The Mint Julep a Kentucky Derby Tradition

This is John Apodaca with Daddy-O's Martinis. This Saturday is start of the Kentucky Derby which has been a tradition in Louisville Kentucky since 1875 at Churchill Downs. Many spectators will be flocking to the races to pick a hopeful thoroughbred winner for themselves.

Some of the traditions that surround the races are women dressed in fine outfits  lavishly accessorized with large elaborate hats. As horsed are being paraded around the before the grandstands, the University of Kentucky plays the song My Old Kentucky Home also Burgoo at thick stew consisting of beef, chicken, pork and vegetables is served all day at the derby.  The favorite of traditions is the Mint Julep the official drink of the derby which is made up of Bourbon, Sugar, water and fresh mint. The earliest mention of the this Southern drink refresher dates back to 1803

The Mint Julep

2 oz Powdered sugar
1 oz water
4 Sprigs of fresh mint
4 oz Makers Mark bourbon

The Classic Stork Club New York

This is John Apodaca from Daddy-O's Martinis. One of the most famous clubs of all time that the former Walter Winchell said to be "New Yorks, New Yorkiest place on W. 58th street" was the old Stork Club.  It was a symbol of café society where movie stars, celebrities, the wealthy, showgirls and aristocrats all mixed here. 


It was opened in 1929 by Sherman Billingsley an ex-bootlegger from Oklahoma on 132 West 58th street but was closed down by Prohibition agents in 1931. He moved the club to E. 51st for three years then moved it to 3 E. 53rd street and it remained there until it closed in October 1965. Some of the famous who frequented the club over the years were Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby, the Kennedy's, Frank Sinatra, Betty Davis, Elizabeth Taylor and many others. Not only was the stork club a great place to be but there was the exclusive Cub Room where it was carefully guarded by the nicknamed door man St. Peter who watched over the "gates of heaven". There was many movies and references to the Stork Club over the years and even a signature cocktail, invented by legendary barman Nathanial Cook that I've had a number of times and can confirm it's a winner.


The Stork Club Cocktail


1 1/2 oz of top shelf gin
1/2 oz of triple sec
1/4 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
1 oz of fresh squeezed orange juice
1 dash of Angostura bitters
Orange peel for garnish


Shake all ingredients for one minute and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Ciro's in West Hollywood

This is John Apodaca from Daddy-O's Martinis. In the 1940s and 50s there was very glamorous night club in West Hollywood on the Sunset strip where many movie stars came to drink, to see and be seen and be served by leggy cigarette girls in shorts skirts.  Many of the famous would end up in the gossip columns of Hedda Hopper or  Variety, that place was Ciro's and it also gave a few performers their big break to stardom.

It opened in 1940 under the owner Billy Wilkerson and was a success at first but it began to cool off as others flocked to the Macambo across the street and closed it's doors for a short time but was taken over by Herman Hoover. It was reopened on December 26, 1942 under and  unlike the Ciro's in London, this was a hot spot at the end of the Sunset strip where top notch entertainment was the order of the day along with new acts such as Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in 1950. Many of the stars that frequented were Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Ava Gardner, George Burns, Jack Benny, Judy Garland, Joan Crawford.

However the club saw entertainment and new nightclubs with gambling moving to Las Vegas in the late 1950s and closed it's doors in 1959 but it's not forgotten yet it still stands where the comedy club is. Another loss is the cocktails from the club but there's a recent reprint of the Ciro's of London 1930 edition filled with great recipes such as one of my favorites, the Leroi made with brandy, sloe gin, curacao, egg yoke, grenadine,cream and lemon juice. I tried it and it's so good, don't let the idea of using an egg yolk scare you it's adds texture and flavor. Try it and let me know what you think.

Cheers,

John Apodaca

The Leroi


1 Part Brandy
1 Part Slow Gin
1 Part Orange Curacao
1 yolk of an egg per cocktail
1 teaspoonful heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice per cocktail.

Pisco Sour ( Peruvian Style )

This is John Apodaca with Daddy-O's Martinis. A refreshing drink you and your guests will enjoy for a tropical drink weekend is a Pisco Sour. Pisco is made from a grape and the drink is popular in Peru and Chile but two different bents on the cocktail.  Since the king of Spain had band wine in Peru in the 17th century forcing locals to concoct spirit from the grape they came up with an alcohol that locals could enjoy. 

An account is that the Pisco Sour cocktail is a variation of the Whiskey sour, invented in the early 1920s by American expatriate Victor V. "Gringo" Morris at the Morris' Bar in Lima. The cocktail quickly became a favorite of locals. Soon many of the grand Lima hotels at that time such as the Maury and the Hotel Bolivar began serving pisco sours to their international guests, helping the drink become an international hit. An old advertisement of Pisco Sour was published in 1924 by the Morris' Bar of Lima.

