Fine and Dandy

I have a confession to make. My husband and I are big Disney fans. Huge. I’ve loved most of their cartoons ever since I was a little girl, I even own several of the classics. Then when I moved to Los Angeles, I made a point of going to Disneyland as often as I could which was only once or twice a year. Hey, that place is expensive. But after we had kids, the hubs and I decided to get passes. We knew there was no way we’d be able to get to the park when it opened and stay until closing. Not with two little ones. So once we had passes, we were going all the time. These days I’m there at least once a month. Sure, some might say I’m obsessed or addicted, but those are such negative terms. I prefer to consider myself an avid fan.

You’re probably wondering what Disneyland has to do with cocktails. Well, this past weekend was the semi-annual Dapper Day event at Disneyland. Started in the spring of 2011, DAPPER DAY is a fashionable gathering at the Disney Resorts in LA, Orlando, and Paris. Disney fans like myself come to the park from far and wide all decked out in stylish fashions from yesteryear. It’s become such a huge event, the organizers have even set up a salon in the Disney hotel so men and women can get their hair styled in the fashion from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. This event has me written all over it, right? So, in honor of the mashing of two of my favorite things, I thought I’d bring you the Fine and Dandy cocktail.

Me with Burt from "Mary Poppins" at Dapper Day

This cocktail comes from that classic of all cocktail books the Savoy which was published in 1930. Although I don’t have an exact date when the cocktail was created, the name evokes a bygone era when men rarely left their houses without a hat or a shiny set of cufflinks. These men were often referred to as Dandys or a man devoted to style, neatness, and fashion in dress and appearance. That pretty much sums up most of the men attending Dapper Day. While it’s true you don’t need to dress up to enjoy this cocktail, it’s definitely the perfect finishing touch.

Fine and Dandy

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. gin
• 1 oz. triple sec
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• a dash of orange bitters

Directions:

1. Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for at least a minute. Strain into a cocktail glass and serve.