Ginger Rogers

Discovering that the big Hollywood stars of the 30s and 40s all had cocktails named after them has opened up a wealth of possibilities for summer drinks in the sunshine. How exciting! (apologies if I sound like an alcoholic, but it’s been years since I had a cocktail and I’m excited at the prospect!) Which of these cocktails would you choose? The gutsy Mae West, or the fresh and fruity Carmen Miranda? Personally I think I’d rather drink a Brigitte Bardot…

1. The Ginger Rogers cocktail

 

Recipe

  • 2 oz gin
  • 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 oz ginger syrup
  • 8 to 10 mint leaves
  • Top with ginger ale
  • Garnish with a lime wedge

Pick 8–10 mint leaves. Place in your hand and clap your hands together to wake up the mint. Place into cocktail shaker. Add 1/2 oz of ginger syrup and then give the mint a few taps with a muddler. Add the gin, lime juice, and ice to your shaker. Shake well. Double strain into a collins glass filled with ice. Top with approximately 1 oz of ginger ale. Garnish with a mint sprig and a lime wedge.

Source

2. The Mae West cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 3-4 oz brandy
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tsp powdered sugar
  • Cayenne pepper for garnish

Pour the brandy, egg and sugar into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake vigorously (more so than normal to mix the egg yolk well with the other ingredients). Strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with a dusting of cayenne pepper. Source

3. The Jean Harlow cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz light rum
  • 2 oz sweet vermouth
  • lemon peel for garnish

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the lemon peel. (source)

4. The Marilyn Monroe cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 4 oz. (113 ml) champagne
  • 1 oz. (28 ml) apple brandy
  • 1 tsp. (5 ml) grenadine

Serve in a champagne flute with two cherries on a stick. Source

5. The Jane Russell cocktail

This voluptuous rye-based cocktail packs a wallop, just like Ms Russell herself presumably…

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz Russell’s Reserve Rye
  • .5 oz Rittenhouse Rye
  • .25 oz Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth
  • .25 oz Grand Marnier
  • .25 oz Bénédictine
  • 1 dash Bittermens Xocolatl Mole Bitters
  • Garnish: Orange twist

Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir, and strain into a coupe or cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist. Source

6. The Brigitte Bardot cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 oz. Brandy
  • 1/4 oz. Bourbon Whiskey
  • 1 Egg Yolk
  • 3/4 oz. Cream
  • 1/4 oz. Sugar Syrup
Fill a Cocktail Shaker with ice. Add in all ingredients. Shake. Strain into a Cocktail Glass. Source

7. The Carmen Miranda cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Mt. Gay Rum
  • 1 oz freshly juiced cantaloupe
  • 1/2 oz house made orgeat
  • 1 egg white
  • 4 spearmint leaves
  • 4 pineapple mint leaves
  • 1 pineapple sprig garnish

Incorporate egg white first without ice. I use a handheld frother. Give your 8 mint leaves a good spank and shake with the rest of the ingredients with ice. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with one pineapple mint sprig. Source

Image source and copyright: This work is in the public domain in that it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1977 and without a copyright notice.