Gif Me a Whisky: Precode Named Cocktails

Anyone who is even slightly familiar with Precode films can definitely attest that they are filled with alcohol. In nearly every picture, most the characters are either drunk, talking about getting drunk or experiences hangovers for some portion of the film. Words like ‘bootlegger’, ‘plastered’, ‘blotto’, ‘soused’, ‘sauced’ and ‘speakeasy’ are common Precode terms in an era – unbelievably – ruled by Prohibition. Who could forget Greta Garbo’s first piece of dialogue spoken on screen in Anna Christie (1930), “Gif me a visky, ginger ale on the side, and don' be stingy, baby”. A line which is unequivocally speaking to the culture of 1930’s society which – if the films are anything to go by – was overrun with liquor. Take a look at some more lines from popular Precodes: 

“Most of the girls around here like to compete to see who can get blotto first!” Three Wise Girls (1932)

“You just sell some creamy beers to the working man. With some murders on the side to keep him entertained!” Doorway to Hell (1930)

“God gives us heartache, and the devil gives us whiskey.” Five Star Final (1931)

“I could do some thinking on gin, if I had some.” Bed of Roses (1933)

Also poking fun at alcohol and drunkenness. So since the great majority of Precode films are focused on the topic, it’s not surprising that this obsession has transferred into the 21^st Century. Nowadays even long dead stars are getting into the action with a handful of popular Precode actors and actresses having cocktails and concoctions named after them. I recommend trying a couple if you have a spare weekend or a lazy afternoon.    

 

Marlene Dietrich Cocktail

Ingredients

3/4 wineglass of Rye or Canadian whisky

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

2 dashes Curaçao

Method

Shake well and strain into a wineglass. Squeeze orange and lemon peel on top.

 

Jimmy 'Schnozzle' Durante Cocktail

Ingredients

1 teaspoon Curaçao

2 glasses gin

2 glasses sherry

2 glasses French Vermouth

Method

Mix the ingredients in a shaker filled with cracked ice. Stir thoroughly with a spoon, shake, strain and serve. Add an olive and two dashes of Absinthe to each glass.

 

Douglas Fairbanks Cocktail

Ingredients

2/3 Plymouth gin

1/3 French Vermouth

Method

Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with orange and lemon peel.

  

Garbo Gargle

Ingredients

1 dash Crème de Menthe

1/4 glass orange juice

1/4 glass Grenadine

1/4 glass French Vermouth

1/4 brandy

Method

Shake well and strain into a medium sized glass. Top with a splash of Port Wine.

 

 

 

 
Jean Harlow Cocktail

Ingredients

1/2 Bacardi Rum

1/2 Italian Vermouth

A peel or wedge of lemon

Method

Shake and strain into a cocktail glass

 

 

 

Mary Pickford Cocktail

Ingredients

1/2 Bacardi Rum

1/2 pineapple juice

1 teaspoon grenadine

6 drops Maraschino 

Method

Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.

 

 

 
Ginger Rogers Cocktail

Ingredients

1/3 French Vermouth
1/3 dry gin
1/3 apricot brandy
4 dashes lemon juice
Method

Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.

 

Will Rogers Cocktail

Ingredients

1/4 orange juice

1/4 French Vermouth

1/2 Plymouth gin

4 dashes Curaçao

Method

Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.

 

Shirley Temple Cocktail

Ingredients

Ginger ale
Dash of grenadine

Method

Mix and serve.

 

 

Lupe Velez Cocktail

Ingredients

3 glasses Jamaica rum
1 glass Kummel
1 glass orange juice
1 dash Pimento Dram

Method

Shake carefully and serve whilst frothing.

 

 

Johnny Weissmuller Cocktail

Ingredients

1/3 gin1/3 Bacardi Rum
1/3 lemon juice
Powdered sugar
1 dash grenadine

Method

Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.

 

Mae West Cocktail

Ingredients

Yolk of 1 egg1 teaspoon powdered sugar
1 glass brandy

Method

Shake well and strain into a medium sized glass. Top with a dash of Cayenne Pepper.