Comments | smills47: The Sternwood Cocktail

smills47

The Sternwood Cocktail

Jan 30, 2010 15:53

I've finally had one. The recipe comes from The Big Sleep, when Bogart meets General Sternwood in the conservatory, and the General says he used to like champagne "as cold as Valley Forge" with three ponys of brandy in it. The first time I saw the movie with El Husband, we resolved to try it. Maybe for an anniversary celebration? Well, our 10th ( Read more... )

Comments 4

fidelioscabinet January 30 2010, 22:30:18 UTC

Maybe you could chill the brandy, but I think General Sternwood had consumption issues, when it comes to the 3 ounces...

I wonder how a twist of citrus would be with this--just a touch, don'tyerknow.

smills47 February 1 2010, 21:26:26 UTC

This is interesting! I was wondering if I'd remembered correctly about the 3 ponys, but the movie DVD had already gone back to the library; then it occurred to me (duh!) to look in the book. What he actually said was: "The champagne as cold as Valley Forge and about a third of a glass of brandy beneath it." Which I guess would come to about the same amount, but I think I prefer the movie version (assuming that was indeed the movie version).

I will take the twist of lemon under consideration for the next occasion....

admiral's flip etv13 March 15 2010, 09:08:19 UTC

In the Aubrey-Maturin books, isn't this Admiral's Flip, or something like that?

Re: admiral's flip smills47 March 15 2010, 22:10:56 UTC

So it is! Consulting Lobscouse & Spotted Dog -- a delightful book btw and worth searching out if you don't already have it -- I find that it is described in Treason's Harbour as "champagne mixed with brandy half and half." Which, phew, would be even stronger than the General's version.

What would be interesting to know is whether it's just a coincidence, or whether Chandler knew about this as a military man's drink from bygone days!