Not only old recipe books, but also newspaper articles need to be studied in order to find well-made cocktails. Among them is this mixture of vermouth, sherry, port and orange bitters from ‘The Only William’ Schmidt.
20 ml Antica Torino rosso vermouth 20 ml Lustau Don Nuno Oloroso sherry 20 ml Graham’s Natura Port 2 Dash (2,5 ml) orange bitters
Preparation: 3 ice cubes, stirred for 20 seconds (60 times).
The ‘Daughter of the Dawn of the Twentieth Century’ is a delicious ‘morning drink’ by ‘The One And Only’ William Schmidt, which is also excellent in the evening. We came across it while researching William Schmidt in the New York World of December 24, 1900, which states: “SOME WONDROUS NEW XMAS DRINKS. … William Schmidt, better known as ‘The Only William,’ who is now dispensing moist at [68? Day?] street, has thought up some drinks for to-morrow. He calls them Yuletide and Twentieth Century joys. This early morning drink is called ‘Daughter of the Dawn of the Twentieth Century.’ William says it is delicate and delectable and [as] suitable for the [hardened] man as for the dainty lady. Fill a goblet with fine ice, then mix these ingredients: One-third vino vermouth. One-third sherry. One-third port wine. Two dashes orange bitters. Stir and strain into cocktail glass.” [1]
This is a recipe by William Schmidt, for which there is a counterpart from 1896. One would therefore assume that he devised his mixture as early as 1896. The ‘Der Deutsche Correspondent’ wrote about it on 19 May 1896: “The New York Journal’s ‘Mixed Drinks Connoisseur’ is firmly calling for the establishment of a bartending academy, but it seems to us that Gotham’s drinks mixologists are really on the cutting edge, because they’re always coming up with something new. Svengali and Trilby cocktails have already been done there. No sooner was ‘The Daughter of the Dawn’ the ‘Craze’ in the New York theatres than drinks of that name were available. This drink is described as very appetising and is considered to be quite ‘ultra-modern’, in contrast to the ‘Manhattan’, which is said to have been drunk in America at the time of Columbus and which therefore probably deserves the epithet ‘deeply ancient’. ‘The Daughter of the Dawn’ consists mainly of port wine, sherry and vermouth and should be taken before breakfast in the form of a cocktail. One of the finest drinks is ‘The Widow’s Kiss’, which consists mainly of Chartreuse, maraschino, Benedictine etc. with the white of the egg floating on top. These two varieties are not yet included in any cocktail recipe book. The aforementioned man from the ‘Morgen-Journal’ even waxes poetic at the thought of the new delicate ‘drinks’, because he rhymes: ‘Ein fein zusammengemischtes, Dem Gaste hübsch aufgetischtes, Herz und Magen belebendes, Die Sinne froh erhebendes, Katzenjammer vertreibendes, In allen Ehren bleibendes, Stärkendes, edles, entzückendes, Prickelndes, gutes, erquickendes Getränk!’ [A finely mixed drink, beautifully served to the guest, revitalising the heart and stomach, uplifting the senses, dispelling the blues, remaining in all honour, strengthening, noble, delightful, sparkling, good, refreshing drink!]” [3]
Der Deutsche Correspondent, 19. Mai 1896, page 2. [3]
– »Der ›Mixed Drinks-Verständige‹ vom ›New York Journal‹ verlangt entschieden die Errichtung einer Barkeeper-Akademie, aber wie es uns scheint, stehen die Getränkemischer Gotham’s doch wirklich auf der Höhe der Zeit, denn sie haben fortwährend etwas Neues. Svengali- und Trilby-Cocktails sind dort schon abgethan. Kaum war in den New-Yorker Theatern ›The Daughter of the Dawn‹ die ›Craze,‹ so gab es auch schon Getränke dieses Namens. Dieses Getränk wird als sehr appetitreizend bezeichnet und gilt so ziemlich als ›hochmodern,‹ zum Gegensatz des ›Manhattan,‹ den man zur Zeit des Columbus in Amerika schon getrunken haben soll und der deshalb wohl den Beinamen ›tief antike‹ verdient. ›The Daughter of the Dawn‹ besteht hauptsächlich aus Portwein, Sherry und Wermuth und ist vor dem Frühstück in Form eines Cocktails zu nehmen. Einer der feinsten Drinks ist ›The Widow’s Kiß,‹ der größtentheils aus Chartreuse, maraschino, Benediktiner u. s. w. mit dem oben schwimmenden Weißen vom Ei besteht. Diese beiden Sorten sind noch in keinem Cocktail-Rezeptbuch enthalten. Besagter Verständige vom ›Morgen-Journal‹ wird sogar poetisch bei dem Gedanken an die neuen delikaten ›Drinks‹, denn er reimt: Ein fein zusammengemischtes, Dem Gaste hübsch aufgetischtes, Herz und Magen belebendes, Die Sinne froh erhebendes, Katzenjammer vertreibendes, In allen Ehren bleibendes, Stärkendes, edles, entzückendes, Prickelndes, gutes, erquickendes Getränk!« [3]
