Quarantine

Given the name of this cocktail and our current condition, I had to pass this recipe from Manila, Philippines along.  It is a great expansion of the dry gin martini, transforming it into a complex white rum & citrus drink, adding egg white for fluff.

REQUIREMENTS:  white rum, gin, dry vermouth, lemon, orange, simple syrup, dry anis or absinthe, egg, lemon peel

Directions for 1 serving/ 2 servings

• 1.5 oz. / 3 oz. white rum
• .25 oz./ .5 oz. dry gin
• .25 oz./ .5 oz. dry vermouth
• .25 oz./ .5 oz. lemon juice
• .25 oz./ .5 oz. orange juice
• .25 oz./ .5 oz. simple syrup
• .25 oz./ .5 oz. dry Anis (or 2/4 dashes of Absinthe)
• 1 egg white
• 1 / 2 lemon peel

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Dry shake it to fluff up, then add ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

HISTORY:  When the U.S. military moved into the harbor of Manila in 1898, there was already a liquor culture present. The Philippines likely introduced distillation to Mexico and their trade route with Acapulco made them instrumental in the development of tequila.  The U.S. made Philippines an American territory in 1899 and the military was then dispatched to keep it that way.  Where Americans went, a thirst for cocktails quickly followed.

In 1926, an American writer and drink-lover, Charles H. Baker, arrived in the American-controlled Philippines and witnessed how cocktails had adapted to local conditions.  In compiling a list of 17 Filipino cocktail creations, one drink in particular was more popular than the perennial dry martini and a number one favorite:  The QUARANTINE.  The recipe came from the manager of the Manila Hotel, “Monk” Antrim.*

Comments: Adding egg white to cocktails was common in those days, less so now. Professionals say that the citrus “cooks” the egg. If they’re wrong, certainly the alcohol would “clean” it. I’m anxious to try this cocktail and will do so when I have all ingredients in hand. If anyone tries this one before me, let me know!

Nutritional elements: The Quarantine drink offers 4 grams protein in each egg white, and vitamin C, folate, potassium in the lemon & orange juice… to help you keep a strong immune system.

* Source: Around the World in 80 Cocktails, by Chad Parkhill