Gaby des Lys

History

An adaptation of a classic which first features in Charles H. Baker, Jr.'s 1939 The Gentleman's Companion volume II – An Exotic Drinking Book, originally without both lemon juice and bitters. This rather better rendition is by J. E. Clapham of Clapham Cocktails.

Named after the French singer and actress Gaby Deslys (born Marie-Elise-Gabrielle Caire, 1881-1920) Renowned for her beauty, to quote Charles H. Baker, " Gaby the lovely, Gaby the delightfully mad, Gaby the free soul – who died too young and gave a fortune in pearls to the Paris poor!". Her will, in fact, left her villa and all of her other property in Marseilles, to the poor of Marseilles.

GABY des LYS COCKTAIL, ONE from OLD NEW YORK PRE-PROHIBITION DAYS when DIAMOND JIM BRADY WAS ALIVE, & the WINTER GARDEN WAS NEW YORK's only SMOKING THEATRE, and the IMMORTAL GABY WAS PLAYING with AL JOLSON & HARRY PILCER

Gaby the lovely, Gaby the delightfully mad, Gaby the free soul – who died too young and gave a fortune in pearls to the Paris poor! Gaby is gone, and Bustanoby's old Beaux Arts is gone, and the first Rector's is a memory, but her memory marches on – and this cocktail named in her honour.

It is very simple, crisp. To 1 jigger of good dry gin add ½ pony of orgeat syrup and 1 tsp of absinthe, or a trifle less. Frappe very cold indeed or it will tend to over-sweetness, and serve in a Manhattan glass.

Charles H. Baker, Jr., The Gentleman's Companion volume II, 1939