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FOREWORD
Alcoholic beverages, in one form or another, have played a goodly
part in the daily life of a large percentage of the human race from the
days of the Pharaohs. Man began in Egypt, with a species of wine
termed arack, later he invented spirituous, or distilled, liquors, and yet
later discovered that by the intelligent blending of one liquor, or
beverage, with others the product resulted in a concoction more pleas
ing to the average palate.
Thus, step by step, was handed down to modern mankind so-called
"mixed drinks". Slowly these have been evolved into what is now
known as "Cocktails", by all odds the favorite, and decidedly the most
fashionable beverage of all times. Among other popular mixed bev
erages, each of which has its quota of devotees, are the highball, fizz,
rickey, julep, cobbler, punch and many others.
The policy of the publisher, in compiling this publication, has been,
not to pick and choose from among the many recipes emanating from
sections throughout the world,but to place before the public all available
recipes so that it might choose that which most appeals to its taste.
It also has been the policy of the publisher to refrain, for obvious
reasons, from specifying trade names of whiskies, gins, etc., etc. Suffice
it to say that rye whiskies are preferred by most in the preparation
of beverages containing whisky. However, bourbon or Scotch may
very well be used, and after one or two trials, the other ingredients
be modified to suit the individual taste.
No beverage selected for a gathering may be expected to please
all tastes. Therefore it must be the duty of the host to select that
certain one which in his opinion is most likely to meet with the
favor of the majority present. This is best determined by diplomatic
inquiry, either when inviting guests or following their arrival.
All recipes in this work, with such few exceptions as are noted,
have been figured for the preparation of one drink. By this standard
ization of recipes the home mixer will be aided greatly in the serving
of any number of guests, as it is but a simple problem to multiply
each ingredient by the total number of those present.
The home mixer should bear in mind a few general hints necessary
to the proper preparation of mixed drinks, or cocktails.
Measurements should be exact and close attention paid to the in
gredients called for in the recipes. Other ingredients may produce a
wonderful beverage, but they will not produce that called for in the
recipe.