Apothecary Cocktails Review and Recipe

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At the turn of the century, pharmacies in Europe and America prepared homemade tinctures, bitters, and herbal remedies mixed with alcohol for curative benefits for everything from poor digestion to the common cold.  Today, trendy urban bars such as Apotheke in New York, Apo Bar & Lounge in Philadelphia and 1022 South in Tacoma, as well as “vintage” and “homegrown” cocktail aficionados, find inspiration in apothecary cocktails of old

The new book Apothecary Cocktails by Warren Bobrow, shows you how you can create these restorative drinks, so you too can enjoy a cocktail with benefits.

Featuring 75 traditional and newly created recipes for medicinally-themed cocktails, Apothecary Cocktails is a unique and creative cocktail book, including selections on:

  • The history of apothecary liqueurs, bitters, and tonics that are enjoying resurgence at trendy bars and restaurants-including Peychaud’s Bitters, Chartreuse, and Vermouth.
  • How healing herbs, flowers, and spices are being given center stage in cocktail recipes
  • Traditional apothecary recipes and ingredients that are being resurrected for taste and the faint promise of a cure
  • How to make your own restoratives, sedatives and toddys, digestifs, and more
Whether you’re interested in history, the recipes or both, you’ll love flipping through this beautifully presented book that delves into the world of apothecary cocktails.
To give you an example of what to expect with this book, here is a recipe from the Painkilling Libations section.
The Hartley Dodge Cocktail
Bourbon or rye whiskey combined with sweet vermouth laced with healing bitters can act as a powerful painkiller.  Although this prescriptive resembles the classic Manhattan, adding muddled peach slices to the mix adds a sweet, fresh, seasonal flavor thanks to the summery stone fruit.  And it’s a fine balance.  The key too this healing cocktail lies in the proportions of sweet, savory, and blatantly powerful.  When combined with the bottled-in-bond bourbon whiskey, the flavor of the peaches becomes even more intense.  “Bottled in bond,” means the bourbon has been produced according to strict regulations, and it makes for a tastier-and more effective-cocktail.  Give it a try: The Hartley Dodge has been known to conquer even the most tenacious aches and pains.
3 slices fresh peach, plus extra slices for garnish
3 ounces bonded 100-proof bourbon whiskey
1 ounce sweet vermouth
4 dashes Fee Brothers Whiskey Bitters
Ice Cubes
Place the peach slices in a Boston shaker, and muddle them.  Add the bourbon and vermouth, and continue to muddle so that the flavors are well combined.  Add the bitters and a handful of ice cubes, and stir well.  Strain into a Collins glass over a large chunk of ice (larger pieces are less likely to dilute the drink).   Garnish with an extra slice or two of fresh peach.  It’s an analgesic that can’t help but take the edge off what ails you.

What We Thought:
This book was very interesting.  Being from the South, I remember family members mixing different concoctions to heal what ails them.  I never had the opportunity to get their recipes but no worries.  This book is literally packed full of awesome recipes.  It is beautifully laid out and the recipes and straight forward.  The history of the book makes it a great ready and it’s perfect for anyone that loves cocktails.  I wills say that if you are the type that likes the super fruity drinks, then chances are this is not the book for you.  All in all this is an amazing book!!

Apothecary Cocktails: Restorative Drinks from Yesterday and Today is the perfect addition to any cocktail lovers library, and is the perfect gift for anyone interested in new and creative (and healthy and restorative) ways to imbibe.  This book has a SRP of $21.99 but is currently available on amazon for $16.39.

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