Dear friends and associates of the CBC, we wish you all the best and a Happy New Year!
Back in Switzerland there we used to have a legendary barman at the Badrutt’s Palace in St.Moritz, Mario DaComo. An institution in itself he made some of the best drinks in the world, and he would anytime day or night, for ladies or gentlemen, young or old, know the perfect tailored drink for the spirit and make the right comment in the circumstances. St.Moritz New Years eves were always long and powerful, and the day after spirits demanded for similar powerful cures, we would eat cases of oysters, lobsters and langoustines in the the middle of the snow crowned Swiss Alps. And Mario always setup his bar with some of the best cures I have ever come along. The last year I realized that his theories need to be shared with the world and this seems to be the right space to do so. Mario’s pharmacy bar consisted of Bull Shot’s, Bloody Marie, Prairie Oysters and Blood Transfusions, and the Corpse Reviver which was created at the Ritz Bar, Paris, in the 1920’s. The drink was immortalized in The Savoy Cocktail Book with: “To be taken before 11am, or whenever steam and energy is needed.”

For the Corpse Reviver use 3cl Brandy, 2cl Sweet Vermouth (I like to use Lillet) and 2cl Calvados: Pour the brandy, Calvados and Lillet into a mixing glass, Stir and strain into a glass.

For the gentler souls I suggest one of my personal favorites, the Bull Shot. Here it is said that if you don’t want to start lunch with soup, then starts with a Bullshot - a drink, full of strong flavor, finishing with the sharpness of lemon. Use 5cl Vodka, 15cl strong beef bouillon, dash of fresh lemon juice, few dashes of Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, celery salt, black pepper: Shake all ingredients sharply. This drink can be consumed hot, or cold shaken on ice.

A slightly more bizarre drink is the Prairie Oyster where it is said that this cures the worst headache and the most upset stomach: Rinse a glass with olive oil (a small wine glass or Cognac sniffer), add a tablespoon full of tomato ketchup, one fresh egg yolk (don’t brake it) and season with Worcestershire, Tabasco, salt and pepper and a dash of white wine vinegar. Close your eyes and drink in one gulp while thinking about the pleasures you had the night before, serve with a large glass of ice water.

Fruit juices are also a good cure as the body is dehydrated and needs lots of liquid! Happy New Year and let me know your tricks.