A cocktail enthusiast whose goal is to have fun and inspire others with tasty libations
For Kings (County) and Dem Bums — The Brooklyn
This borough of New York City lives in the shadow of Manhattan, both in the world of cocktails and in popular consciousness. In terms of physical size and population, Brooklyn is actually larger than Manhattan. The first reference to the Brooklyn cocktail occurred in 1908, when it appeared in a book from Jacques Straub, who first wrote about the Alaska.
Combine in a shaker with ice, stir with the slow burn intensity of perpetually living in someone else’s shadow, and strain into a chilled glass.
Why kings and Dem Bums? Brooklyn is Kings County. Dem Bums is a moniker that referred to the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, which moved to Los Angeles in 1957. Some people who grew up in Brooklyn, e.g. my father in law, still despise the move. The etymology of the name comes from Brooklyn pedestrians’ ability to evade trolley streetcars — the Trolley Dodgers.
Over the years there have been many variations of the Brooklyn. I selected this one because I like rye. Amer Picon is a French aperitif with a bittersweet orange taste. It’s tough to acquire in the United States, so orange bitters are a reasonable substitute.
Have enough Brooklyns, and I can sell you the bridge in the photo.
