New Orleans recipes which have for their basic ingredient
good old gin, first let me introduce you to a mixed drink
that has won world-wide acclaim—New Orleans own
and truly refreshing Ramos Gin Fizz.
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