There is something risqué about the Bosom Caresser Cocktail… Before mixing up the drink, I thought the name is where the sexual innuendo began and ended. Alas, once prepared, this cocktail’s appearance is befitting the moniker.
There was a long standing rumor that the coupe glass was formed from a mold of Marie Antoinette’s left breast. The coupe was invented more than hundred years before Louis XVI’s bride took the throne thus debunking the myth.
However, the queen of France did actually have cups formed from a mold of her own breasts during her reign.
According to the Huffington Post, four of Marie Antoinette’s original breast bowls are still on display at the Musée National de Céramique de Sèvres in Paris
These special milk cups were given to her handmaidens as part of her “Pleasure Dairy.” The whole scenario sounds very odd to me.
In addition to Mr. Boston’s 1935 book, I was able to locate this Brandy forward recipe in Harry Craddock’s Savoy. Rumor has it that the drink dates back to the 1800’s but unfortunately I couldn’t locate a PDF copy of the book referenced to see for myself.
Based on Mr. Craddock’s note underneath the Bosom Caresser’s entry in his Savoy book,
This might be called the “Bobby Jones” or the “Francis Ouimet” Cocktail, as these two gentlemen, usually so chary of expressing preferences, distinctly expressed on for this concoction.
I jumped to the conclusion that this drink was popular with men looking to score.
Bosom Buddies: Bobby Jones and Francis Ouimet were both fans of the Bosom Caresser
Both Bobby and Francis were famous golfers of their era. Given Tiger Woods’ love for the ladies, I figured these two gentleman also shared the wandering eye.
After making the cocktail and noting that it indeed looks like a breast, I think Harry actually meant that his male patron’s freely and openly remarked on the drinks visual similarity to a woman’s chest. I’m sure this was quite an amusing drink at a bar full of testosterone.
Unlike yesterday’s Apricot Brandy, Curacao, egg trio; the Bosom Caresser is very tasty! I thought the egg white killed the flavor in the Booster but switching to egg yolk and upping the amount of Curacao turned the mixture around. The addition of Grenadine not only added to the flesh tone of the beverage but it added the sweetness needed to make this drink shine.
In writing this, it donned on me that these are the same ingredients used to make the Big Bad Wolf Cocktail back on page 28. In fact they are the very same measurements!
The only change Leo Cotton made was noting the use of a spoonful of Grenadine in the Big Bad Wolf and a teaspoon in the Bosom Caresser. Since a bar spoon is around a teaspoon the two are interchangeable and thus these are the very same drink. I knew there was a reason I liked it!
The Bosom Caresser name is more befitting the drink. In fact, I think the Breast Cancer Awareness movement should adopt this cocktail. What better way to promote breast health than with an adult beverage that looks like a boob and encourages self examination? It’s a perfect fit 😉