The Pink Cadillac

When you hear "Pink Cadillac", what comes to mind? Elvis Presley's car(s)? Perhaps the first one that he almost burned to death in, or the second one that he was in during a head-on collision? (Bad mojo on the pink Caddies, Elvis). Or maybe you think of the gaudy ones that Mary Kay reps win for hustling makeup? Or perhaps you immediately conjure up Aretha Franklin belting out "Pink Cadillac" on the radio? (Gotcha - that's not Aretha Franklin. That's crooner Natalie Cole, daughter of Nat King Cole. You're never too old to learn something new.)

Well, fans of The Boss will know that it was on this day in 1984 that the song Pink Cadillac was released as the B-Side of Springsteen's Dancing in the Dark single. (If you don't know what a B-Side is, you are too young to be reading this blog). Interestingly, even though released as a single in 1984, it never appeared on a Springsteen album until the 1998 release of Tracks.

Nowadays, there as many recordings of Pink Cadillac as there are versions of the Pink Cadillac Cocktail, today's Drink Diva recipe. Choose your favorite version of this now-classic song (The Boss, Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, Clarence Clemons...) and enjoy it while also sipping one of my favorite versions of the Pink Cadillac Cocktail.


The Pink Cadillac Cocktail

2 oz. tequila
1 oz. triple sec (or other orange flavored liqueur)
2 oz. lime juice (fresh is best)
1 oz. cranberry juice
1 tsp. sugar or 2 tsp. simple syrup

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well frosted. Serve over ice in a cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry or twist of lime if desired.

The Charlie Chaplin

On this day in 1978, two dim-witted auto mechanics stole silent movie star Charlie Chaplin's body from its burial place in Switzerland. The two men, desperate for money, then sent a ransom note to Chaplin's widow, promising her the return of his body if she would pay them $600,000. She responded by telling them that Charlie would have thought the demand was ridiculous, and she refused to pay. The police caught up with the thugs a few weeks later and recovered Chaplin's body.

While this story is interesting, I think the most interesting aspect was Charlie's plucky widow. Oona O'Neill Chaplin was the daughter of playwright Eugene O'Neill and was Chaplin's fourth wife. She married the 54 year old actor when she was just eighteen years old and bore him eight children. (Note to thugs: Women who have cared for husbands thirty six years their senior and have wiped the noses of eight whining children are not much given to sentimentality. Good luck getting anything from these Iron Ladies, except maybe a punch in the face.)

So, Charlie. We toast you. It's good to have you back where you belong.

The Charlie Chaplin Cocktail

1 measure apricot brandy

1 measure sloe gin

1 measure lime juice (fresh, or Rose's lime if you prefer a sweeter drink)

Pour all ingredients into a martini shaker filled with ice and shake until frosted. Pour into a 4 ounce martini glass and garnish with a lime twist if desired.

The Salem Witch Cocktail

This day marks the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692.

Three women, Sarah Goode, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba, (an Indian slave from Barbados), were charged with the practice of witchcraft. Tituba, probably with some heavy-handed "encouragement" from her accusers, later confessed to the crime (way to go Tituba, that was soooo helpful...).

 This was bad news for the folks in Salem and the surrounding area, since it encouraged the Massachusetts Bay Colony authorities to launch an all-out witch hunt. Before the hysteria ended in the fall of 1692, over 150 people had been accused of consorting with the devil, and nineteen of them had been executed for their "crimes".

So, history has a lot to teach us. First, you're more likely to be accused of witchcraft if you are named Sarah. Second, if you didn't do something, don't go around saying you did. No one likes a braggart. And third, if you have to have a vice, make it an occasional cocktail and skip the eye of newt and bubbling cauldron crap. It can only lead to tears.

The Salem Witch Cocktail

• 1/2 measure vodka
• 1/2 measure raspberry schnapps (or Chambord if you like)
• 1/2 measure melon liqueur
• 1 splash lime juice
• 1 measure sweet and sour mix
• 1 measure club soda
• 1 splash grenadine syrup

Mix vodka, schnapps, melon liqueur, lime juice, sweet and sour mix and grenadine in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until frosted. Pour into a highball glass filled with ice and top with club soda.

