A perfect cocktail menu for a 1920′s party

We ran a murder mystery night for about 15 friends a year or so ago. The theme was prohibition era Chicago so we needed to serve appropriately.

Running the bar was a bit of craic though cleaning the flat was a trial the following morning (example – cocktail sausages in my shoes and prawns between books on shelves).

But, it was a good menu. So for the good of the interweb here it is:

 

Cocktail List

3 rounds of cocktails with the following choices:

1. Gin Gimlet or Watermelon Martini
2. Bloody Mary or Moskow Mule
3. Whiskey Sour or Seabreeze

Round one:

Gimlet (Gin and lime)

• 2 Measures Hendricks Gin
• 2 Measures Lime Cordial
• 0.5 Measure Soda Water

Method:

1. Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes.
2. Stir well.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

OR

Watermelon Martini (vodka and watermelon) (make a jug)

• 1 cup watermelon juice (press watermelon through a sieve or cheesecloth)
• 1/2 cup (4 oz) Vodka
• 1/4 cup simple syrup (sugar)
• juice of 1 lime
• 3 tablespoons salt (optional)
• 3 tablespoons sugar (optional)
• ice
• Watermelon slices, for garnish (optional)

Method:

1. Mix together the sugar and salt if using.
2. Wet the rim of a chilled martini glass with a piece of watermelon. Dip the rim into the
3. sugar and salt mixture. Repeat for other glass.
4. Place the watermelon juice, vodka, lime juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker.
5. Top with ice. Shake well.
6. Pour contents through strainer into martini glasses.
7. Garnish with a wedge of watermelon if desired.

 

Round two:

Bloody Mary (vodka and juice)

Bloody Mary recipe as taught by the New York School of Bartending:

• 1 oz. to 1½ oz. (30-45 ml) vodka in a highball glass filled with ice.
• Fill glass with tomato juice
• 1 dash celery salt
• 1 dash ground black pepper
• 1 dash Tabasco sauce
• 2-4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 1/8 tsp. horseradish (pure, never creamed)
• Dash of lemon juice

Method:

1. Build over cubed ice.
2. Garnish with celery stalk.

 

OR

Moskow Mule (vodka and ginger beer)

Method:

1. Pour 1 1/2 ounces vodka and the juice of half a lime over ice cubes in a water glass
2. Fill with ginger beer.
3. Stir and garnish with a slice of lime.

 

 

Round three:
Whiskey Sour (whiskey and egg)

(If possible replace the whiskey with Peruvian pisco)

You will need:

• Shaker & Cocktail strainer
• Martini/Rocks glasses
• 50ml/1.5oz whisk(e)y of your choice
• 25ml/0.75oz lemon juice
• 12.5ml/0.4oz sugar syrup
• Dash of bitters
• 25ml egg white (optional)
• Lemon slice and cherry to garnish

 
Method:

1. In an ice-filled mixing glass add all liquid ingredients
2. Place the Boston tin on top of the mixing glass ensuring a good seal
3. Shake hard until frost forms on the outside of the Boston tin
4. Strain into either a chilled martini glass or ice-filled tumbler/rocks glass
5. Run a piece of lemon zest around the rim of the glass to release the fragrance
6. Garnish with a fresh lemon slice and a cherry
7. If using the egg white (which you should if you’re going near this drink)  make sure it is really really fresh. This gives the drink a frothy lightness which brings it to life

OR
Seabreeze (vodka – fruit)

• 2 Measures Russian Standard Vodka
• 4 Measures Cranberry Juice
• 2 Measures Grapefruit Juice

Method:

1. Build over cubed ice.

Shopping List

• Cocktail shaker and strainer
• Gin (Branded – Hendricks, Blue Sapphire)
• Rye whiskey (Kentucky Bourbon at a stretch)
• Angostura Bitters
• Tomato Juice x 2
• Cranbery juice x 2
• Orange juice x 2
• Grapefruit juice x 2
• Soda water x 2
• Sparkling water x 2
• A *lot* of limes
• 8 x Lemons
• 5 x Grapefruit
• Cherries
• Watermelon x 2
• Tabasco sauce
• Worcestershire sauce
• Black pepper
• Celery
• Horseradish
• Eggs
• Cocktail sticks
• Ice

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