Racquet Club Cocktail
Summer has officially started and that means it’s time for swimming and lots and lots of free play. Free play could take place on the beach, at a resort or even a swim and tennis club. It doesn’t matter where it is, all that matters is that you have some time to yourself to hang out and relax. And one of the best things to help you relax is a cocktail.
I mentioned the swim and tennis club. This may not seem like a vacation, but for a lot of families it is. See, the kids can swim all day long in the pool while the parents take a couple hours to play tennis or racquet ball with their friends. Then everyone reconvenes back at the pool for burgers and beers at the end of the day. But instead of a beer, wouldn’t a cocktail be better? Of course it would!
These days most clubs have a bar in their club house which means the parents can (and really should) change out that beer for a nice cocktail. And no cocktail is better suited for a racquet club than the Racquet Club cocktail.
No, I didn’t make this cocktail up. There really is such a drink and it’s been around a lot longer than I have. Although I don’t know who, when or where the cocktail was created, I do know it’s listed in the Savoy Cocktail Book which was first published in 1930. So, the cocktail’s been around at least since 1930, but probably long before then. It might even have been created around the same time the Martini was.
See, the Racquet Club is very similar to the original Martini. As a matter of fact, the only difference between the two cocktails are the bitters. There aren’t any bitters in the Martini. But the bitters add a subtle herbal flavor to the clean and simple martini, making it a great pre-dinner choice.
So, next time you’re kicking back by the pool after a long round of singles, order up a Racquet Club cocktail. They’re the perfect end to a fun day at the club.
Racquet Club Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. gin
- 1 oz. dry vermouth
- dash of orange bitters
Directions:
- Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake for at least a minute. Strain into a cocktail glass and serve.
