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- 3/4 oz Brandy
- 3/4 oz Jamaican rum
- 3/4 oz Cointreau
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- dash Angostura bitters
Garnish: Lime wedge
Shake in ice and strain in to a chilled cocktail glass.
This cocktail from the 1930’s was featured at the late ‘Embassy Club’ in Hollywood. Adolph “Eddie” Brandstatter owned a number of Hollywood hotspots in this era, including the Café Montmartre which was hugely popular with the movie stars of the day. When the stars complained about the hoards of fans bothering them (people would swarm around the entrance and stare at the patrons eating!) Eddie had the idea to knock a passageway from his place in to a newly constructed building next door and this new space became the exclusive Embassy Club.
It was a speakeasy styled private venue that ‘Old Hollywood’ movie stars could go to escape from the crowds. Membership was restricted to Brandstatter’s closest friends which included many stars of the time including Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson, Jean Harlow and Howard Hughes.
Sadly, the move turned out to be a disaster for Brandstatter because the Café Montmartre lost it’s appeal. The public didn’t want to go there if they couldn’t see Hollywoods royalty. In order to try and save his businesses he opened Embassy Club to the public but this in turn meant the movie stars stopped going and Brandstatter ended up losing both businesses and filing for bankruptcy. While it was around it is said to have been a beautiful location with a rooftop promenade and glass enclosed lounge with views of the Hollywood hills.
This drink has a great balance of sweet, sour and bitter. I tried it for the first time this week-end and found it to be really quite delicious. The Embassy Cocktail is currently a special on the board at Sadie, in Hollywood and will be available to order throughout this award season.
Classic Martini (Also known as the Bradford, Brighton or Gold Cocktail)
- 1 oz Gin
- 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth
Garnish: Olive or a lemon twist
Stir in ice and serve in a chilled cocktail glass
When I think of “Old Hollywood”, one of the actors that springs to mind is Cary Grant. It is said that Cary Grant’s favorite cocktail was the Classic Martini (made with Gin of course). Author Ian Fleming always said he based his most famous character James Bond on Cary Grant. James Bond had a reputation for living dangerously and making the wrong seem right, he also had to be different from the average Joe, so Fleming had his character always order this classic incorrectly…”Vodka Martini, shaken not stirred”.
A so-called ‘Classic Martini’ is actually really complicated so I won’t go in to it all now, however the original recipe does call for Gin, which is a much better option than vodka in my opinion. Many cocktail connoisseurs also believe that shaking gin is bad because the shaking action “bruises” the gin (a bitter taste can sometimes occur). In Fleming’s novel Casino Royale, it says “Bond watched as the deep glass became frosted with the pale golden drink, slightly aerated by the bruising of the shaker,” I advise you to order yours stirred, not shaken and always with Gin, not Vodka. Sorry James!
Hi Ho Cocktail (Also known as the ‘Highland and Hollywood Cocktail’)
- 2 oz Gin
- 1 oz White port
- 2 dashes orange bitters
Shake in ice and strain in to a chilled cocktail glass.
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The Hi Ho Cocktail was created in Hollywood, California in the 1930’s and named after the cross streets where the Academy awards are held each year- Highland and Hollywood (Hi Ho). First published in ‘World Drinks and How to Mix Them’ by William Boothby in 1934. I prefer this to a classic martini because I am not a huge fan of vermouth. While red port is much more common these days, white port is still readily available so make sure you use it for this drink. A dry white port and a London Dry Gin are suggested.
