Life was pretty limited for a midwestern girl growing up in a smallish town that was maybe the quarter to third way point between Detroit and Chicago. Our town was small enough that it was a big deal when a Wendy's opened with a salad bar. Going to Red Lobster was the height of fine dining.
I wonder if that's why this book, the Benson & Hedges 100s Drink Recipes from 100 of the Greatest Bars was such a hit in my family. My dad got it for free in a carton of smokes. Within the book, the drinks were shot in full ambiance, glowing with sophistication and guaranteeing a good time. I think I fell in love with logos for the first time reading this book, character shining through.
My dad would take the book to my grandma prior to a holiday and ask her to pick a drink for him to make. The he would go get the liquor, ice cream, bananas, garnishes, rock salt, etc. needed to create said drink. And she always picked the ones that were big alcoholic desserts that could easily be made into virgin drinks for the kids.
My mom gave me the book after a purge of the house after my dad died. I cherish it, but admit I haven't made any of the drinks within since obtaining it.
Since I and the rest of civilization is living life in quarantine, the book made an unexpected return to my desktop. With so many bars and restaurants working hard to stay afloat during the current COVID-19 crisis, I wondered how many of these locations were still in business 40 years later? The book is an amazing resource, with pictures and addresses. That, coupled with google maps and the internet, makes this an easy and quick research project.
Not sure how many of these recipes I will sample along the way. Can't go out except for essential items, and I doubt a fifth of orange brandy counts.
