Message 31034 of 39188 in General Discussion

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From the New York Herald Tribune, 28 July 1948:

Experiment With Vodka Lead to Moscow Mule.

Lime Juice, Ginger Beer and Ice Cubes Are Added to Give Potent New Drink.

By Clementine Paddleford

   The Moscow Mule has kicked its way into town.  Two drinks are guaranteed to 
rehabilitate a nerve-riddled executive after a bad day in the office.  In the 
most unlikely places matrons are pouring mules like pink tea and giggling like 
co-eds.  The nicest thing about the mule is that it doesn't make you noisy and 
argumentative, or quiet and sullen, but congenial and in love with the world.  
One wag of its tail and life grows rosy.
   
TEAM WORK--The mule was born in Manhattan but "stalled" on the West Coast for 
the duration.  The birthplace of "Little Moscow" was in New York's Chatham 
Hotel.  That was back in 1941 when the first carload of Jack Morgan's Cock 'n' 
Bull ginger beer was railing over the plains to give New Yorkers a happy 
surprise.  Here was ginger beer in crockery bottles tasting exactly like that 
of old England.
   
Three friends were in the Chatham bar, one John A. Morgan, known as Jack, 
president of Cock 'n' Bull Products and owner of the Hollywood Cock 'n' Bull 
Restaurant; one was John G. Martin, president of G. F. Heublein Brothers, Inc. 
of Hartford, Conn., and the third was Rudolph Kunett, president of the Pierre 
Smirnoff, Heublein's vodka division.  As Jack Morgan tells it, "We three were 
quaffing a slug, nibbling an hors d'oeuvre and shoving toward inventive 
genius."  Martin and Kunett had their minds on their vodka and wondered what 
would happen if a two-ounce shot joined with Morgan's ginger beer and the 
squeeze of a lime.  Ice was ordered, limes procured, mugs ushered in and the 
concoction put together.  Cups were raised, the men counted five and down went 
the first taste.  It was good.  It lifted the spirit to adventure.  Four or 
five later the mixture was christened the Moscow Mule--and for a number of 
obvious reasons.
   
ALIVE AND KICKING--Not knowing about the coming of Pearl Harbor, the friends 
chipped in and ordered 500 copper mugs embossed with "Little Moscows."  By 
this time the carload of Cock 'n' Bull ginger beer had reached Manhattan, such 
places as Club 21, the Waldorf Astoria, the Sherry Hetherlands, gave it an 
enthusiastic reception.
   
Then came Tojo, and Jack Martin departed for overseas service.  Cock 'n' Bull 
ginger beer fought a home-staying battle with the O.P.A., the glass shortage, 
the national indigestion.  It survived, but only in small but important 
precincts in Los Angeles.
   
Now again the mule is going places at a gallop--east of the Mississippi 
Heublein and Brothers, Inc., are skippering Cock 'n' Bull products.  Ginger 
beer is being bottled in a new factory in Yonkers, Heubleins have the Vodka, 
Florida has the limes.


Cheers!

George


thinkingbartender[at]gmail.com

http://www.wiki.webtender.com/wiki/


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