Message 1801 of 22774 in Behind the Bar

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Good advice from the others here.

I would add that the way to remain associated with the cocktail once it gets 
into the wild is to have a damn good legend behind it.
While the cocktail books/forums that 'publish' it may be convinced to put the 
'created by Iain' credit at the bottom of the recipie, that won't really mean 
anything in the long run.
In the discussions here, you'll see that the triva, the circumstances of 
'first use', and the story that goes behind it are the bits that stick in the 
memory and may make a certain bar known worldwide as the place for the 
cocktail.

Whether or not the Bodega was the first place to do a truly awesome Mohito is 
less important that the story you can tell about the way they do it there.

If you can sizzle the cocktail with an urban legend that works the bar into 
it, and becomes a story the 'tenders are likely to pass on, then and only then 
will travellers go out of there way to seek out 'your bar'.
Unfortunately, I don't think it's likely that this tactic will work anywhere 
near as well if you are looking for personal fame, as it's the bars that get 
remembered even after you move on, but there's still a chance.

When serving a drink with a story, I like to be able to pass it on. It's the 
sort of thing that will find its way into guide books and cocktail lore, 
simply because it's an entertaining read.

I read once about how the 'Cuba Libra' was one of the first cocktails made 
using the brand new creation 'Coca Cola'. How at that point Coke was the 
symbol of the new world, affluence and freedom. Hence the link with the name. 
Throw in some anecdotes about the history of white/dark rum and the carribean, 
and you have a strong mental link with the cocktail, its name and history.
It doesn't actually matter so much if the legend is all true, as long as it 
makes a good story. You can even admit at the end that it's all BS, but the 
story still sticks.

If you're really clever you could even appropriate an existing classic this 
way ;)

.dan.