SummerSimo Travel Troubles Notes and The Purring Page

What is your favorite drink?

Let’s dive into the world of iconic cocktails, starting with your favorite, the Singapore Sling, and then exploring three more from different countries.

1. Singapore Sling

Origin: Singapore, early 20th century, at the Raffles Hotel by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Gin
• 1/2 oz Cherry Heering
• 1/4 oz Cointreau
• 1/4 oz DOM Bénédictine
• 4 oz Pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz Lime juice
• 1/3 oz Grenadine
• A dash of Angostura bitters
• Club soda (optional)
• Garnish: cherry and a slice of pineapple

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients, except club soda, in a shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well and strain into an ice-filled Collins glass.
3. Optionally, top with club soda.
4. Garnish with the cherry and pineapple slice.

2. Pisco Sour

Origin: Peru (also claimed by Chile), early 20th century, popularized by American bartender Victor Vaughen Morris in Lima, Peru.

Ingredients:

• 3 oz Pisco
• 1 oz Fresh lime juice
• 3/4 oz Simple syrup
• 1 Egg white
• A dash of Angostura bitters for garnish

Method:

1. Combine the pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white in a shaker.
2. Dry shake (without ice) to emulsify the egg white.
3. Add ice and shake vigorously.
4. Strain into a glass and add a few drops of Angostura bitters on the foam.

3. Margarita

Origin: Mexico, 1930s-1940s, with various claims to its creation.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Tequila
• 1 oz Lime juice
• 1 oz Triple sec (Cointreau is preferred)
• Salt for rimming the glass
• Lime slice for garnish

Method:

1. Rim the edge of a glass with lime juice and dip in salt.
2. Shake the tequila, lime juice, and triple sec with ice.
3. Strain into the prepared glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with a slice of lime.

4. Negroni

Origin: Italy, early 20th century, Florence. Count Camillo Negroni asked his bartender to strengthen his favorite cocktail, the Americano, by replacing soda water with gin.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Gin
• 1 oz Campari
• 1 oz Sweet vermouth
• Garnish: orange peel

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir well until chilled.
3. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
4. Garnish with an orange peel.

Each of these cocktails carries a rich history that reflects the culture and era of their creation, offering a delicious glimpse into the world’s diverse drinking traditions. Whether it’s the sophistication of the Singapore Sling, the zest of the Pisco Sour, the bold simplicity of the Margarita, or the bittersweet complexity of the Negroni, each drink has its own story and place in cocktail lore.

Now we dig a bit more into the captivating histories behind these iconic cocktails, tracing their origins and evolution.

1. Singapore Sling

Origin and History:
The Singapore Sling is a world-renowned cocktail that originated in the early 20th century at the Long Bar of the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. It was created by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. The drink was initially concocted as a way for women to enjoy alcohol in public, as societal norms at the time frowned upon women consuming alcohol. The fruity and pink appearance of the drink was designed to resemble a fruit juice, making it socially acceptable. Over the years, the original recipe has seen many variations, but the drink remains a symbol of Singaporean hospitality and continues to be a popular choice at the Raffles Hotel, where tourists flock to experience this piece of cocktail history.

2. Pisco Sour

Origin and History:
The Pisco Sour has a contentious history, with both Peru and Chile claiming it as their national drink. The most widely accepted origin story credits its invention to an American expatriate, Victor Vaughen Morris, who settled in Lima, Peru, in the early 20th century. Morris opened a bar, “Morris’ Bar,” where he experimented with and eventually created the Pisco Sour sometime in the 1920s. The cocktail combines Pisco, a type of grape brandy produced in the wine-making regions of Peru and Chile, with lime juice, syrup, egg white, and bitters to create a frothy, sour, and sweet drink. Peru even celebrates a National Pisco Sour Day on the first Saturday of February to honor this beloved beverage.

3. Margarita

Origin and History:
The Margarita is one of the most popular cocktails in the world, with a history as blended as its ingredients. There are several claims to its creation, dating back to the 1930s and 1940s. One of the most popular stories is that it was invented by Carlos “Danny” Herrera at his restaurant Rancho La Gloria, halfway between Tijuana and Rosarito, Mexico, for a former Ziegfeld dancer named Marjorie King, who was allergic to all hard alcohol except tequila. To make the spirit more palatable, he mixed it with lime juice and Cointreau, and served it over ice in a salt-rimmed glass. The name “Margarita” is Spanish for “daisy,” which is a type of cocktail that includes a spirit, citrus juice, and a sweetener.

4. Negroni

Origin and History:
The Negroni cocktail has its roots in Florence, Italy, and is named after Count Camillo Negroni, who is credited with its invention in the 1920s. The story goes that Count Negroni asked his bartender, Fosco Scarselli, to strengthen his favorite cocktail, the Americano (which consists of Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water), by replacing the soda water with gin. The bartender also added an orange garnish instead of the typical lemon garnish of the Americano, to signify that it was a different drink. The drink quickly gained popularity, and the Negroni family founded the Negroni Distillery in Treviso, Italy, where they produced a ready-made version of the drink. Today, the Negroni is celebrated for its balance of bitterness, sweetness, and strength, making it a beloved classic in the cocktail world.

Each of these cocktails not only offers a unique taste but also carries with it a rich tapestry of history, reflecting the culture, trends, and sometimes even the politics of their time. Whether through the tropical allure of the Singapore Sling, the frothy charm of the Pisco Sour, the tangy refreshment of the Margarita, or the balanced complexity of the Negroni, these drinks continue to captivate and delight cocktail enthusiasts around the globe.