History of the Cocktail
For over 100 years, bartenders in many of the Fairmont's bars and lounges have helped invent, design, refine and serve drinks that can only be described as classic. Here, we take a look at the history behind some of the world's most iconic cocktails, all of which are still available at our hotels worldwide:
WHITE LADY
The White Lady traces its lineage back to a drink named "Delilah", which included crème de menthe. In the late 1920s, The Savoy's Harry Craddock perfected the recipe by switching to Cointreau: The White Lady was born and the cocktail evolved to a whole new level. His creation, (albeit without the egg white, which was added later to offer greater body and a richer feel) became an instant Savoy classic. It was featured in the very first Savoy Cocktail Book, compiled in 1930.
GOLDEN MOJITO
While the exact origins of the Mojito (and its name) are uncertain, one popular account traces it to the 16th-century "El Draque"-a drink invented in honor of Sir Francis Drake. Early versions featured tafia (juice from sugarcane) and aguardiente ("firewater"), which formed a primitive predecessor to rum; mint, lime and sugar were added to subdue its harsh taste. Rum, as we know it, was substituted as soon as it became widely available to the British, around 1650.
WHITE LADY
The White Lady traces its lineage back to a drink named "Delilah", which included crème de menthe. In the late 1920s, The Savoy's Harry Craddock perfected the recipe by switching to Cointreau: The White Lady was born and the cocktail evolved to a whole new level. His creation, (albeit without the egg white, which was added later to offer greater body and a richer feel) became an instant Savoy classic. It was featured in the very first Savoy Cocktail Book, compiled in 1930.
GOLDEN MOJITO
While the exact origins of the Mojito (and its name) are uncertain, one popular account traces it to the 16th-century "El Draque"-a drink invented in honor of Sir Francis Drake. Early versions featured tafia (juice from sugarcane) and aguardiente ("firewater"), which formed a primitive predecessor to rum; mint, lime and sugar were added to subdue its harsh taste. Rum, as we know it, was substituted as soon as it became widely available to the British, around 1650.
BRANDY ALEXANDER
Created for the wedding celebration of Princess Mary and Lord Lascelles, in 1922, the Brandy Alexander was already a household name by the mid 1930s. A classic blend of brandy and chocolate smoothed with cream, this cocktail had its genesis in a gin-based recipe that was called simply an "Alexander". It reached the height of popular culture in the pilot episode of the Mary Tyler Moore television show, when the Mary Richards character asked for one during her job interview.
CLASSIC CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL
Among the earliest references to the Champagne Cocktail are Jerry Thomas's How to Mix Drinks, or The Bon Vivant's Companion (1862) and the Mark Twain novel Innocents Abroad (1869). Despite these famous references, however, it is widely accepted that the drink found popularity after bartender John Dougherty won an 1899 New York cocktail competition. His victorious-and very similar-concoction was called a "Business Brace".
SIDECAR
The Sidecar was arguably invented in Paris, circa World War I, by barkeep Frank Meier: He was inspired by the motorcycle sidecar that regularly transported an American army captain to and from the local bistro. (The original Sidecar featured Cointreau and Rémy Martin vintage 1865, making it, at that time, the most expensive cocktail in the world.) Today, just as variations of this famous cocktail grace Shanghai's bar menus, motorcycle sidecars continue to grace the city's bustling streets. Proving, in more ways than one, that the sidecar is one trend turned entirely classic.
DAWA COCKTAIL
Cosmopolitan Nairobi, heralded the "Safari Capital of the World", is the natural departure point for ventures into Africa's wild. And much like spotting the Big Five, no trip to Nairobi is complete without sipping the Dawa Cocktail (usually enjoyed with such culinary delights as seared ostrich, eland and crocodile steaks served on skewers). Given that dawa is Swahili for "medicine," this famous cocktail is said to cure whatever ails you. The fact that it's the most popular cocktail in Kenya just might support this claim.
BLOODY CAESAR/BLOODY MARY
While the origins of the Bloody Mary are disputed, it's likely that Fernand Petiot invented the cocktail in 1921; he was working at the New York Bar in Paris-later, Harry's New York Bar, a favorite hangout for Ernest Hemingway and other American and Canadian expatriates. In Calgary, Alberta, circa 1969, bartender Walter Chell added his own Canadian twist: following three months of exploring recipes, he settled on the beloved, spicy flavor of Clamato as his chosen mix. The Bloody Caesar is now Canada's bestselling cocktail, with more than 250 million sold each year.