The Leap Frog

Today is February 29th, "Leap Day", which comes only once every four years. So, why is that?

Most of us have been taught that it takes the earth 365 days to make one revolution around the sun, but that's not quite correct. Actually, it takes the earth approximately 365.25 days (give or take a few minutes) to circle around the sun. So, once every four years, we add an extra day back to the calendar to compensate. If we didn't, eventually, our calendars would be significantly "off" in regard to the seasons (granted - it would take a long time, but it would happen).

So why add the day to February instead of adding it to any other month? Well, we follow the Gregorian Calendar, and the Gregorian Calendar is designed in such a way as to keep the vernal equinox as close as possible to March 21st (which has to do with what day Easter falls on...). So adding the day to February works to keep the vernal equinox where we (us Gregorian Calendar followers) like it.

So - in celebration of gaining a day, and the cognitive "leap" it requires just to understand it, enjoy a refreshing Leap Frog Cocktail with a friend.

The Leap Frog

1 1/2 measures gin

1/2 measure freshly squeezed lemon juice

Ginger Ale

Mix gin and lemon juice with cracked ice in a highball glass and top fill with cold ginger ale. Add a cocktail cherry if desired.

The Journalist

On this day in1897, the phrase "All the News That's Fit to Print" first appeared on the front page of the New York Times. Thanks to this journalistic giant (third in rank in circulation, behind USA today and The Wall Street Journal) we now have Times Square and the famous Ball Drop on New Years Eve (which was started by the paper).

So in honor of all the intrepid journalists at the NY Times (and elsewhere), let's raise a glass in salute as we enjoy this classic cocktail.

 

The Journalist

1 and 1/2 oz. gin
1 tsp. dry vermouth
1 tsp. sweet vermouth
1 tsp. triple sec
1 tsp. fresh lime juice (if you prefer a sweeter drink, use Roses Lime)
dash angostura bitters 

Shake all ingredients over ice in a martini shaker until well frosted. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a cocktail cherry if desired.

Yellow Submarine

On this day in 1964, the Beatles made their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. Although it wouldn't be until a few years later that "Yellow Submarine" was released, the Yellow Submarine cocktail is a fitting tribute to The Boys From Liverpool.

Three cheers for the British Invasion!

Yellow Submarine

2 oz. vodka

1 oz. white rum (but spiced is nice too)

1 oz. banana liqueur (or banana syrup)

Casting (granulated) sugar for the rim of the glass

Mix all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and add ice. Shake until frosted and pour into a festive 4 oz. martini glass with a sugared rim. Garnish with a cherry or pineapple wedge.

The Mary Queen of Scots Cocktail

On this day in 1587, Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded for her complicity in a plot to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I. As a reminder to ourselves that unbridled ambition almost always leads to disaster, let's raise our glasses in memory of Mary.

The Queen of Scots Cocktail

2 oz. Scotch

1 oz. Drambuie

1 oz. green chartreuse

Add all ingredients to martini shaker and shake until frosted. Strain into a martini glass with a powdered sugar rim.

The Abbey

We are one month into 2012..how is your year going? Are you keeping the New Year's Resolutions that you made?

Prepare yourself one of these mellow martinis, and take some time to reflect on how you are progressing toward your goals (unless, of course, your goal was to stop drinking...)

The Abbey (like the monasteries and convents it is named after) is a quiet, non-theatrical cocktail, but subtle and ideally suited to quiet times. It isn't a "sweet" martini, but does have a soft, semi-sweet feel on the tongue due to the Lillet and orange juice. Traditionally, an Abbey is served with a twist of orange peel on the rim, but I prefer a maraschino cherry resting quietly at the bottom of the martini glass.

Golden serenity...

Cheers!

 The Abbey

2 oz. high quality gin 

3/4 oz. Lillet Blanc

3/4 oz. orange juice

maraschino cherry or orange peel

Measure gin, Lillet and orange juice into a martini shaker. Add ice and shake until frosted over on the outside. Strain into a 4 oz. martini glass and garnish with the cherry or orange peel.