Old Bar Books and Braces

Norteamericano, the braces and the cocktail, courtesy of John Tinseth, The Trad, and the 1980s.

This was previously published on The Trad.

Norteamericano Cocktail

1 1/2 ozs. tequila

1/2 oz. very dry sherry (manzanilla if possible)

Olive or lemon peel

Stir tequila and sherry very well with ice. Strain into prechilled cocktail glass or over rocks. Add olive, or twist lemon peel above drink and drop into glass.

I have an old Bar Book of cocktail recipes that is either gonna break me or bury me. I mean really … who needs 10 bottles of bitters. But when a recipe calls for simple syrup … I move on. I don’t care how simple it is—I’m not cooking sugar. I suppose that doesn’t make me a good barman.

What I am getting a feel for are the simple concoctions I’ve never heard of. Take the ‘Norteamericano.’ The recipe is up there. Tequila and Manzanilla Sherry stirred (I haven’t tried shaking it yet) and served in a Martini glass with an olive. Now, I do have a favorite olive but for this drink I recommend a big green olive with the stem still attached. We’ve covered Manzanilla before but I’ve never mixed it. Sure as hell not with Tequila—I’m a fan.

There’s a ‘dryness’ best compared to gin but with a rounded depth—not nearly as sharp but with a very long finish. Probably the Manzanilla doing it’s job. The measurements up there will give you a small puddle in today’s oversized Martini glass but that’s okay. Keep it small because you don’t want this drink getting warm on you.

Old Bar Books and Braces. I couldn’t kick my ass outta 1986 if I tried. I still wear them. I heard someone opine that a man should match his shoe color to the leather tabs of his braces. The tabs on these braces are grey. I always wondered where a man could find grey shoes … other than Philadelphia. Never believe people who tell you what to wear. Including me. These are Trafalgar braces. Purchased at Paul Stuart. I’ve mentioned before Paul Stuart cuts the Trafalgar tag off the braces they sell. I’m surprised Trafalgar lets them do it.

I still love them. Almost like wearing art. And best kept under the jacket. Nothing worse than a man showing off his braces. Norteamericano or not. The president of the local PBS station here in NYC shows off his braces ala Larry King. Never ask me to contribute money if you’re wearing braces without a suit jacket. It sends a very bad message. But if I’m on my third Norteamericano—it really doesn’t matter.