25 February 2011

Friday Belts





It's been a while hasn't it? Well, when it rains it pours.

I stopped by to pass on good news to a designer when he started pulling books off his shelves and out of filing cabinets. I've seen a lot of historical ephemera on men's apparel but that book up there blew my mind, cleaned my clock and stole my girlfriend. Used as a trade catalog in 1926, nothing was better said by an employee, "If a guy couldn't sell with this book he was brain dead." Or something to that effect.

This is where I'm supposed to tell you the name of the book. Some of you are probably expecting a link to the book's listing on Alibris. And I would imagine there are a few of you who expect me to buy the book for you while I help you blow your nose. Let me get my handkerchief...

Welch-Margetson & Co. Ltd. Thumb indexed and hard covered with lots of color plates. Back in 2004 a lucky buyer picked up four hard cover and three paperback catalogs from Christies for $1,051. Keep a look out but until then check out more images from W-M on the blog, "The Age of Uncertainty." He won't help you blow your nose but he'll sell you a book.


Left to Right: De Ville D+, Montmartre B+, St Remy B-, Blansac B, Chatelle C-

I was reading about popular drinks in the 1920's and 30's and was surprised to learn scotch and bourbon were considered below the salt and not at all what the erudite and sophisticated New Yorker drank. That confirmed Toots Shor's tipple of choice, brandy and soda. I used 10 year Decaumont ($13) for the dangerous Side Car here but can't find it. Blansac (4th from left) makes for a good Side Car and runs about $20 a litre. It's a little gritty with soda but has the backbone you need for a Brandy Old Fashioned a la the Wisconsin Dinner Club in Door County on a Friday night. It pairs well with the all-you-can-eat perch fry for $9.50 but be sure to save some room for the cheery cobbler, doncha know.

The De Ville (1st from left) is very light and I found it lacking. But I like the label so it's on my bar but filled with the St. Remy (3rd from left) which is a little steep ($19) but is complex enough to stand on it's own in a snifter. No surprise it's made by Remy Martin. Chatelle (5th from left -$18) was disappointing given the sale job from the wine store. Then again, I may not have the discriminating palette of a brandy buff. The Montmartre (2nd from left) stood out as cheap ($15), complex and very smooth with a hint of sweetness. It's perfect alone in a snifter but is clean and bright with soda. It's also perfect with sweet vermouth and orange bitters for a poor man's Brandy Manhattan. I'll pour Montmarte into the Hine VSOP bottle when it's empty.

Brandy and cognac are derived from grapes rather than grain or corn. And like Manzanilla Sherry, there's not a lot of interest and that's why they're so cheap. Sadly, the trade catalog from Welch & Margetson is not but I thought you should know about it. OK, you can blow now.

12 comments:

~Tessa~Scoffs said...

Oh Thank God. It's the perfect remedy for my headache. Bless you, Tintin

Kcaj said...

Keeping with the grape, consider giving Madeira a try as a snifter alternative.

A nice Madeira introduction (both written an available for drink) can be found at:

http://www.rarewineco.com/html/rwc-hist.htm

And no, I don't work for them - they just take my money...

Separately and related to an old post, it seems the Vasque boot is and was a division of Redwing! Sometime in the late 60s, Redwing realized they were completely lacking a euro-mountainering-boot; so, they found a design for an Italian firm to produce.

Have a good weekend All. Jack.

Brummagem Joe said...

It's pissing down in rain here Tintin, miserable as hell, you've motivated me to do the sidecar at 5.00 pm, the bride complains but she always has one.

Main Line Sportsman said...

I am concerned about all this pouring one liquor into a different bottle.
I had my first Brandy and ginger ale after reading a James Bond book where he ordered it...cannot remember which book. ...but it is a tasty drink and one that begs for inexpensive Brandy.

Anonymous said...

"...Scotch and bourbon were considered below the salt." You can picture all those average guy hangdog detectives in the film noirs ordering it, every time. Not to mention being the favorite drinks of all the beat reporters, pulling that bottle out of the bottom desk drawer...

Thanks for the belt!

-DB

tintin said...

Tessa- I'm gonna work on a new cocktail called the Brandy Tessa.

Kcaj- A client and I used to give each other bottles of Verdelho Maderia. One went back to 1855. Most were 1870s. They were $200 to $400 back then. I understand they've shot up. They were amazing. Thanks for the update on Vasque.

Joe- Yep. A nasty day in NYC but it could be worse. It could cloud up and shit.

Main Line- I like to see if my guests really know their hooch. I just had a Black Busch and Ginger the other night. Darned good.

DB- You'd dig that book. My doc told me that brandy and cognac were better for you health wise than gin or scotch or whiskey or whisky. It's the grapes. Now you have an excuse.

Patsy said...

Hooch testing your guests reminds me of an exchange in the book Shibumi:

"That rose I had with dinner, what was it?"

"Tavel, of course."

"I knew it!"

"No, you didn't. You almost knew it."

Main Line Sportsman said...

I think I like your Physician...

Amatourist said...

First brandy old fashioned I ever had was at the Milwaukee Yacht Club. I was 25 y.o. and schlepping bags around for a bunch of Uzbek businessmen - and yes, it was as weird as it sounds. Let's just say I needed the brandy more than they did.

ann said...

Hey once, Door County! Tonight we're all from WI. Thanks, Tintin.

Unashamedly Crap said...

My Friday belt's gin based. Otherwise all good.

Farmer Jones said...

Lotsa Wisconsin references lately,
maybe I'd better keep on the lookout for Tintin at my local watering hole?