In Peru Pisco Sour day is celebrated on the first Saturday of February. Years ending with zero (0) are of special significance. The theme is red and white (Peruvian flag colours). When the Peruvian National Anthem is played all Pisco Sour's must be finished as a mark of respect.

Pisco Sour


2 oz Pisco
1 oz Fresh  juice lime juice
3/4 oz simple syrup (to taste)
1 fresh egg white (or 2 tbsp pasteurized egg whites)
1 dash Angostura bitters


Shake with ice and strain into a short glass, garnish top with a dash of Angostura bitters.

The Cocoanut Grove Los Angeles

This is John Apodaca from Daddy-O's Martinis. Classic style and elegance was Hollywood's golden era along with going to a certain nights spots to be seen. One of those places was the Cocoanut Grove at the former Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles where movie stars and performers frequented for decades. It opened January  1, 1921 and became a playground for some of the famous including: Charlie Chaplin, Clara Bow, Errol Flynn, Louis B. Mayer, Howard Hughes, Jimmy Stewart, Lana Turner, Frank Sinatra, Desi Arnez along withe several U.S. Presidents stayed there.  The Cocoanut Grove was decorated with beautiful Palm trees with coconuts and banana trees, a dance floor and many orchestras and performers played there as well.

The hotel hosted six academy award ceremonies and the first annual Golden Globe awards. In the 1950s the hotel decided to modernize the look of the nightclub lost it's charm and newer night spots where now the places to go. In the late 1960s and early 70s Sammy Davis Jr. tried to bring the Cocoanut grove back to it's former glory by featuring acts such as Diana Ross, Jackson Five and other but it didn't work and the hotel finally closed it's doors in 1989 and was used for filming until it's demolish in 2008. The Cocoanut Grove was to remain and be used as a school auditorium.

The Cocoanut Grove had a great menu that included excellent cocktails from a forgotten era such as the Cocoanut Grove Special and the Ambassador cocktail. I happen to have a menu from the restaurant dated 1960 but like demolish of the hotel alas the recipes for these drinks are also gone unless I can find a retired bartender from there. If anyone know's one please let me know to publish these classic cocktails.

Cheers,

John Apodaca

Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet

This is John Apodaca from Daddy-O's Martinis. If you haven't had the opportunity to make the trek to Downtown Los Angeles and eat at one of the oldest and thriving restaurant / bars, I encourage you to do so. Cole's P.E. (Pacific Electric) Buffet was opened in 1908 at the bottom level of the Pacific Electric train building where the red cars were stored. I recently watched two documentaries on the demise of the street cars by corporate giant GM and it's so sad that they killed the best public transportation system Los Angeles ever had. In one of the shows it mentions P.E. Cole's that was famous for it's French Roast dipped sandwiches and bar that has been there all this time and survived all the changes in L.A. even it's own renovation two years ago. 

Not only do they have a great selection of sandwiches and pies with fresh ingredients but also the famous Red Car Bar which serves up vintage style drinks such as the Old Fashioned, Pisco Sour, Whiskey sour and their own creations what else but the Red car and Ginger Rodgers. I've never been disappointed with the food, drinks, or service and highly recommend it for all to experience. Something else I need to mention is that Cole's is also home to one of my favorite vintage style bars the Varnish which unless you know it's there you could almost miss it and you don't want to do that. By sure to check them out, I hope to see you there. 

Cheers, 

John Apodaca

P.S. If you're interested in watching the documentary on the demise of street cars in Los Angeles click on the link. http://www.documentary-film.net/search/watch.php?&ref=158

Josephine Baker Cocktail

This is John Apodaca from Daddy-O's Martinis. I'm a fan of live music, standards preferably and a performer that's no longer with us but needs mention is Josephine Baker. She was an Black American woman born in Saint Louis MO 1906 - 1975. She was not only a singer and actress but an amazing performer in Harlem and went on tour in Europe and decided to stay in France where she became a French citizen. She was so popular she inspired many artists, authors, clothing designers and even bartenders, that's why there is a cocktail called the Josephine Baker. I found this gem in 1935 reprint of Bar Florida from the club La Floridita in Havana Cuba when where good cocktails where always found.

Josephine Baker

1/2 Soberano Cognac or top shelf brands
1/2 Port wine
1/3 Apricot Brandy
1 Teaspoon powdered sugar
1 Lemon Peel
1 egg yolk

Shake with ice and serve in a cocktail glass and garnish with cinnamon on top.