Algonquin Special
3.8 12 ratings
Ingredients
How to make
Serve in a nick & nora glass
Prepare
- 1 Select and pre-chill a NICK & NORA GLASS.
- 2 Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.
Method
- 3 STIR all ingredients with ice.
- 4 FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
Garnish
- 5 EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.
Flavour profile
14.0% alc./vol. · 0.7 standard drinks · 90 calories
History
A dash of bitters added to this original two-ingredient drink helps tone down the flavour, making it a tasty apéritif or digestif.
Frank Case (1872–1946) was the proprietor and manager of the Algonquin Hotel on New York's 44th Street during the period when the famous Algonquin Round Table was at its zenith. He penned several books detailing the hotel and its notable patrons. This context is helpful for understanding the following passage from Crosby Gaige's 1941 "Cocktail Guide And Ladies' Companion". "Algonquin is an Indian word that in any language means Case, and Case in the Iroquois tongue means Algonquin. Mr. Case has maintained the prestige of his Forty-fourth Street citadel against all and sundry since time practically began. The Great gather there to lunch and the near-great likewise gather to watch our carnivorous literati at feeding time. They shout with glee when Woollcott drops gouts of gravy or currant jelly on his cummerbund and shudder as Kaufman snarls over a slice of pickled watermelon rind. Mr. Case gracefully presents the following combination of food and drink. Dear Crosby: In answer to your request, here is a recipe for a drink very popular at our bar. We call it Algonquin Special–a good enough name. If you do not wish to use the word Algonquin, you can call it Continental or Bodega or most anything. Algonquin Special (A perfect aperitif) ½ jigger Dry Sherry 1 jigger Tawny Port Stir with cube ice. Serve in Sherry glass. Squeeze little orange peel. And here is a snack that will hold together–that is., it's intended entirely for eating purposes instead of half for eating and half to spill on the rug. ¾ cup Cream cheese ¼ cup Butter ¼ cup chopped Anchovies, very fine 1 teaspoon chopped Chives Mix ingredients well together, spread on toast, cut in 1½ inch length and 1 inch wide. If you are affluent and can afford to add a dash of caviar to the mixture, it won't hurt it. Without the caviar, it is still delicious. Yours sincerely, Frank Case"