Today is World Bartender Day. I have a few items to show today, along with a story or two. There are a few books on drink making-bartender handbooks, in the library. The best was given to me by my Mother-in-law. “Here’s How, Mixed Drinks” by W.C.Whitfield, 1941. Not only does this have a history of mixing drinks, it has fantastic classic recipes, illustrations, types of glassware to properly use, and all indexed. I believe that she was trying to pass pass her bartending skills and equipment to me. I was able to find the companion book “Just Cocktails” 1939 at a book fair. That book reviews jiggers, strainers, bar spoons, along with additional recipes. She was tickled that there were two volumes.
Not only are both of these books well written and exhaustive in number of drink instructions, they are beautiful books in their own right. The covers are made of wood, and the lettering burned in and then painted. You can see in the pictures, hinges and leather cord to hold the pages in.
I also have this neat book by Stephen Visakay “Vintage Bar Ware, Identification and Value Guide” 2000. I enjoy looking at different items that I may track down for my Bar.
For example, I wanted to read a little about swizzle sticks. When my Mother-in-Law gave me her bar book, she also gave me her stash of swizzle-sticks. I have a box of perhaps 40 different swizzle sticks and olive/onion holders from around the country. There is a Playboy drink mug, and bunny swizzle sticks from the Playboy Club in Lake Geneva. FIL was a card carrying member.
My Mother-in-law was no stranger in making drinks. Every day at 4:00, without fail, she would make a Martini for her husband. We were in Melbourne Florida on vacation visiting them, when my wife and I decided to drive to Key West for a couple of days. Well, they tagged along, and as we were driving south of Miami, near a man-made oddity Coral Castle, we had to stop first to make Martinis. The in-laws drank while we walked the grounds. How did they make their drinks?
Ahhh, I have her portable bar. This suitcase went on every trip they took for years. A lot of booze and memories have been poured through this vintage travel bar. I gave a short eulogy at her service when she passed. Setting this bar up on a stand, I made a last Manhattan for her. She was fond of a Scotch Manhattan with an olive instead of cherry. When I think of World Bartender Day, I think of her. She meant the world to me. Cheers!
The Bartender said, when the book walked into the bar, “Hey, we don’t serve stories here.”
(But I do. Thanks for reading.)
Librarytomes 