How I got to know the William Sohmer cocktail
In May my wife and I should have gone to Chamonix to our french hood, but for other reasons we did not have the time for going there more days. Instead my friend asked med to go to Sweden for rock climbing. Just a few days before i injured my calf muscle and could not do any sports or climbing. Thus, no Chamonix and no climbing – just sitting there Friday evening and what to do ? search for new old fashioned drinks. Surfing a bit on the internet I found the William Sohmer cocktail, which is using more of my favorite ingredients.
The recipe:
3/4 Rye Whiskey (1 1/2 oz Sazerac or High West)
1/4 Dry Vermouth (3/4 oz La Quintinye or Noilly Prat)
1 dash St. Croix Rum (1/2 oz Plantation Dark)
1 dash Picon Bitters (1/4 oz Amer Picon)
Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail glass – i prefer an Embassy style glass.
When it comes to the dashes of rum and Picon you have to find your own amounts. Dashes are not an accurate measure, but is around 1/5 spoonfull.
Historical background:
The William Sohmer was named after a New York State politician active at the turn of the century (1890´ies). The recipe can be found in Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars: 1903-1933. In the American whiskey chapter, you find the the William Sohmer that was named after a New York State politician active at the turn of the century when the book was being compiled.