Oct 16, 2015
When a dear friend of mine announced he would celebrate his 55th birthday, his gorgeous wife immediately arranged to mark the occasion in a most memorable way, inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby. She created an unforgettable party just as Jay Gatsby would have: with music made for dancing, decadent food, and champagne that flowed all night long. While the bubbly is essential for any Gatsby party, it was the vintage cocktails and guests’ costumes that really set the scene.
Gorgeous flappers in strappy sandals and synchronized swimmers entertained the guests and, as the Jazz Age dance music played in the background, it was easy to think you had stepped back in time. Ever since the most recent film adaptation was released, the Roaring Twenties have made a comeback in everything from fashion to design to event planning. After this birthday bash I was motivated to create a small vintage-inspired cocktail party of my own.
For more inspiration I turned to Palm Beach Entertaining, where the design team known as Badgley Mischka invited us in to a vintage Hollywood-themed party they were hosting. Mark Badgley and James Mischka don’t need an excuse to celebrate; sometimes they host parties “just because.” Their affairs are as glittering and elaborate as the dresses they design. Their recipes were perfect for my cocktail party and included a cold tomato soup, gravlax, raw oysters with cocktail sauce and steak tartare. My absolute favorite recipes are the vintage cocktails: the Side Car and Moscow Mule.
I decided to serve the Moscow Mule at my gathering, poured into silver mugs. It was an unseasonably warm evening and the silver added a nice chill in the hand. Copper is the more traditional presentation for this drink, and will impart warmth and richness to any autumnal celebration.
My guests of honor loved the Moscow Mule! It is glamorous, easy to make, and all about the presentation. Using high-quality vodka and a spicy ginger beer makes this classic taste as good as it looks.
Yield: Makes 1 cocktail
½ lime, juiced
2 ounces vodka
4 to 6 ounces ginger beer
Lime wheels for garnish
Pour the lime juice into a chilled mug or iced glass. Add the vodka, then top off with ginger beer and decorate with a slice of lime.
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