Karen Walker subsists on what might be a strictly martini diet on “Will and Grace” and wisecracking Dorothy Parker famously spoke the words that now adorn a thousand Facebook walls: “I like to have a martini, two at the very most. It fueled the writings of Ernest Hemingway and was the deal-closing star of the three-martini lunch. Some say the tipple was first whipped up at New York’s own Knickerbocker Hotel, where, around the turn of the century, an industrious bartender named Martini di Arma di Taggia is said to have served a version of it to John D. The drink is intoxicating and so are the many tales of its origins. A meaningless holiday meant to sell more booze, yes, but, like we said: any chance we get. And though we celebrate this classically American concoction any chance we get, today marks National Martini Day. The martini is the cocktail that unites us all, from James Bond’s shaken-not-stirred signature to the “Sex and the City”-style Appletini that spawned countless pilgrimages to New York City. It's not just soda: Nutritionists weigh in on the absolute worst drinks for your healthĬheers to the classiest drink in history. ‘Immersive’ cocktail party show to take over NYC penthouse My Bipartisan Mint Julep is the perfect Kentucky Derby drink for a polarized America Those that have the right stuff to work the stick like it’s a stage, and enjoy it the more you enjoy yourselves, will appreciate your gratitude nearly as much as your gratuities… so make sure you don’t skimp on either.Craft cocktail culture has arrived in Mexico - here's where to indulge On World Bartender Day, make sure you celebrate your resident rock star by thanking them for always providing good times with drinks that match. There is an old-school saying in the world of cocktailing: “a bartender is a rock star that never bothered to learn an instrument.” The Only William was akin to Keith Richards, Kris Kristofferson, David Bowie, and Joan Jet of bartending. In other words, The Only William, is THE definitive role model of what makes a badass behind the bar. One of his favorite ways to prepare for an evening’s service was to build ornate pyramids of inverted cocktail glasses filled with flowers. While this decoration delighted his guests, it also seasoned the glassware with purposeful aromas for drinks he later served in them. He worked hard to earn his praise rather than feeling entitled to it, and in the process, he redefined an entire aspect of American culture shortly before Prohibition crushed it. Schmidt always concentrated on serving and entertaining his guests, making them feel special and valued, rather than just serving drinks. Instead of pursuing the idolization that motivates smaller minds, Schmidt refined his approach over the years to deliver the best experience to his guests. The Only William served $5 cocktails when the going rate for a drink was 15 cents. To put this into perspective, that $5 in 1890 is about $420 in 2019 money… and people lined up for them!īecause of this, newspapers from around the world published Schmidt’s cocktail recipes in their holiday party guides, making him the world’s most famous bartender for nearly 20 years. Yet Schmidt practiced his craft in an obscure bar in one of New York’s rougher neighborhoods. His cocktails were filled with nuanced layers of flavors and scents that came from upwards of 10 ingredients (many of which were his own creations) 120 years before terms like “mixologist” and “mixology” were adopted by the bar industry. William “The Only William” Schmidt is an obscure pioneer of drinking culture that has all but been forgotten. “I do not think that a bartender should be merely a beer slinger… I believe a conscientious bartender, who knows his business, should have a higher aim than simply mixing drinks… In drinking, aim must be enjoyment, not inebriation .” – William Schmidt, from his book T he Flowing Bowl. February 24 th is when we celebrate the people that we come to rely on to fuel our good times and dull the pain of our worst… but what is a bartender?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |