Despite its lurid name, the monkey gland is really a relatively light ginandorange cocktail. When researching the stories behind classic cocktails, certain people and places seem to come up again and again, looming large in the history of mixology. It only takes a cursory search to determine the drink was originated in the 1920s in paris and that the name is derived from a strange surgical. Sure, its been a topic of interest among bloggers and the cocktail brain trust for the past few years. Queen cocktail invented in 1922 in new york by harry craddock. The monkey gland vintage spirits and forgotten cocktails. The drink is based on the monkey gland, a cocktail that many people dont think highly of as it contains orange juice, a modifier often thought to be divisive in cocktails. The monkey gland is proof that the right name is the key to cocktail fame, and whoever came up with this one outdid himself. The tangy sauce is prepared in several manners, and may include a blend of fruit and spices. Perhaps we should be asking harry macelhone from harrys new york bar in paris why he chose to name it as he did as he is the original creator of the cocktail which he named back in the 1920s. The monkey gland is a prohibition classic, devised at harrys new york bar in paris in the 1920s.
This classic cocktail is a gentle mix of gin, orange juice and grenadine, with just a splash of anise liqueur. Its just a cocktail, might as well have some fun the monkey gland cocktail. The above ratio is one that prevents the orange juice from deadening the overall flavor of the drink. This felt like the right kind of cocktail to present in my treasured vintage pirate coupes. Ingredients one dash of absinthe one teaspoonful of grenadine equal parts orange juice and gin. In his 1922 harrys abc of mixing cocktails book, harry mcelhone owner of harrys new york bar in paris. Shake vigorously in an iced cocktail shaker, and strain into a small cocktail glass. From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia monkey gland may refer to surgeon serge voronoff s technique of grafting monkey testicle tissue on to the testicles of men for purportedly therapeutic purposes. Obviously that has something to do with the intriguing name and the odd history of the drink. And be sure to order it that way and not by its name, lest you provoke a snicker from a bartender who knows the drinks history. Whilst the monkey gland has a pretty unfortunate name, its a classic that has been around since the 1920s and is one of the better cocktails featuring orange juice. The monkey gland takes its name from the work of dr serge voronoff who, convinced that testosterone was vital to a long and healthy life, transplanted monkey testicles onto elderly frenchmen. He also claims that the name was inspired by the 1920s experiments of one serge voronoff.
The monkey gland is not the typical drink name and its origin is, well. The monkey gland is a cocktail which consists of gin, fresh orange juice, absinthe, and grenadine syrup. A monkey gland is a new cocktail which has what veteran bar hounds call an awful wallop. The story of the monkey gland the monkey gland is not the typical drink name and its origin is, well, interesting to say the least. The monkey gland is a cocktail of gin, orange juice, grenadine and absinthe created in the 1920s by harry macelhone, owner of harrys new york bar in paris, france. By 1923, mcelhones monkey gland cocktail was the rage of paris. Monkey gland may refer to surgeon serge voronoffs technique of grafting monkey testicle tissue on to the testicles of men for purportedly therapeutic purposes. The name was inspired by serge voronoff, a doctor who made his name whilst working in france in the. These glasses are some of my favorite in my collection because the art has such a cool vintage feel to it.
Le charlatan exemplifies of the creative process behind the cocktails at little felix. To the modern palate, the standard monkey gland recipegin, some dashed absinthe and raspberry syrup, and a heaping helping of orange juice, justly called by dan chadwick the fruit of cocktail deathregisters as an unbalanced, overly sweet mishmash of discordant flavors, lacking. Check out her blog for fascinating cocktail history, as well as new recipes featuring your favorite spirits. This is a drink where spending the time and money to get your hands on the right ingredients makes all the difference. After all, mcelhones monkey gland is a delicious classic, built on the daisy modelspirits, citrus, and fruit syrup or liqueurcomplex in both flavor and aroma. It is typically served with meats, such as steak, hamburgers, pork ribs or chicken.
There are two men who claim to have created the monkey gland, harry macelhone of harrys new york bar, paris who, yes, also claimed he created the sidecar and frank. A subtle twist on harry mcelhones famous monkey gland cocktail, published in harrys abc of mixing cocktails in 1922. Sometimes, the name of the cocktail itself can give us an insight into the most unlikely parts of history. Despite its odd name, the monkey gland cocktail is incredibly delicious. Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled glass. Finally, new york has a cocktail library the new york times. In his 1922 harrys abc of mixing cocktails book, harry mcelhone owner of harrys new york bar in paris took credit for the invention of the monkey gland. Veteran vaudevillian billy meyers sang of it in made a monkey out of me, whose lyrics contain an extended double entendre. The name is a reference to a surgical procedure by a dr. Classic monkey gland cocktail recipe the spruce eats. Cocktail writer robert simonson interviewed over 200 bartenders and historians for his latest book, a proper drink. The monkey gland is a cocktail of gin, orange juice, grenadine and absinthe created in the 1920s by harry macelhone, owner of harrys new york bar in paris.
