Whiskey Fizz and Apple Knocker: Imbibe in the past with these historic cocktails

Make your own vintage drinks at home

Credit: NONE

Credit: NONE

Ever wonder what Dayton’s Pony House Saloon was serving in the 1800s or what dinner party guests sipped in the 1950s?

The Ohio History Connection has pulled recipes from its archive to shake or stir while we self-isolate.

They have also digitized a vintage book of cocktail tips and recipes, "Drinks A La Mode," published in 1891.

Credit: De Salis, Mrs. (Harriet Anne)

Credit: De Salis, Mrs. (Harriet Anne)

Browse through it and you’ll find recipes for the Ching Ching, made with “a gill of liquid sunshine rum,” the Floster, an “American sensation,” and the Bosom Caresser, made with brandy, milk and a “new-laid egg.”

Here are five vintage cocktail recipes  to mix up curated by the Ohio History Connection.

Cheers!

Roman Punch 

Makes 6 cocktails

Ingredients: 

2 cups lemonade

Juice of 2 oranges

8 ounces champagne

8 ounces rum

2 large egg whites

A few drops lemon juice

3 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions: 

Stir together the lemonade, orange juice, champagne and rum in a punch bowl. Chill.

When ready to serve, make the meringue: whip the egg whites and lemon juice in a medium bowl until they hold soft peaks, then gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar. Pile into a serving bowl.

Fill cups with ice, ladle over the punch and top each with a dollop of meringue.

This punch was served at the 1897 inaugural ball of President William McKinley.

Recipe from “Drinks A La Mode” by Mrs. D.E. Salis, 1891

Credit: JIM WITMER

Credit: JIM WITMER

Whiskey Fizz 

Ingredients:

½ tbsp. sugar

3-4 dashes of lemon juice

Seltzer water

1 wine glass of whiskey

Ice

Directions: 

Add sugar and a squirt of seltzer water to dissolve.

Fill glass with ice and add whiskey

Stir and strain into a good sized fizz glass.

Balance with seltzer water.

Serve.

This recipe is from “The New & Improved Bartenders” Manual by Harry Johnson, 1882 

Apple Knocker

Ingredients:

1 jigger of Smirnoff vodka

Apple juice

Directions:

Add vodka to a glass with ice.

Fill to the brim with apple juice.

Serve.

Recipe from How to Give a Vodka Party by Smirnoff Vodka, 1959

Credit: De Salis, Mrs. (Harriet Anne)

Credit: De Salis, Mrs. (Harriet Anne)

Vodka Martini 

Ingredients:

1 part dry vermouth

4 parts Smirnoff vodka

Lemon peel

Directions:

To one part dry vermouth, add 4 parts Smirnoff which has been chilled in the freezer.

Serve in iced glasses.

Garnish with lemon peel.

Recipe from “How to Give a Vodka Party” by Smirnoff Vodka, 1959

Champagne Cup #11 

Ingredients: 

2 bottles champagne

½ pint of strawberry or lemon ice water

2 bottles soda water

Directions: 

Mix all ingredients.

Add ice.

Serve immediately.

Recipe from “Cooling Cups and Dainty Drinks,” 1869

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