Moonlight Cocktail
A romantic brandy cocktail with Lillet and maraschino, named for evenings under the stars.
- 1½ ozcognac
- ¾ ozlillet blanc
- ½ ozmaraschino liqueur
- Cherrygarnish
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The Moonlight Cocktail is among the hundreds of recipes preserved in Harry Craddock's 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book, one of the most important cocktail references of the 20th century. Craddock compiled these recipes during his tenure as head bartender at the American Bar of London's Savoy Hotel, where he served royalty, writers, artists, and entertainers during the interwar period. The Savoy was a haven for American expatriates during Prohibition (1920-1933), and Craddock himself was an American who relocated to London after the Volstead Act shuttered his career. The Moonlight Cocktail belongs to a family of evocatively named brandy-based drinks from the era, designed to be served chilled at the end of an evening. Its romantically atmospheric name reflects 1920s cocktail culture, when drinks were frequently named for nocturnal moods and the leisurely social occasions that characterized Savoy clientele.
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