These two recipes can be considered identical, and the orange bitters were probably already an ingredient in 1896, as this newspaper article states that the main ingredients are port, sherry and vermouth (making orange bitters the secondary ingredient) and that the drink should be taken before breakfast in the form of a cocktail. Unfortunately, William Schmidt is not named as the originator, but is merely told that this drink comes from ‘Gotham’, the nickname of New York. [4]
I refuse to believe that William Schmidt passed off another man’s drink as his own creation; therefore, the version from 1896 mentioned is probably his own. Perhaps William Schmidt was not so creative and called several of his drinks ‘Daughter of the Dawn’? An article also published in 1896 speaks in favour of this. It states: “DAUGHTER OF THE DAWN, A MORNING DRINK. By the ›Only‹ William. Into a goblet nearly filled with ice put three dashes of orange bitters, one-half a dash of absinthe, one dash of gum. Then add one-third of a drink of vermouth, one-third of sherry and one-third of whiskey, or gin if preferred. Stir all together with a spoon. This is a delicious and refreshing drink.” [2-55]
One wonders why the Bicycle Cocktail follows directly below, obviously very similar in preparation. It was apparently also created by William Schmidt: “BICYCLE COCKTAIL. One-third sherry, one-third whiskey and one-third of port wine, three dashes of orange bitters, one dash of absinthe, poured over chipped ice. No sugar is used. Decorate with fruit. N. Y. —Recorder.”[2-55]
We will probably not be able to resolve this apparent contradiction of William Schmidt’s several different drinks with the same name. He was creative, and perhaps he simply conjured up a new drink on the spur of the moment for journalists who were always eager for news, gave it a name and then didn’t really remember it later? At any rate, this could explain the similarity in names.
1896 Der Deutsche Correspondent, 19. Mai 1896, Seite 2. Daughter of the Dawn.
›The Daughter of the Dawn‹ besteht hauptsächlich aus Portwein, Sherry und Wermuth und ist vor dem Frühstück in Form eines Cocktails zu nehmen.
1896 The Maryland Farmer, June 1896, Seite 55. Daughter of the Dawn.
By the ›Only‹ William. Into a goblet nearly filled with ice put three dashes of orange bitters, one-half a dash of absinthe, one dash of gum. Then add one-third of a drink of vermouth, one-third of sherry and one-third of whiskey, or gin if preferred. Stir all together with a spoon. This is a delicious and refreshing drink.
1900 New York Evening World, 24.12.1900, Seite 1. Daughter of the Dawn of the Twentieth Century.
One-third vino vermouth. One-third sherry. One-third port wine. Two dashes orange bitters. Stir and strain into cocktail glass.
20 ml Antica Torino rosso vermouth
20 ml Lustau Don Nuno Oloroso sherry
20 ml Graham’s Natura Port
2 Dash (2,5 ml) orange bitters
Preparation: 3 ice cubes, stirred for 20 seconds (60 times).
The ‘Daughter of the Dawn of the Twentieth Century’ is a delicious ‘morning drink’ by ‘The One And Only’ William Schmidt, which is also excellent in the evening. We came across it while researching William Schmidt in the New York World of December 24, 1900, which states: “SOME WONDROUS NEW XMAS DRINKS. … William Schmidt, better known as ‘The Only William,’ who is now dispensing moist at [68? Day?] street, has thought up some drinks for to-morrow. He calls them Yuletide and Twentieth Century joys. This early morning drink is called ‘Daughter of the Dawn of the Twentieth Century.’ William says it is delicate and delectable and [as] suitable for the [hardened] man as for the dainty lady. Fill a goblet with fine ice, then mix these ingredients: One-third vino vermouth. One-third sherry. One-third port wine. Two dashes orange bitters. Stir and strain into cocktail glass.” [1]
This is a recipe by William Schmidt, for which there is a counterpart from 1896. One would therefore assume that he devised his mixture as early as 1896. The ‘Der Deutsche Correspondent’ wrote about it on 19 May 1896: “The New York Journal’s ‘Mixed Drinks Connoisseur’ is firmly calling for the establishment of a bartending academy, but it seems to us that Gotham’s drinks mixologists are really on the cutting edge, because they’re always coming up with something new. Svengali and Trilby cocktails have already been done there. No sooner was ‘The Daughter of the Dawn’ the ‘Craze’ in the New York theatres than drinks of that name were available. This drink is described as very appetising and is considered to be quite ‘ultra-modern’, in contrast to the ‘Manhattan’, which is said to have been drunk in America at the time of Columbus and which therefore probably deserves the epithet ‘deeply ancient’. ‘The Daughter of the Dawn’ consists mainly of port wine, sherry and vermouth and should be taken before breakfast in the form of a cocktail. One of the finest drinks is ‘The Widow’s Kiss’, which consists mainly of Chartreuse, maraschino, Benedictine etc. with the white of the egg floating on top. These two varieties are not yet included in any cocktail recipe book. The aforementioned man from the ‘Morgen-Journal’ even waxes poetic at the thought of the new delicate ‘drinks’, because he rhymes: ‘Ein fein zusammengemischtes, Dem Gaste hübsch aufgetischtes, Herz und Magen belebendes, Die Sinne froh erhebendes, Katzenjammer vertreibendes, In allen Ehren bleibendes, Stärkendes, edles, entzückendes, Prickelndes, gutes, erquickendes Getränk!’ [A finely mixed drink, beautifully served to the guest, revitalising the heart and stomach, uplifting the senses, dispelling the blues, remaining in all honour, strengthening, noble, delightful, sparkling, good, refreshing drink!]” [3]
