Crosby Gaige Cocktail Guide

by LeNell Smothers, Posted Jan 29th 2010 @ 3:00PM

LeNell Smothers

Ever been bitten by the bug that has you up at 3 a.m. bidding on random books and ephemera on auction websites? Once I bid on a copy of Crosby Gaige's Cocktail Guide and Ladies Companion published in 1941 that a friend had listed on e-bay, only to get a message scolding me that he already had a copy set aside for me. This addiction to collecting old books and cocktail gear can be particularly dangerous when you have friends who share the collection illness with you.

Not only did my friend give me this book, he came over with a dinner menu inspired by Mr. Gaige and made cocktails all night. I love the names of the drinks in the Ladies Companion, including "Euthanasia," "Quickie Cocktail," "Psychopathia Sexualis," and "Let's Slide Downstairs" just to name a few. He even includes a few simple canapé recipes to keep you going, such as "Virginia": ground ham, chutney, and grated melted cheese on toast.

The illustrations alone entertain enough to search out this gem of a book. On the title page, it even reads, "Richly Embellished with Drawings Almost from Life" by Rea Irvin. My favorite is the intro to Chapter 9 titled "The Seven Ages of Women" with drawings of a woman from "Baby's Breath" stage to "Dowager Duchess" with, of course, accompanying cocktails.

I can only describe Crosby Gaige as a true bon vivant who lived from 1892 to 1949. He served the world as a Broadway producer, gourmand, and author of not only the Ladies Companion, but also Dining with My Friends and his autobiography Footnotes and Highlights.

So far this is my favorite cocktail from his Cocktail Guide. With the name Fig Leaves for Two, perhaps it is best drunk with a buddy. Keep in mind the term "jigger' typically means 1 1/2 ounces.

Fig Leaves For Two

1 Jigger Sweet Vermouth
1/2 Jigger White Rum
Juice of 1/2 Lime
2 dashes of Angostura bitters.
Shake and strain.

Filed Under: Drink Recipes, Drinks
Tags: crosby gaiges cocktail guide, CrosbyGaigesCocktailGuide, lenell smothers, LenellSmothers