Belated Nov. 6 Chat trivia (Benny Beverage for Tipplers)

[shimp scrampi]

Technical issues locked me out of yesterday's chat (all better now) - but those with Phil Harris tendencies might want to partake of this Jack Benny info.

In the 11/22/42 program up for discussion, Jack petulantly mentions he's going to the "Tropics" for a "zombie", the wildly popular drink of the time invented by Don the Beachcomber. Yet, Jack could have gone all postmodern and ordered the drink named after himself.

As it happens, I saw a menu from the Tropics around that time reprinted in the book, May I Take Your Order?: American Menu Design 1920-1960 by Jim Heimann (all right, I'm willing to bet you all have a couple of obscure books on the shelf as well!). Among the celebrity-inspired beverages on the menu from Sugie's Tropics was "The Jack Benny Horseshoe" - described as "a thoroughbred, with a kick like a mule". Now I'm on a quest to figure out what goes into a Jack Benny Horseshoe, so I can order one with my Jack Benny sandwich next time I'm at the El Rancho in Gallup.

[Brad from Georgia]

Shimp, since you have sent in your renewal for the JBT, I called my daughter's boyfriend, a professional bartender. Here is how to make a Jack Benny Horseshoe, or a reasonable facsimile thereof:

(Don Wilson voice)

Friends, if you like to get schnockered, here's a grand recipe for you. Here are the ingredients:

1 jigger Southern Comfort
8 oz. orange juice (preferably fresh-squozen)
1/2 tsp. grenadine
1 jigger bourbon
2 jiggers gold tequila

First, dump the grenadine in a highball glass and swirl it around, freeing up that lovely aroma. Next, pour in the tequila; pour in the bourbon; pour in the Southern Comfort; and then pour in the orange juice. This exciting beverage can be served straight up, on the rocks, or even blended. Try it tonight with a little Orange Jell-O as a chaser! Your friends will agree the Jack Benny Horseshoe has quite a kick!

(/Don Wilson voice)

Remember, folks, send in your subscription to the JBT and nice things happen to you!

[shimp scrampi]

Don't forget to frost the rim of the glass with crushed grape-nuts flakes, and wave to Remley on your way down to the floor after that one.

I've also come across a more 1930's-flavored formula for a "horse shoe" that is 1/2 ounce gin, and 1/2 ounce anisette. Heck, I'll try both, and will then stagger towards my 1940s Trader Vic Bartender guide for more info. I'm really after this one.

Thanks Brad!

[Alan]

From a 2nd hand CD (titled "Raconteur" and released by the "Uproar" label in 2000) by Jeff Wayne (I think he may primarily be a stand-up comedian of the opening-act-in-Vegas category?) where he recounts short anecdotes about various celebrities;

Phil Harris and Bing Crosby, who were buddies, put together a Tequila drink that they wanted to mass produce and sell comercially.

They were at the stage where they had produced the initial ~100 bottles as the start-up demo's....Bing's sudden death (would this have been mid-70s?) put an end to the project, but at least several bottles were given out to various friends and associates.

Alan

[shimp scrampi]

I had read that somewhere about Phil and Bing being some of the first to import high quality tequila to the US, Herradura (?) brand, I believe? I'm not so big on tchotchke collectibles, but how darned cool would it be to have a bottle of Phil Harris tequila? Preferably with his picture on the label!