It's been a hot minute (really, it's been about three months, but who's counting?) since I last sent out an email, but things have been a little busy around here. First, my wife had major surgery (everything went well and she's fine, thank you!), then we moved almost everything in the house, including the bar, into storage while we renovated. We had the kitchen completely gutted and reimagined into a bright, modern workspace (my wife loves to cook and now has a brand-new space in which to work her craft!); we replaced all the various flooring types throughout the house with consistent hardwood flooring up- and downstairs; and we had a fresh coat of paint applied to the entire downstairs living areas.
As I mentioned, the bar has been out-of-service, and as such I've had nowhere to craft new cocktails, or recreate old favorites. However, that doesn't mean I've been sitting idly by! No sirree, Bob! I've been working on something for several months, and if you've poked around the Bourbony web site lately, you might have seen it. If you haven't, then allow me to introduce to you the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book Database!
The Savoy Cocktail Book (1930), written by legendary bartender Harry Craddock, is one of the most influential cocktail recipe collections in the history of mixology. Published during Prohibition in the U.S., the book represents a significant cultural shift, with Craddock relocating to London, where he worked at the American Bar in the Savoy Hotel. His position at the Savoy allowed him to showcase the best of pre-Prohibition American cocktails while integrating European influences, creating a blend of global cocktail culture. The book quickly became a go-to reference for bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts worldwide.
The book is notable for codifying numerous classic cocktails, many of which are still popular today, such as the Martini, Corpse Reviver #2, and the White Lady. Craddock’s style emphasized precision and elegance, often using minimal ingredients but focusing on quality and balance. The Savoy Cocktail Book also featured creative and whimsical illustrations, which added to its appeal during the Jazz Age, embodying the glamour and sophistication of the cocktail scene of that era.
Indeed.
Over time, the book has cemented its place as a cornerstone of cocktail culture. It has inspired generations of bartenders and cocktail lovers, helping to preserve classic recipes and techniques while also encouraging innovation. Even nearly a century later, the Savoy Cocktail Book remains a foundational text in both historical and contemporary cocktail making, bridging the past and present in the world of mixology.
All that said, original copies of the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book are either impossible to find or are cost-prohibitive due to their rarity. Scans and digital versions are available online or as reprints, but they are difficult to use when you wish to quickly search for a recipe.
Because the book is now in the public domain, I decided that a searchable database of the cocktails and other drinks presented in the Savoy Cocktail Book was needed, and that I could easily put one together in a matter of a few days months. Hence the Savoy Cocktail Database was born!
Aside from every cocktail, fizz, julep, and rickey in the book, you'll also find a page that helps identify a number of odd ingredients that may or may not still exist in some form or fashion, as well as a handy guide to the measurements that Harry Craddock used in the book and how to translate those to modern equivalents.
One thing to note - I'm kinda jumping the gun on this announcement, as I'm still entering recipes, but I couldn't wait any longer to tell you about it.
For those of you playing along at home, as of this email, I'm up to "Daisies" on page 204. Still to come: Fixes, Juleps, Smashes, Cobblers, Frappe, Punch, and Cups!
Finally, at some point, when my bar equipment is once again usable, I hope to recreate some of the recipes in the book (in particular the few that include bourbon or whisky) for your enjoyment on Bourbony. Stay tuned, as they say, for more!
In the meantime, from my family to yours, Happy Holidays!
