#260 Cocktail: Shandy

    Well, this is a beer.....actually a combination of 2 beers. But is damn good!!
     Originally known as a Shandy Graff, this drink has been around since at least the 1880s, when it was usually made with ginger ale rather than lemon lime soda. The old ginger ale version is superior to today's lemon-lime drink. But to make it better than that, make it with Jamaican ginger beer, it's a crisp mouth-puckering treat. However you will make this drink, be sure to pour the soda into the glass first, otherwise it will foam over the top before you finish pouring

8 ounces lemon-lime soda, ginger ale or ginger beer

8 ounces amber ale

#184 Cocktail: Mamie Taylor

    This is a drink with a little history. It used to belong in a category of drinks known as Bucks, but aside from the Gin Buck, Mamie Taylor is more oor less the last survaving member of the family. Gaz Regan took the liberty to have the Highball family adopt Miss Mamie.
     "It was while Miss Taylor was the prima donna of an opera company playing at Ontario Beach, near Rochester, in 1899," he said, "that she was asked with a number of other members of the company to go out sailing on the lake. As the day was hot and the breeze rather strong, the party returned after a few hours longing for some cooling refreshments. When Miss Taylor was asked what she would have she expressed the wish for a long but not strong drink--in fact, a claret lemonade. When the drink was served it was very evident that it wasn't a claret lemonade, for it looked like a delicious long drink of sparkling champagne. On tasting it Miss Taylor found itmuch to her liking, but asked to have the flavor softened with a piece of lemon peel. When this was done the new combination drink was declared a complete success. Bystanders had been watching the proceedings and noticing the evident enjoyment with which Miss Taylor and a few of her friends relished in new drink they finally asked the hotel keepr what drink it was that was being served to them and without hesitation the hotel man replied "a Mamie Taylor" and the name seemed to meet with instantaneous favour and has become famous all over the country."  "The Post Standard", 7th March 1902

2 ounces scotch 

3 ounces ginger ale

1 lime wedge

#143 Cocktail: Gin Buck

        The gin buck, an utterly forgotten favorite from the 1920s, '30s and '40s. Nobody knows where it came from. Nobody knows what happened to it.
        Buck, and also mule, are slightly antiquated names for a family of historic mixed drinks that involve ginger ale or ginger beer, citrus juice, and any of a number of base liquors.
        Gin buck, also known as a London buck or a Ginger Rogers (after the actress of the same name), it's an easy and tasty drink to make. You just have to squeeze a lime wedge in the glass, drop it in there, put the ice on top, add the ingredients, stir briefly and.....done. Congrats!! You made a tasty summer cocktail.

2 ounces Gin

3 ounces Ginger Ale

1 lime wedge