Patrick (Paddy) Moore The City of Vancouver’s Birthday is April 6. The city was incorporated on this date in 1886. Two months later, on June 13, in just 25 minutes a spectacular blaze destroyed most of the city along the swampy shores of Burrard Inlet. The Great Vancouver Fire, which destroyed the city, was eventually considered to be beneficial, as the city was rebuilt with modern water, electricity, and streetcar systems.
Happy Birthday, Vancouver! You are looking great for being just 135 years old.
| The Vancouver This cocktail recipe has been revised courtesy of some fine detective work published in an article by Scout Magazine in March 2020. According to Alex Black, the award-winning Bartender and Spirit & Cocktail Educator at Mind The Bar, we’ve been using the wrong vermouth for years – ever since it’s re-discovery at the Sylvia Hotel in 2006. Black traces the origins of the drink back to a bartender named Joseph Fitchett at the Vancouver Club during Prohibition. It seems Mr. Fitchett created two similar drinks, the Vancouver with dry French vermouth and the Fitchett with the Italian sweet stuff, both of which were included in the About Town Cocktail Book, published by Mitchell Press around 1925. Somehow over time the recipes became confused. We now have the authentic drink, although both are very enjoyable for an April birthday celebration. |
The Recipe
| What you need 2 oz gin 0.5 oz dry vermouth Dash orange bitters Dash Benedictine What you do Combine ingredients with ice, stir, serve up. Garnish Olive Serve Coupe (shown) or cocktail glass |
