# 1950s-style "Cocktails" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 24, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775 "2006-10-24T23:27:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/1 "2006-10-24T23:27:31Z")
Can anybody recommend to me some information on 1950s mixology? Specifically: I’m in a play set in the mid-1950s. (The script is copyright 1957.) Among the period things I must do is mix drinks, preferably _shaken_ drinks, because that’s what the director wants. The script only specifically mentions one drink detail: my character is mixing a drink and calls for his wife to bring in more ice. We also have tomato juice on the bar, which may or may not be part of the drink; and all of the scenes where I mix drinks are in the evening. Our characters are supposed to be a well-to-do couple living on Long Island in a nice (and expensive) house. Any ideas on what I should be making? Oh, and I might want to make some authentic 1950s-style liquor labels, too. Any leads? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2006, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/2 "2006-10-24T23:33:08Z")
You are probably making Martinis. The tomato juice would be left over from the Bloody Marys you made for brunch. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2006, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/3 "2006-10-24T23:36:25Z")
Manhattans and Martinis, with bloody mary’s for women on diets. ---
**Author:** ![bigdfrombigd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bigdfrombigd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bigdfrombigd)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2006, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/4 "2006-10-24T23:39:37Z")
My Grandma always used to order a “Sidecar”. God knows what goes in it but it just sounds kinda’ old fashioned. Hey! That’s another one, an “Old Fashion”. That’s all I got. Big d out. ---
**Author:** ![bigdfrombigd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bigdfrombigd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bigdfrombigd)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2006, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/5 "2006-10-24T23:39:52Z")
My Grandma always used to order a “Sidecar”. God knows what goes in it but it just sounds kinda’ old fashioned. Hey! That’s another one, an “Old Fashion”. That’s all I got. Big d out. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/6 "2006-10-24T23:46:06Z")
Ginger ale highballs and/or tonic drinks. See if you can score 2 or 3 old [Canada Dry](http://cgi.ebay.com/CANADA-DRY-QUININE-WATER-BOTTLE-OLD-7-0Z_W0QQitemZ330041879174QQihZ014QQcategoryZ853QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) bottles. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/7 "2006-10-24T23:51:44Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] You are probably making Martinis. The tomato juice would be left over from the Bloody Marys you made for brunch. [/QUOTE] My understanding is that a martini was not traditionally shaken in that era; the “shaken” martini has only been made popular since James Bond. A cursory peek around suggests the shaker was used on drinks with juice or syrup to get them to mix properly, and purists decry the shaking of a martini for reasons best known to purists. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2006, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/8 "2006-10-24T23:59:17Z")
SHAG is the King of Swing. An avant-garde artist, & a fan of 50s Hip, his charming illustrated volumes are just what the Rat Pack ordered, sweetheart. [http://www.shagmart.com/pages/boshag.html](http://www.shagmart.com/pages/boshag.html) [http://www.shagmart.com/pages/botiki.html](http://www.shagmart.com/pages/botiki.html) [http://www.shagmart.com/pages/boarou.html](http://www.shagmart.com/pages/boarou.html) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/9 "2006-10-25T00:36:08Z")
[QUOTE=Fish] A cursory peek around suggests the shaker was used on drinks with juice or syrup to get them to mix properly, and purists decry the shaking of a martini for reasons best known to purists. 🙂 [/QUOTE] I always heard, from my parents and their friends who went through the 50s and 60s cocktail culture, that dark liquors (whiskies) were shaken, while clear liquors (gin, vodka) were stirred. Apparently, shaking “bruised” the gin or vodka. I’m unsure how, but having consumed many shaken martinis and many stirred ones, I haven’t noticed a diference. Anyway, given that regard for the shaking/stirring attitude of the time, then for the OP, I’d suggest bottles of whisky at hand (the label designs for Jim Beam, Jack Daniels and Canadian Club haven’t changed _that_ much, have they?), and, say, a bottle of sweet (red) vermouth. Again, Martini & Rossi labels probably haven’t changed much. These are the ingredients for a Manhattan, which would be shaken with ice. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/10 "2006-10-25T01:29:38Z")
