If you've been reading my semi-occasional emails, you'll know that for some time now I've been promising to whip up a cocktail from the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book to share with you. Well, I had a little extra time this weekend, because it's Memorial Day Weekend and we've been traveling a lot lately, so we're tired. And decided the down time would be good.
The down time has been great.
This cocktail, unfortunately, not so much.
And really, maybe it's just me. Or it may be that I altered it ever-so-slightly, and if I had made it exactly has Craddock had written it, it would have been better. OR maybe it's just not that great of a cocktail. They can't all be bangers, right?
The cocktail in question is the Cafe Kirsch Cocktail. I had some leftover Cafe Bustelo instant coffee in the fridge from making espresso martinis, so I searched the Savoy Cocktail Database for coffee-based cocktails.
There are two. This one, I had all the ingredients for, so I went with it.
The Cafe Kirsch Cocktail
Because the Savoy recipe measurements are different than the ones we use today, there's a little figuring out to be done. The recipe calls for a liqueur glass of kirsch (or kirschwasser), which is roughly 1.5-2.0 ounces. Easy enough. A "small glass" of cold coffee could be about the same amount. Instead of half a tablespoon of sugar, I went with half an ounce of simple syrup. And I substituted an egg white with three dashes of Fee Bros. Fee Foam.
I added everything to a shaker, and did a dry shake for about 15 seconds to get it good and foamy. Added ice, shook for another 30 seconds or so, then double-strained into a chilled coupe.
Again. This wasn't a great cocktail. You've been warned. But again, that's by today's standards. People drank differently in the 1930s.
Some things that might make this a better cocktail:
Substituting Mr. Black's Coffee Liqueur for the cold coffee
Keeping the cold coffee, but adding half the amount and half Mr. Black's
Adding more simple syrup
Using an actual egg white (which I don't mind, but a lot of folks don't care for raw egg in their drinks because it gives them the yucks)
Pouring it down the drain and mixing an Old Fashioned
If you do decide to ignore my warnings and make one for yourself, let me know what you think. If you modify it in any meaningful way and decide it's a pretty good drink, let me know how you modded it and I'll give yours a try!
