1939 The Gentleman's Companion volume II Beeing an Exotic Drinking Book

THE EXOTIC DRINKING BOOK

vacations from school was our spring visits every other year to the

home of our favourite Aunt Josephine Leaming, either in Philadel–

phia, or at her country place out on the Main Line in Wayne, Penn–

sylvania.

Not only was she one of the most beautiful ladies ever born in

America or Europe, but one of the most elegant, the most up-to-date

even in her seventies; one of the most understanding of cryptic small–

boy likes and dislikes; one of the most considerate of all those about

her court-for that, actually, was what it really was.... And so amid

a swarm of Learnings, and Heckschers, and Carsons and Storks, she

would entertain in her lovely garden-and for the youngsters would

be ginger beer, or more unusual still, great tumblers of thinnest crystal,

filled to the brim with pale rose raspberry vinegar, with a bouquet of

mint raising its fragrant emerald head in the center. . . . Raspberry

vinegarl-How far we drifted apart during the hectic days of the

Late Attempted Drouthl ... How we missed you. How glad we

are now and then to go sensible once more, and sip one of you, in–

stead of a Tom Collins, or similar grownuP- acceptances. . . . Of

course good raspberry vinegar may be bought in any fine delicacy

shop, but try making your own. It's lots more

fun,

and saves purse

strain.

Raspberries, dead ripe,

White

wine

vinegar,

(Or failing this, diluted white

vinegar)

Raspberries,

lb (again)

Raspberries, 1 lb (again)

Sugar, just over

lb per pint of

resultant juice

Put the 1st lb of raspberries in a bowl, and bruise well. Pour white

wine vinegar over them-wine vinegar has a much more delicate

flavour than either cider or malt vinegars, and can be bought from

Italian shops, or made by efRosing any good sweet domestic wine to

the air by simply pulling the cork, adding 1 tbsp of vinegar, and let–

ting it stand for a short time in that state.

Next day strain liquor through a cloth onto another pound of well-

crushed raspberries. Stand overnight, strain, and pour onto the third

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