Comments on: Forbidden Island Field Trip

By: James Sime

James Sime — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:35:02 +0000

Erik, you don’t know me but I’m terribly jealous I had plans that I just couldn’t get out of and didn’t get to attend the Project Pimento show @ Forbidden Island! Haven’t seen the band in way too long, and I do so *adore* the Forbidden Island. Great bar, nice folks, and a great place to take new people to. I cart folks over from my San Francisco comic shop (Isotope) as often as humanly possible.

Thanks for the pictures!

By: erik_flannestad

erik_flannestad — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:27:23 +0000

Hey Martin!

Thanks for the comment!

One drink that I ran across in the Savoy that seemed pretty apropos of Vic’s Fog Cutter was the Inca. I like it, but apparently I am a bit crazy for enjoying it. I guess it isn’t boozy enough for modern tastes. In any case, I think it is particularly interesting that many of the elements and tastes of the Fog Cutter are present in this English pre-prohibition cocktail!

Inca Cocktail

1 Dash Orgeat Syrup. (1/3 tsp homemade)
1 Dash Orange Bitters. (dash Fee’s, Dash Regan’s Orange Bitters)
1/4 Gin. (3/4 oz Junipero Gin)
1/4 Sherry. (3/4 oz Bodega Dios Baco Fino Sherry)
1/4 French Vermouth. (3/4 oz Dolin Dry Vermouth)
1/4 Italian Vermouth. (3/4 oz Carpano Antica Vermouth)

Shake (stir, please) well and strain into cocktail glass. (Orange Peel.)

In his 1922 book, “Cocktails: How to Mix Them,” Robert Vermeire comments about the Inca: “This cocktail was invented by H.C. Harrison, who supervises the American Bars of the Gordon Hotels in England.”

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:02:23 +0000

It is such a unlikely combo, that’s what’s neat- it’s that it’s light, dry and citrus-y, but with noticeable wood and nut character from the brandy, sherry, and orgeat. Typically you find those notes in a richer drink, or a bourbon cocktail. Orgeat was the Trader’s favorite, and this drink is very similar to the Scorpion.

I suppose I should cut back on the OJ or up the lemon a touch to balance it, but as you mentioned about the change in the oranges, I think it’s rather cool that the drink evolves seasonally. Dry Fog Cutters are just around the corner!

By: erik_flannestad

erik_flannestad — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:57:37 +0000

Thanks for the kind words, Virginia.

Forbidden Island is among my favorite local bars.

I was unfamiliar with your site. It looks pretty cool!

By: Virginia Miller

Virginia Miller — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:28:28 +0000

I like your piece & photos on Forbidden Island – a favorite of mine though I live in SF, I still head over to Alameda just for this unique spot. I wrote about it myself in my newsletter last year (which is more focused on food w/ some drink added in): http://www.theperfectspotsf.com/archive/sep_07/imbiber.html.

Thanks for the entry! I like your website.
Virginia
http://www.theperfectspotsf.com

By: Married …with dinner » Blog Archive » DOTW: Fog Cutter

Married …with dinner » Blog Archive » DOTW: Fog Cutter — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:31:15 +0000

[...] me across the bay to Forbidden Island; the opportunity to taste a Fog Cutter made by the man whose license plate spells out the name of this Trader Vic tiki classic was more than [...]