– »Der ›Mixed Drinks-Verständige‹ vom ›New York Journal‹ verlangt entschieden die Errichtung einer Barkeeper-Akademie, aber wie es uns scheint, stehen die Getränkemischer Gotham’s doch wirklich auf der Höhe der Zeit, denn sie haben fortwährend etwas Neues. Svengali- und Trilby-Cocktails sind dort schon abgethan. Kaum war in den New-Yorker Theatern ›The Daughter of the Dawn‹ die ›Craze,‹ so gab es auch schon Getränke dieses Namens. Dieses Getränk wird als sehr appetitreizend bezeichnet und gilt so ziemlich als ›hochmodern,‹ zum Gegensatz des ›Manhattan,‹ den man zur Zeit des Columbus in Amerika schon getrunken haben soll und der deshalb wohl den Beinamen ›tief antike‹ verdient. ›The Daughter of the Dawn‹ besteht hauptsächlich aus Portwein, Sherry und Wermuth und ist vor dem Frühstück in Form eines Cocktails zu nehmen. Einer der feinsten Drinks ist ›The Widow’s Kiß,‹ der größtentheils aus Chartreuse, maraschino, Benediktiner u. s. w. mit dem oben schwimmenden Weißen vom Ei besteht. Diese beiden Sorten sind noch in keinem Cocktail-Rezeptbuch enthalten. Besagter Verständige vom ›Morgen-Journal‹ wird sogar poetisch bei dem Gedanken an die neuen delikaten ›Drinks‹, denn er reimt: Ein fein zusammengemischtes, Dem Gaste hübsch aufgetischtes, Herz und Magen belebendes, Die Sinne froh erhebendes, Katzenjammer vertreibendes, In allen Ehren bleibendes, Stärkendes, edles, entzückendes, Prickelndes, gutes, erquickendes Getränk!« [3]
These two recipes can be considered identical, and the orange bitters were probably already an ingredient in 1896, as this newspaper article states that the main ingredients are port, sherry and vermouth (making orange bitters the secondary ingredient) and that the drink should be taken before breakfast in the form of a cocktail. Unfortunately, William Schmidt is not named as the originator, but is merely told that this drink comes from ‘Gotham’, the nickname of New York. [4]
I refuse to believe that William Schmidt passed off another man’s drink as his own creation; therefore, the version from 1896 mentioned is probably his own. Perhaps William Schmidt was not so creative and called several of his drinks ‘Daughter of the Dawn’? An article also published in 1896 speaks in favour of this. It states: “DAUGHTER OF THE DAWN, A MORNING DRINK. By the ›Only‹ William. Into a goblet nearly filled with ice put three dashes of orange bitters, one-half a dash of absinthe, one dash of gum. Then add one-third of a drink of vermouth, one-third of sherry and one-third of whiskey, or gin if preferred. Stir all together with a spoon. This is a delicious and refreshing drink.” [2-55]
One wonders why the Bicycle Cocktail follows directly below, obviously very similar in preparation. It was apparently also created by William Schmidt: “BICYCLE COCKTAIL. One-third sherry, one-third whiskey and one-third of port wine, three dashes of orange bitters, one dash of absinthe, poured over chipped ice. No sugar is used. Decorate with fruit. N. Y. —Recorder.” [2-55]
We will probably not be able to resolve this apparent contradiction of William Schmidt’s several different drinks with the same name. He was creative, and perhaps he simply conjured up a new drink on the spur of the moment for journalists who were always eager for news, gave it a name and then didn’t really remember it later? At any rate, this could explain the similarity in names.
Sources
Historical recipes
1896 Der Deutsche Correspondent, 19. Mai 1896, Seite 2. Daughter of the Dawn.
›The Daughter of the Dawn‹ besteht hauptsächlich aus Portwein, Sherry und Wermuth und ist vor dem Frühstück in Form eines Cocktails zu nehmen.
1896 The Maryland Farmer, June 1896, Seite 55. Daughter of the Dawn.
By the ›Only‹ William. Into a goblet nearly filled with ice put three dashes of orange bitters, one-half a dash of absinthe, one dash of gum. Then add one-third of a drink of vermouth, one-third of sherry and one-third of whiskey, or gin if preferred. Stir all together with a spoon. This is a delicious and refreshing drink.
1900 New York Evening World, 24.12.1900, Seite 1. Daughter of the Dawn of the Twentieth Century.
One-third vino vermouth. One-third sherry. One-third port wine. Two dashes orange bitters. Stir and strain into cocktail glass.
explicit capitulum
*