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Cocktails may not, when analyzed on a chemical level or when deconstructed into only parts and formulas, ratios and atomic structures, actually taste better when accompanied by an intriguing, mysterious story. I can admit that, because I know that science is science. But on another level entirely, a level that takes into account the fact that cocktails raise the soul to new heights, promote bonding and brother-and-sister-hood, and generally make an evening a more sociable and delightful place . . . well, I think that in that rarified place past the restrictions of analytics, cocktails actually do taste better when accompanied by a good tale.
And not many cocktails come bearing in their very history as good a story as the Oriental. Because it is literally (if you believe fables like this to be literal truth—I do, naturally) a life-saving mixture. The story comes straight out of a book that’s legendary in its own right, the Savoy Cocktail Book (written by the great Harry Craddock and published first in 1930 I believe). As quoted therein, “In August, 1924, an American engineer nearly died of fever in the Philippines and only the extraordinary devotion of Doctor B. saved his life. As an act of gratitude, the engineer gave Doctor B. the recipe of this cocktail (the Oriental).” Now that, cocktail lovers, has it all in a few short sentences. Dangerous tropical disease? Mysterious rescuer only known by a single initial? Life-saving cocktail recipe used as payment after the crisis has passed? That’s a story worth serving up. What makes it even more fun is that the Oriental Cocktail itself is just as good, with a good kick mixing in with herbal and citrus accents, making it an ideal accompaniment to the story (or vice versa). Here’s the recipe for it, straight out of Good Spirits:
Ice cubes
1 1/2 ounces rye
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
3/4 ounce orange curaçao
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway full with ice cubes. Add the rye, sweet vermouth, orange curacao and lime juice (leave out the fever). Shake well.
2. Strain the mix into a cocktail glass. Drink a toast to all good stories.
A Note: My cocktail-loving pal Mark Butler was so intrigued by the Oriental that he made a stateside spin off: The Occidental. About which he says: “No esoteric ingredients, no exotic undertones, but a tasty combination nonetheless. I picture it being like what might have been considered a tropical cocktail in 1965 Duluth or Eau Claire . . . . The drink actually looks like a sunset, with the cherry juice putting a little fire into the dark rum, and the cherries glowing like flaming orbs. The origin of the term occident is from the Latin occidentem, meaning “western sky,” the part of the sky in which the sun sets.” It’s also a dandy drink, which you can make by filling an old-fashioned glass halfway full with crushed ice, then adding 1-1/2 ounces dark rum, 2-1/2 ounces apple juice, 2-1/2 ounces ginger ale and 1 dash cherry juice. Stir and garnish with two Maraschino cherries.