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THE GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION
lighted matches, we began going on a still hunt for some way to mix
tequila. We were greeted with raised eyebrows, expressions of com–
miseration for waning sanity, open distrust. It was about the same
situation which would parallel snooping about Paris for ways to di–
lute
champagne fine,
or aged brandy. It took several hundred miles
of wandering about the surrounding towns and mountains before we
struck our first evidence of cooperation-at the little corner place of
one eminent lady known affectionately as Bertita, on the Cathedral
Square of utterly lovely Taxco-pronounced "toss-ko."
What Bertita had done after long experimentation was to put in
m~e
lime juice and less sweet than we. As we said, tequila is an
acquired taste, try it sometime. . . . Remember small ice makes the
drink very cold, which improves the taste by taking some of the ac–
cent off tequila. Bertita's Special is listed 2d receipt below.
OUR OWN TEQUILA COCKTAIL,
ARMILLITA CHICO
Armillita is the idol of Mexico, their foremost, most finished, most
graceful, most dramatic bullfighter. His work with the cape, ban–
derillas, and sword rank him with the Spanish immortals of all time.
He gets fifteen hundred dollars for a Sunday afternoon's performance,
Hollywood please notice. Mexicans are beginning to rank him with
Spain's Juan Belmonte whose life, by Allen Villiers, has just been
published.
In
dallying with tequila in the bosom of our own bar we finally set
upon this formula as being worthwhile, and promptly dedicated it, a
standing toast with Sydney Franklin by our side, to Armillita Chico.
Tequila, 3 jiggers
Limes, strained juice, 2
.
Orange flower water, 2 dashes
Grenadine, dash, for colour
· Fill electric shaker with all the finely shaved ice this amount will
cover, frappe well, serve through a sieve, shaking to make the frappe
stand up in a brief rosy, temporary cone. When this subsides drink to
Armillita Chico, the idol of Mexico.
. 128.