A Swanky Sipper 🍸
Here’s a classic cocktail that’s gaining popularity again. Invented in the “roaring 20’s” and rooted in the Parisian literary and artistic counter-culture of the prohibition era. I am a fan of drinks with bitter flavors. I love tonic water and that’s an example of a classic bitter flavor. If bitters is your “cup of tea”, you’re going to like a Boulevardier Cocktail! It looks beautiful, tastes great and it’s kind of fun to order. “I’d like a Boulevardier, please! Oui, Oui!
Another great attribute to this cocktail is that it is a slow sipper. If you’re like me, a too sweet cocktail goes down a bit too quickly. This is a drink to savor slowly.
1920’s Paris 🇫🇷
The Boulevardier Cocktail was invented in the 1920’s by Parisian Erskine Gwynne. He also started The Boulevardier, a popular, upper-crust magazine of the same name. At this time many great artists and writers from around the world, moved to Paris to live the good life, escaping the perils of prohibition. It was an exciting and wild time, post world war I, living and drinking in the bars of Paris. Most famously, “Harry’s New York Bar” which was located in Paris and drew all the legends, like Noel Coward, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso and so many more.
I’ve read a number of articles lately giving credit to prohibition for creating the current craft cocktail popularity. In the states where prohibition was the law, in order to add variety, drinkers and bootleggers had to get creative with their concoctions. Here’s a fun read: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/modern-craft-cocktail-movement-got-its-start-during-prohibition-180971265/
About Campari 💋
Campari is a classic Italian aperitif. It tastes like very bitter orange 🍊 and very strong. Campari is an alcoholic liqueur, made from an infusion of herbs and fruit (chinotto, which is a citrus and cascarilla, which is a herb) in alcohol and water.
Used in cocktails such as the Negroni, the color is bright red. My recipe/story on the Negroni can be found here https://wp.me/p9KEfL-1r5
The Boulevardier Cocktail
Of course I love this cocktail, its equal parts bourbon (or rye whiskey) , Campari and sweet vermouth, garnished with an orange peel. To make this one correctly, measure 1 part each and put into a glass filled 1/2 with ice. Stir the cocktail for about 30 seconds, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an orange peel. This is a sipper extraordinaire!
If you’re new to drinking Campari and you find that the drink is a bit too bitter for your taste you can add a squeeze of fresh orange juice to add a little sweetness.
Cheers!
Ingredients
- 1 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- 1 ounce Campari
Garnish
- Orange twist
Instructions
- Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir Vigorously for 30 seconds, using a bar spoon.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail or martini glass
- Garnish with an Orange twist
