Fancy Free

Fancy Free by Crosby Gaige c. 1941

I’m toasting Joe Turner and his Free Me series with something fancy. Joe’s journey illustrates the path we are all on, constantly moving forward in life, not always certain where the road is going, but simply taking things one step at a time and stopping to enjoy the view. Who knows, maybe some things we never thought would be possible, actually are, but we keep on going in the meantime, doing the things that are right there in front of us.

What’s your fancy?

Here’s an old fashioned cocktail, both in that the earliest recipe is from the Cocktail Guide and Ladies’ Companion by Crosby Gaige, 1941, and that it is in fact an Old Fashioned. Crosby Gage, best known as a successful Broadway director and producer in the nineteen thirties, was also a food and spirits writer, and chairman of New York’s Food and Wine Society. Gage also wrote the Standard Cocktail Guide, 1944. His original recipe presents the drink up in a small coupe rimmed with lemon and sugar, like a crusta or side car. Modern interpretations have moved it more firmly into Old Fashioned territory, where maraschino liqueur lends the sweet element. Gage notes in his book that he once produced a play with the same name as this cocktail, and that cocktail names in general tend to be somewhat fluid and ephemeral – suggesting that he renamed many drinks in his books. Unsurprisingly and amusingly, there are a lot of funny drink names in his books. So if you want to make an Old Fashioned with maraschino liqueur, dash in some orange and aromatic bitters, and call it what you will, be our guest. You are Free to do as you please. Cheers!

Free agents

Fancy Free attributed to Crosby Gage, Difford’s Guide version

2 oz whiskey (historically Canadian, or a rye heavy bourbon)

½ oz maraschino liqueur

3 dashes Angostura bitters

2 dashes orange bitters

Stir with ice and strain into an Old Fashioned glass. Orange peel garnish (or a lime wheel trapped coin).

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