The Standard Cocktail Guide [1944 Archive - Handwritten Recipes & Waldorf-Astoria Glassware Illustrations]

Gaige, Crosby (1882-1949)

Published by M. Barrows & Company, New York, 1944

About this Item

More than a mere manual, Crosby Gaige s guide is a witty philosophical treatise on the art of conviviality. Gaige, a celebrated theatrical producer and bon vivant, captures the trends, fancies, and quirks of mid-century drinking culture. This specific copy serves as a time capsule, containing a personal archive of laid-in mixology ephemera from a previous 'American Host'. KEY FEATURES +++ The Archive: Includes several 1940s-era newspaper clippings (Toby Punch, Bacardi Holiday Eggnog), a handwritten recipe for a Manhattan, and a typed sheet featuring Irvin Cobb's Egg Nog and Bellevue Eggnog. +++ Visuals: Illustrated with striking black-and-white plates of the Waldorf-Astoria s famous glassware service, including Tom Collins, Delmonico, and Old-fashioned vessels. +++ Content: Features legendary recipes like the Zombie, the Beachcomber, and the Daiquiri, alongside Gaige s sophisticated commentary on spirits. +++ Specs: Diminutive 6.25-inch 'pocket' format; 128 pages with a comprehensive index. CONDITION Grade: Good-- Bindings are tight and square. The text is remarkably clean with light, toning. The pinkish-red cloth boards show moderate shelf handling and minor soiling consistent with kitchen use. Ephemera has caused slight 'ghosting' to some pages, a hallmark of its archival history. Third printing. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE -- Crosby Gaige was the definitive arbiter of taste in 1940s New York. This guide was released during the height of WWII, a time when 'The American Host' was redefining social rituals. The inclusion of the Waldorf-Astoria s glassware highlights the shift toward the 'Cocktail Hour' as a sophisticated, theatrical event. SUBJECTS: Mixology, Cocktail History, 1940s Americana, Waldorf-Astoria, Crosby Gaige, Culinary Ephemera, Bartending Guides, Cookbooks & Gastronomy, Reference, Social History.

Seller Inventory # 21566

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Standard Cocktail Guide [1944 Archive - Handwritten Recipes & Waldorf-Astoria Glassware Illustrations]
• Publisher: M. Barrows & Company, New York
• Publication Date: 1944
• Condition: Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
• Seller catalogs:
  • COCKTAIL BOOKS: Recipes / Mixology