Starbucks 'Trenta': How The New Size Compares To Your Stomach
Famous Death Row Last Meals
An occasional column on drinks made from the legendary 1930 "Savoy Cocktail Book."Please forgive the prolonged absence. Orange bitters, or rather, a lack of it, waylaid this column longer than expected.
When we last met, I had finally achieved a childhood goal: obtaining an original "Savoy Cocktail Book" and making my first "Savoy" cocktail -- the Hanky Panky (on the advice of mixologist Gary Regan).
A few days after that column appeared, I bumped into James Beard Award-winning mixologist Dale DeGroff at World Cocktail Day. When I asked him what I should try making, he didn't hesitate: "Satan's Whiskers."
Well, actually he recommended more than just Satan's Whiskers. "There is a series of eight or 10 cocktails on two pages beginning with the Satan's Whiskers (straight) and the Satan's Whiskers (curled) through the Scoff-Law Cocktail that are good," he said.
I already had an inkling why he chose that particular place to start. But I asked him anyway. "The name, of course!"
And it is kind of seductive, cocktails conjuring the wicked curl of Mephistopheles goatee. For this column, I decided to play it straight. Italian vermouth, French vermouth, gin, orange juice, Grand Marnier -- I had everything needed but the orange bitters. (Satan's Whiskers [Curled] replaces the Grand Marnier with orange curaçao.)
Thus began my three-week search for an ingredient I now refer to as "the devil's juice." I know, I know. I should have ordered it online, but the hunt is half the fun. Rhubarb bitters, old fashioned bitters. I could find everything but orange over Memorial Day weekend. Is this the secret ingredient to barbecue sauce? The devil's juice finally appeared in a specialty Brooklyn grocery, and Mephistopheles' work was able to begin.As far as cocktails go, Satan's Whiskers is no muss, no fuss. There isn't a garnish and all you really need to do is plop the ingredients in a shaker, do your shimmy magic and pour. The results are an orange delight, bitter and sweet.
However, this is the work of the devil. Be sure to sip only one. Another may take you to his hell on Earth: the hangover.
What cocktail should I try next? Give me suggestions in the comments section.
Sara Bonisteel is an editor at AOL Food.
PHOTOS: How You Can Get The 'Miracle' Dress
Broke Stars: 11 Celebrities Who Went Bankrupt
LOOK: Amazing Underwater Photos Of Dogs
Adele Five-Year Break? Singer Plans to Focus on Relationship, Write 'Happy Record'
Social Security Is Failing Even Faster Than We Thought
Jane Seymour's Modest And Modern Style
Man Says Starbucks Discriminated Against Him Because He Has Half An Arm
Chris Brown, Grammys 2012: Embattled Singer Slams Critics
Janice Dickinson's Outrageous Style
Ford's clever Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ad features phantom model
Trace Adkins Reunites With College Crush, 30 Years Later
Lauren Scruggs Goes On Ski Vacation
Van Gogh's Starry Night modded into beautiful interactive light and sound show (video)
'Hooker Teacher' Forced To Resign, Now Can't Find Work
WATCH AND LAUGH: Cops In 2-Hour Standoff With Empty Car
3 Economic Misconceptions That Need to Die
PHOTOS: Model Falls At Dennis Basso Show
Best In Show Winner Declared
WATCH: Saint VaLINtine Hits Game-Winning Shot
PHOTOS: Michelle Obama Wears Jason Wu For Target!
WATCH: Amazon Withholds Money From Blooming Florist
PHOTOS: Cute Overload?
LOOK: The Last Of The Cave People
We Meant There WERE Nukes In The Fire
Honduras Prison Fire Kills At Least 300 Inmates
Scuba Diver Had Motive To Drown Wife On Honeymoon, Prosecutor Says
Reports: Iran Stops Oil Exports To 6 European Countries
Denise Richards' Casual Style
Style Icon Dies After Collapsing At Fashion Show
Huguely Lied On The Night His Ex-Girlfriend Died, Lacrosse Teammate Says
'Game Of Thrones' Season 2 Teaser: War Is Coming
Hidden In The Open: A Photographic Essay Of African-American Male Couples
6-12-2009 @4:53PM anita said... I have to say -- even if you didn't know that Erik of Underhill Lounge has been working his way this very same book for years -- that you have a lot of chutzpah to proceed with this copy-cat project now that you've been alerted to that fact.
There are dozens of other classic cocktail books out there; why don't you pick one that someone isn't already covering?
Reply
6-12-2009 @4:54PM Monika said... As a Deco fiend, I adore the look of that book (along with the idea of a book full of retro cocktails!). I'm dying to grab a copy, but the $300+ pricetag made me whimper.
Reply
6-12-2009 @5:20PM Marshall said... I have to agree with Anita. There are plenty of classic cocktail tomes which you could delve into for this series. Books that are arguably more esoteric than the Savoy. Choosing a different book would bring more originality to the series and offer more classic recipes to the internets.
Just my .02.
Reply
6-12-2009 @6:26PM Jennifer Hess said... I'm going to have to agree with Anita and Marshall. If our bookshelves are any indication there are plenty of classic cocktail tomes to work through, and it would be nice to see a wider variety of them explored in this way.
Reply
6-12-2009 @7:46PM erik_flannestad said... Aw, that's nice for you all to say.
But there really isn't much cross over between my cocktail geekiness and Sara's writerly enthusiasm.
There's plenty of room to play in the sandbox.
And Sara, if you're interested in "Devil's work" I suggest you try the Bunny Hug or Earthquake next.
Best!
Reply
6-13-2009 @1:07PM Carol said... And no body ever write another word about The Joy of Cooking!
Cripes, not everyone knows all the blogs etc. Is she plagerising word for word the other work? If not, its fair game.
Reply
6-14-2009 @9:11PM Nicole said... I'm stunned that you couldn't find orange bitters in NYC. I can buy it in rural northern Virginia!
Try the Scofflaw. It's a great drink!
Reply