Let’s Talk about Mixology, Part 52
by Amer A. Vargas
Leap Year
As the New Year progresses, we arrive at a longer-than-usual February. Yes, 2020 is a leap year, which rewards us with an additional day this month for fun and cocktails!
Did you know that there actually is a cocktail named Leap Year? It was created by barman Harry Craddock on the 29th of February 1928 for the Leap Year celebrations at the Savoy Hotel in London where he worked, and was recorded for the first time in the 1930s cocktail compilation, The Savoy Cocktail Book.
To prepare it you will need:
- 2 oz/60 ml. Gin (preferably Premium Gin);
- ½ oz/15 ml. Grand Marnier liqueur (although modern versions call for Triple Sec, like Cointreau);
- ½ oz/15 ml. sweet vermouth and
- a couple of dashes (about ¼ oz/7.5 ml.) of fresh lemon juice.
Fill a shaker with ice cubes, put in all the ingredients at once and shake well. Fine strain into a chilled Martini glass and finish by twisting a lemon peel on the cocktail and leaving it on the rim as garnish.
Enjoy the 29 days of February…Cheers!
Mr. Vargas is the Institute’s President—feel free to contact him via email, AmerVargas @ modernbutlers.com
The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.