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THE EXOTIC DRINKING BOOK
SWEDISH or CALORIC PUNCH . . . A much overrated affair, and
which always stands neglected on our shelves for long. Drunk mainly
by folk who expect a stout blow, and get a pat instead. Hints palely at
rum and no one knows what else.
THE SIX CHIEF SYRUPS ... Plain
gomme
sugar, or bar syrup-as
on Page
154;
grenadine as on Page
186;
lime, pineapple, raspberry and
strawberry-the latter quartet being those used at better soda fountains.
Average to big bars need
all
five; small bars, plain syrup and grenadine.
TEQUILA . . . An exotic from Mexico which impressed us enough to run
in three or five mixed drinks and cocktails. It is buyable in most average
American towns, on slight notice-and everywhere in the Southwest.
. . . Distilled from the
Maguey
plant, see Page
127.
VANILLA . . .
Creme de Vanille
is usually specified for cocktails but
there are a very few exotics which indicate the extract, and in this case
a raid on the kitchen shelf will probably bear fruit.
CREME
de
VANILLE
..
:
Indicated in a few cocktails, but rarely. Only
for large bars.
VERMOUTH .
There are two basic types: The dark, more richly
flavoured Italian variety imperative in many cocktails, as well as alone,
with soda, and with cassis, as an aperitif; the light, or "dry" French
vermouth, without which a Dry Martini would be a wet, old-fashioned
Martini. . . . Both are wines fortified, and stepped up with various
secret herbs. They aid digestion, promote appetite.... No bar can
be
without both, and better have two bottles of each. They go fast!
CREME
de
VIOLETTE,
and
CREME YVETTE
. . .
Made with vio–
lette flower essence and of a rich violet hue used to colour certain few
cocktails; much preferred by girls who think they are being sophisticated
in ordering something out of such a funny shaped bottle, and by gentle–
men who erroneously think it possesses congressional powers little short
of miraculous.
VODKA . . . This, although for a time banned by the Soviet, is still
easily to be had. Theoretically it should never
be
sipped, but tossed
off
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