The monkey gland gin, orange juice, absinthe, grenadine. Monkey gland sauce is a restaurant item in south africa. One of the main origin stories of the bloody mary history has its origins at harrys new york bar that is still open and is in paris, france. I have yet to try a monkey gland or a scofflaw cocktail, but am infinitely calmer after three glasses of vin blanc cassis and pleased to know it was a henry miller favorite. Turns out this cocktail was named after a quack doctors bizarre experiments that involved grafting primate tissue to human hosts. What could possibly be appetizing about a monkey s gland. The history of cocktails is speckled with drinks bearing or baring titillating names, from bosom caresser or monkey gland to slow comfortable screw or slippery nipple.
The monkey gland was created in april 1923 by frank meier, at the ritz hotel, paris. There is a good reason for it the story behind the name of this drink is pretty. Two bartenders have laid claim to the creation of the monkey gland cocktail, the first was harry mcelhone owner of harrys american bar in paris a. Both the monkey gland and the bloody mary were likely invented or have origins in harrys new york bar. It is named after the pseudoscientific idea that grafting monkey testicle tissue into humans would increase longevity, the idea developed by the russian doctor serge voronoff. Historical references the washington post, 29th april. From this wellspring flowed the cocktail that, to my mind, is most associated with prohibition, the monkey gland. Odd, yes, but these peculiar practices did inspire some great cocktails, such as our winner for today the monkey gland. For many cultures, the naming of something gave it power, substance, and meaning and it is no different for cocktails.
Combine gin, orange juice, grenadine, and absinthe in a cocktail shaker with ice. His first book the mystery of the monkey gland cocktail is exceptionally scarce, i have only had one copy in twenty years. List of classic cocktails 22 matching articles saveur. Oh yay, another post on the monkey gland is what a lot of people might be saying. Scofflaw invented in 1924 by jock at harrys bar in paris. The monkey gland cocktail may be one of the most often referenced drinks other than the true classics. Denitta ward jazz, secrets and illegal alcohol manybooks. Personally, i suspect a lot of people like the cocktail because it makes people giggle like little school girls when they. Finally, the history of the monkey gland cocktails shares a bit of history with the bloody mary. Featuring a combination of gin, absinthe, and orange juice, monkey gland doesnt taste nearly as bad as it sounds. And then, for lifes more modest challenges, theres always my new gogo. No classic cocktail book or blog would be complete without the monkey gland.
Prohibition cocktails captures the history of a time when alcohol was banned in america and the history and recipes of 21 of the most popular roaring 20s cocktails from the mary pickford and bees knees to the monkey gland. Finally, new york has a cockt ail library greg boehm, who owns some 3,000 vintage books on mixology and drinking culture, has made his collection of rare recipes public. The monkeys gland cocktail first appears in macelhones 1922 harrys abc of mixing cocktails which we dont have access to. The monkey gland cocktail interstitial immortality serge voronoff. The simon books are almost as hard to find, the first two were done as mellifont paperbacks probably abridgedand the cat with the moustache was reprinted as a curtis warren paperback in 1950 as the mystery of the. Voronoff offered to implant in them the testicle of a monkey. Adapted from barflies and cocktails by harry macelhone 1927.
The monkey gland cocktail was detailed in the savoy cocktail book 1930 compiled by harry craddock, an american bartender who plied his trade. Credited to harry mcelhone, the famed proprietor of harrys new york bar in paris where the bloody mary originated, the monkey gland is a classic 1920s cocktail that balances gin. Harry macelhone, owner of harrys new york bar in paris, mixed the first monkey gland in the 1920s. The complete timeline of when famous cocktails were invented. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Monkey gland cocktail in a pirate coupe garnished with a luxardo maraschino cherry. Rare would be a potion that actually cut its teeth in the seamy lacebound portals of bordellos. Yummy cocktails with nastysounding names everything. It was invented by a famous paris bartender particularly to attract the attention of. The monkey gland cocktail interstitial immortality. Created by harry macelhone of harrys new york bar, paris and author of barflies and cocktails.
The monkey gland is proof that the right name is the key to cocktail fame, and. Several popular south african fast food chains serve a monkey gland burger. Letters and liquor illustrates the history of lettering associated with cocktails. In his 1922 harrys abc of mixing cocktails book, harry mcelhone. Monkey gland invented before 1922 by harry mcelhone. Created in the late 1920s by harry macelhone at his harrys new york bar in paris, france. Cocktail revivalists have long lamented the tendency of the venerable monkey gland to resist palatability. We have written about macelhone before, and he is the father of many cocktails, chiefly because of his book harrys abc of mixing cocktails. Monkey gland sauce, a south african restaurant item named for voronoffs technique. Macelhone published a book, harrys abc of mixing cocktails, and the cover.
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