Algonquin Special

Serve in a

Garnish:

Orange zest twist

How to make:

STIR all ingredients with ice and strain into chilled glass.

Review:

A dash of bitters added to this originally two-ingredient cocktail helps tone what is a tasty apéritif or digestif.

Variant:

Algonquin

History:

Frank Case (1872–1946) owned and managed the Algonquin Hotel on New York's 44th Street during the heyday of the famed Algonquin Round Table and wrote a number of books about the hotel and its Round Tablers who famously dined there. Knowing this puts the following extract from Crosby Gaige's 1941 Cocktail Guide And Ladies' Companion into context.

"Algonquin is an Indian word that in any language means Case, and Case in the Iroquois tongue means Algonquin. Mr. Case has maintained the prestige of his Forty-fourth Street citadel against all and sundry since time practically began. The Great gather there to lunch and the near-great likewise gather to watch our carnivorous literati at feeding time. They shout with glee when Woollcott drops gouts of gravy or currant jelly on his cummerbund and shudder as Kaufman snarls over a slice of pickled watermelon rind.
    Mr. Case gracefully presents the following combination of food and drink.
Dear Crosby:
    In answer to your request, here is a recipe for a drink very popular at our bar. We call it Algonquin Special–a good enough name. If you do not wish to use the word Algonquin, you can call it Continental or Bodega or most anything.
    Algonquin Special
    (A perfect aperitif)
    ½ jigger Dry Sherry
    1 jigger Tawny Port
    Stir with cube ice. Serve in Sherry glass. Squeeze little orange peel.

And here is a snack that will hold together–that is., it's intended entirely for eating purposes instead of half for eating and half to spill on the rug.
    ¾ cup Cream cheese
    ¼ cup Butter
    ¼ cup chopped Anchovies, very fine
    1 teaspoon chopped Chives
    Mix ingredients well together, spread on toast, cut in 1½ inch length and 1 inch wide.
    If you are affluent and can afford to add a dash of caviar to the mixture, it won't hurt it. Without the caviar, it is still delicious.
Yours sincerely,
Frank Case"

Nutrition:

One serving of Algonquin Special contains 91 calories.

Alcohol content:

• 0.8 standard drinks
• 15.57% alc./vol. (31.14° proof)
• 10.6 grams of pure alcohol