SINGAPORE SLING
Ngiam Tong Boon, a bartender at Raffles Hotel around the turn of the century, created the Singapore Sling in 1915. And, despite the cocktail's original posturing as a lady's drink (thus the pink hue), it was soon enjoyed the world over. A recipe scribbled on a bar-chit-in Ngiam's own handwriting, dated 1936-can be viewed in the museum at Raffles Hotel, Singapore. Here, the Singapore Sling is still being mixed and served in its original splendor.
PERFECT MANHATTAN
Legend suggests that The Manhattan- rather appropriately-originated in New York City. In the early 1870s, Lady Randolph Churchill (Winston's mother) hosted a grand banquet in honor of presidential hopeful Samuel J. Tilden, and Dr. Iain Marshall invented a stately beverage to suit. Though differing accounts appear regarding the true origins of this beverage, there's no denying its popular and timeless appeal.
Created for the wedding celebration of Princess Mary and Lord Lascelles, in 1922, the Brandy Alexander was already a household name by the mid 1930s. A classic blend of brandy and chocolate smoothed with cream, this cocktail had its genesis in a gin-based recipe that was called simply an "Alexander". It reached the height of popular culture in the pilot episode of the Mary Tyler Moore television show, when the Mary Richards character asked for one during her job interview.
CLASSIC CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL
Among the earliest references to the Champagne Cocktail are Jerry Thomas's How to Mix Drinks, or The Bon Vivant's Companion (1862) and the Mark Twain novel Innocents Abroad (1869). Despite these famous references, however, it is widely accepted that the drink found popularity after bartender John Dougherty won an 1899 New York cocktail competition. His victorious-and very similar-concoction was called a "Business Brace".
SIDECAR
The Sidecar was arguably invented in Paris, circa World War I, by barkeep Frank Meier: He was inspired by the motorcycle sidecar that regularly transported an American army captain to and from the local bistro. (The original Sidecar featured Cointreau and Rémy Martin vintage 1865, making it, at that time, the most expensive cocktail in the world.) Today, just as variations of this famous cocktail grace Shanghai's bar menus, motorcycle sidecars continue to grace the city's bustling streets. Proving, in more ways than one, that the sidecar is one trend turned entirely classic.
DAWA COCKTAIL
Cosmopolitan Nairobi, heralded the "Safari Capital of the World", is the natural departure point for ventures into Africa's wild. And much like spotting the Big Five, no trip to Nairobi is complete without sipping the Dawa Cocktail (usually enjoyed with such culinary delights as seared ostrich, eland and crocodile steaks served on skewers). Given that dawa is Swahili for "medicine," this famous cocktail is said to cure whatever ails you. The fact that it's the most popular cocktail in Kenya just might support this claim.
BLOODY CAESAR/BLOODY MARY
While the origins of the Bloody Mary are disputed, it's likely that Fernand Petiot invented the cocktail in 1921; he was working at the New York Bar in Paris-later, Harry's New York Bar, a favorite hangout for Ernest Hemingway and other American and Canadian expatriates. In Calgary, Alberta, circa 1969, bartender Walter Chell added his own Canadian twist: following three months of exploring recipes, he settled on the beloved, spicy flavor of Clamato as his chosen mix. The Bloody Caesar is now Canada's bestselling cocktail, with more than 250 million sold each year.
SINGAPORE SLING
Ngiam Tong Boon, a bartender at Raffles Hotel around the turn of the century, created the Singapore Sling in 1915. And, despite the cocktail's original posturing as a lady's drink (thus the pink hue), it was soon enjoyed the world over. A recipe scribbled on a bar-chit-in Ngiam's own handwriting, dated 1936-can be viewed in the museum at Raffles Hotel, Singapore. Here, the Singapore Sling is still being mixed and served in its original splendor.
PERFECT MANHATTAN
Legend suggests that The Manhattan- rather appropriately-originated in New York City. In the early 1870s, Lady Randolph Churchill (Winston's mother) hosted a grand banquet in honor of presidential hopeful Samuel J. Tilden, and Dr. Iain Marshall invented a stately beverage to suit. Though differing accounts appear regarding the true origins of this beverage, there's no denying its popular and timeless appeal.
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