Golden Cadillac

History

To quote the bar's own website (poorredsbbq.com), "Poor Red's is world-famous for its Golden Cadillacs. Cadillacs are a blended drink of Galliano liqueur, half and half, white créme de cacao and ice, most delicious! We are the largest consumer of Galliano in the world. Also famous for our award-winning barbecued ribs."

Poor Reds say, " In 1952, a newly engaged couple came to Poor Red's to celebrate their engagement. They asked bartender Frank Klein to create their own special cocktail that would match their newly purchased gold-colored Cadillac. The bartender served the drink in a champagne coupe glass to signify its celebratory nature meant for her and a sidecar glass for him. When you order one Gold Cadillac, you get two glasses.

Galliano noticed the popularity of the Gold Cadillac when their Northern California sales began to increase so they ran an advertising campaign for this drink from 1964 to 1967. The drink became famous around the world."

On Poor Red's bar menu, they call their signature cocktail simply "Gold Cadillac", as does John J. Poister's 1989 The New American Bartender's Guide. However, other vintage cocktail tomes, e.g. Stanley M. Jones' 1977 Jones' Complete Barguide, list it as a "Golden Cadillac", and it is by this name that this cocktail is now better known.

GOLDEN CADILLAC
Cocktail Glass
Shake
2 oz cream
1 oz Galliano
3/4 oz creme de cacao, light

Stanley M. Jones, Jones' Complete Barguide, 1977

GOLD CADILLAC
2 oz. Galliano
1 oz. white crème de cacao
1 oz. cream
Mix all ingredients with cracked ice in a blender for 10 seconds and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

John J. Poister, The New American Bartender's Guide, 1989