I was a little young for drinking in the 50’s, but I can remember my father playing bartender. Martini - the proper tools are a chilled pitcher and a stirrer. Martinis were stirred, not shaken. You’d make up a pitcher for the whole gang. (BTW, I always heard the reason you didn’t shake a martini was because it foamed up the drink, ruining the crystal clear appearance of gin and vermouth.) Use the shaker for any drink that requires three or more ingredients. The third ingredient may be nothing more than a dash of Tabasco or bitters. That’s for a single drink. If you want to make up a batch, use a blender. By the way, a dash of bitters or Tabasco allows you a little more stage business along the way. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/11 "2006-10-25T02:40:03Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] By the way, a dash of bitters or Tabasco allows you a little more stage business along the way. [/QUOTE] You just reminded me–my Dad would always add a dash of Angustora bitters to the pitcher of martinis he was making. The OP may want to have a couple of bottles of such things on the bar for the play (Angustora bitters, Tabasco, Worcestershire, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/12 "2006-10-25T02:46:16Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] (BTW, I always heard the reason you didn’t shake a martini was because it foamed up the drink, ruining the crystal clear appearance of gin and vermouth.) [/QUOTE] That’s what the olive brine does… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/13 "2006-10-25T02:53:55Z")
mojitas and cuba libres mojitas were the favorite drink of Ernest Hemingway, A mojito is traditionally made of five ingredients: mint, rum, powdered sugar, lime juice, and club soda. cuba libre is a cocktail made of Cola, lime and rum. I can’t give proof of it’s popularity but I remember stories set in the 1950’s and they were drinking cuba libres ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/14 "2006-10-25T07:31:07Z")
Smuggled vodka from Russia and imported cigars from Cuba in the 50’s… …smuggled cigars from Cuba and imported vodka from Russia in “The Turn” (of the 2nd Millenium). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/15 "2006-10-25T11:56:05Z")
1950’s?I’m suirprised no one’s mentioned \*\*[Manhattans Old Fashioned Tom Collins Highball Gin and Tonic Sloe Gin Fizz Scotch and Soda \*\* as well as Martinis and such. Cuba Libres were named , IIRC, during the 1959 guerrilla actions – you wouldn’t have one earliwer than that; you’d have a Rum and Coke. Stay away from Daiquiris (blenders helped those), Cosmopolitans, and cutesy-named drinks like Slippery Nipples. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/16 "2006-10-25T12:05:13Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] Cuba Libres were named , IIRC, during the 1959 guerrilla actions – you wouldn’t have one earliwer than that; you’d have a Rum and Coke. [/QUOTE] Cuba Libres were named around the turn of the century. It was named in honor of Cuba’s independence from Spain. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/17 "2006-10-25T12:33:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Cuba Libres were named around the turn of the century. It was named in honor of Cuba’s independence from Spain. really? Learn somethin’ every day. Things I’ve read seemed to take it for granted that the term came from the more recent Cuban uprising. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/18 "2006-10-25T13:19:36Z")
[QUOTE=bigdfrombigd] My Grandma always used to order a “Sidecar”. God knows what goes in it but it just sounds kinda’ old fashioned. Hey! That’s another one, an “Old Fashion”. That’s all I got. Big d out. [/QUOTE] Ahhh, they’re Old-fashioned “Death Cocktails”. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/19 "2006-10-25T13:54:45Z")
[QUOTE=bigdfrombigd] My Grandma always used to order a “Sidecar”. God knows what goes in it but it just sounds kinda’ old fashioned. Hey! That’s another one, an “Old Fashion”. That’s all I got. Big d out. [/QUOTE] A Sidecar is similar to a margarita, but with brandy instead of tequila, sugar on the rim instead of salt, and straight up in a martini glass. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775/20 "2006-10-25T16:12:40Z")
Although my memories of my parents drinking it are from the early 60’s, [Whiskey Sours](http://www.greatrecipesonline.com/dir/Detailed/29.shtml) were very popular and have the advantage of being shaken. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-style-cocktails/377775.md?page=2)