A delicately floral-scented cocktail with a smooth, creamy finish, and the heady kick of gin, the Ramos Gin Fizz is the perfect drink for a Southern femme fatale.
Invented in 1888 by Henrico C. Ramos at the Imperial Cabinet Saloon in New Orleans, the formula for this drink was a closely-guarded secret for many years. But when the saloon closed in 1920 under Prohibition, Henrico's brother, Charles Henry Ramos, shared the recipe with the public in consolation.
The Celluloid Pantry: Ramos Gin Fizz and Dead Reckoning (1947)
In the post-WWII film noir, Dead Reckoning (1947), Rip Murdock (Humphrey Bogart) is a cynical ex-paratrooper determined to clear his murdered war buddy's, Johnny Drake's, name so that he might receive the posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor that is his due. Murdock’s investigation brings him straight to Johnny's girl, Coral Chandler (Lizbeth Scott), a nightclub singer with Southern roots and a checkered past.
With a signature song ("Either It's Love Or It Isn't"), and a signature perfume (Jasmine), it comes as no surprise that Coral should have a signature drink, the Ramos Gin Fizz. "Nobody can make them the way you can," she tells Mike the bartender, who was one of Johnny's only friends.
In spite of himself, the hard-bitten Murdock soon falls for Coral too. He knows his rye and water is drugged, but still he drinks it. And Coral's Ramos Gin Fizz? The next day, she swears it was too…
Ramos Gin Fizz (a.k.a. New Orleans Gin Fizz)
(makes one cocktail)
1 3/4 oz. gin
Juice of 1/2 lime
Juice of 1/2 lemon
3 dashes orange-flower water (available at Kalustyan's in NYC)
1 egg white
1 3/4 oz. light cream
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
Club soda (optional)
Combine all ingredients (except for club soda) in a cocktail shaker over ice and agitate vigorously for at least one minute (or 40 shakes). Strain into a tall glass and top with soda water. Stir gently to combine. Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.
Originally posted May 31, 2006
- Nora
Comments (11)
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3 dashes of what that comes from kalustyans?
Ann, should be "orange flower water"
http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/pDetail.asp?p=546
What does the egg white do?
OEM, the egg white doesn't affect the flavor of the drink, but gives it a smooth, frothy look (like a meringue). Not too common in modern cocktails, but a staple in the old-timers.
oh yay! i was hoping it was going to be orange flower water
its so wonderful... the scent is absolutely my favorite in the whole world
i think i'm definitely going to have to try this one this weekend
It sounded good until the mention of three dashes of orange flower water. Not that the smell of it is unpleasant, but to my finicky nose, it doesn't smell like something one should be eating.
Like the strange perfume-flavoured chewing gum my friend brought back from Korea....just not something I want to put in my mouth.
OK, I have been on a gin kick lately (Bombay Sapphire) and so I tried one of these tonight. Fantastic! Light and summery.
Oh, and I left out the orange flower water and I don't think it suffered for it. I used Rose's lime syrup instead of fresh lime juice, and half and half for the cream. The only problem is that after you add the club soda the drink separates, so you have to keep restirring it. It's really delicious, though.
Guh. Any substitution for the egg white?
view Jim of ChewOnThat's profile
Jim, you can skip the egg white--won't affect flavor, just texture
view nora's profile
I love to drink these at the Carousel Bar in the Monteleone Hotel...the atmosphere just screams old school New Orleans...so wonderful...
view Jess2nola's profile