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What Shall We Drink?
These are all the ingredients you need for a perfect Man
hattan Cocktail. Curacao or Absinthe dashesappearin many
formulas,butthey are not necessary. Some persons add a bit
oflemon peel, but it were best left out.
For the uninitiated, it might be well to explain that
"gum",a term that will be frequently used,is merely granu
lated or powdered sugar brought to a boil, but not allowed to
boil,in enough water to make a moderately thick syrup.
And now that we have everything necessary in the shaker,
close it tightly and shake thoroughly, remembering that the
colder the cocktail the better its flavor.
Pour into two cocktail glasses—(your guest's first, yours
second). Stab a Maraschino cherry with a toothpick and
place it in your guest's glass. Then stab another and place in
your own.
The little rite of toasting each other now is in order—and
if your home-made Manhattan doesn't tickle the palate, add
zest to the appetite and make your meal more delightful, the
fault hes with your physical condition, not the cocktail.
If you wish to makea single Manhattan,just take halfthe
ingredients, approximately a pony each of Rye and Ver
mouth, a dash of bitters and gum. But how many drink
alone of cocktails? If you wish to mix more than two, add
proportionate amounts of the ingredients. Some shakers can
hold up to two quarts.
These same suggestions for one or many apply to all the
cocktails whose preparation will be discussed as we proceed.
MIXING A MARTINI COCKTAIL FOR TWO
Into the shaker prepared with ice as in the case of the
Manhattan pour three-quarters of a cocktail glass of sweet
gin. Add an equal amount of Italian or French vermouth.
Sweeten with "gum" to taste. Now add four dashes of
ORANGE bitters, approximately thirty drops.
Close your shaker and shake vigorously until the contents
are thoroughly mixed and chilled.
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