Do you know the way to Manhattan?

Last weekend we were in Portland for Laurie’s brother’s wedding. It was held at the Norse Hall, under the flags of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and other frozen places. There was an open bar. I was going to get a glass of the Nordic Ale, but the beer line was long and the cocktail line nonexistent.

What I know about cocktails can be summed up in two words: jack shit. I like Black Russians, although I like Kahlua on the rocks even better. My friend Neil Robertson, the pastry cook, used to hold cocktail parties where I’d get to taste his expertly made cocktails. As I recall, my favorite was the French 75, but it’s a drink that requires an old-school bartender, since it’s been out of style since, like, 1910. (Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, champagne.)

So what to order? I don’t like martinis, so I figured it would be hard to go wrong with a Manhattan. It’s probably the kind of thing old men order at the Norse Hall, right?

I placed my order. The bartender said, “Um. Sure!” She paused. “Can you remind me how to make that?” Crap! Just what I was trying to avoid: being outed as a cocktail dork. Luckily, she had a copy of Bartending for Dummies behind the counter, and we looked it up. (Bourbon, vermouth, bitters, maraschino cherry.)

The Manhattan was good, but if I’d known she had the book, I would have ordered a French 75.

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4 thoughts on “Do you know the way to Manhattan?”

  1. Neil

    There are several recipes that call themselves a French 75, but the one I like is:

    1/4 oz gin
    1/4 oz Cointreau
    1/4 oz lemon juice
    Shake together with ice, pour into flute and top with champagne.

    I started doing the cocktail parties to educate my completely ignorant self about mixed drinks. I credit the book “Cocktail: the Drinks Bible for the 21st Century” by Paul Harrington for the the vast majority of my paltry “Knowledge”. It’s been out of print for several years, so if you find an old or used copy, buy it immediately. It’s currently going for at least $100 used over at Amazon.

  2. Wendy Miller

    Sambar makes a nice French 75 and I just tried something at 35th St Bistro called a French 33 or something- orange flavored vodka…..

  3. Jen

    I’ve seen the French 75 on a couple of drink menus lately — at West 5 in West Seattle, I think, and some other place I don’t remember.

    Maybe it’s making a comeback.

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