Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails

Drinks From the Past for the Future

Hermosa Beach

2017-06-06 Stars - 5 Tequila Tarus

From Connor at the Oakleaf, it’s the Hermosa Beach:

cocktail

  • 0.50 ounce lime juice
  • 0.50 ounce Demerara Syrup
  • 2.00 ounces reposado tequila
  • 4-6 chunks of strawberry
  • 1 large bruised basil leaf

Muddle strawberry and basil in a shaker glass. Add other ingredients and strain over a large cube of ice. Garnish with a small basil leaf.

This is a fine drink that lends itself to a lot of off-topic comments.

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The Original Margarita

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, it’s The Original Margarita:

cocktail

  • 1.5 ounce blanco tequila
  • 1.5 ounce Cointreau
  • 1.5 ounce fresh lime juice

Shake in an iced cocktail shaker. Strain into a large cocktail glass, rim crusted with salt.

Since this recipe is from the appendix of Dr. Cocktail’s book, there are just recipes and almost no exposition, so I can’t add much to the history. This recipe is presented as the “original” Margarita and it is backed up by Wikipedia, which states it was invented in Mexico in October of 1941 and consisted of equal parts tequila, orange liqueur and lime, and was served with a salted rim. The idea of using sugar or salt on the rim of a cocktail glass goes all the way back to the Brandy Crusta.

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