“Falling” Into A Few Autumn Cocktails

Livio Lauro

Just this past week I was lucky enough to acquire another old cocktail book collection. Most of these timepieces are still in the two large boxes that I used to bring them back home in; but I would say there are roughly 250 works of art that I look forward to learning from.

I am an aficionado of classic and old-school things such as books, cars, motorcycles, and bars. They mostly make me happy as I travel back to the days when my parents were my age and living it up! I also find nostalgia to make me occasionally feel… well nostalgic, and I get that similar flip flop of sentiments from the Fall season.

I love to give a nod to the past also because I find that so many things that have worked in the past are still perfect solutions today and will likely work great in the future as well.

For this reason, I wanted to share with you two recipes for the fall season that came from two recent books that I came across in the collection from last week.

The first recipe comes from author Susann Geiskopf-Hadler; who wrote “A Cozy Book of Winter Drinks: Rich and Delicious Recipes to Keep You Warm” (Publisher: Prima Lifestyles; 1st edition – September 24, 2002) and is a lovely drink called the A Beautiful.

A Beautiful
This is an elegant and warming after-dinner drink. You may use Brandy in place of Cognac, if you wish

.75 oz. (22.5ml) Cognac

.75 oz. (22.5ml) Grand Marnier

1.5 oz. (45ml) Hot Water

Method: Pour these ingredients in a heated tempered glass and feel free to double up these ingredients and add a lemon wheel.

The second recipe comes from author “Cole’s Home Library Cookbooks Cocktail Guide” (Publisher: Cole Group, Incorporated – 1999) and is a mulled wine drink called Gluhwein.

Gluhwein

1 (750ml) Bottle dry red wine

3 Tbs. of Sugar

2 Slices of Lemon

1 cinnamon stick

Method: Combine the water and sugar in a large, nonreactive saucepan until very hot and the sugar has completely dissolved (do not boil). Serve in a heated (and tempered) mug.

Enjoy and Happy Fall! Livio Lauro