Crystal Slipper Cocktail

April 20, 2018 by Jennifer

I’m going to Dapper Day on Sunday and I can’t wait. In case you don’t know, Dapper Day is a big event that happens at Disneyland and Disneyworld twice a year. It’s a chance for vintage lovers everywhere to attend the “happiest place on earth” all decked out in style. (Yes, it’s true, I’m a Disney fan. I love the movies, I love the rides and I even own a shirt or two.) Anyway, Dapper Day is a blast and I look forward to the event every year. This year is no different.

I’m sure you’re wondering what Disneyland and Dapper Day have to do with a cocktail. Well, while doing my research into this week’s classic, I found one that I thought was quite apropos: it’s called the Crystal Slipper. I mean, is that perfect or what? Cinderella is one of my favorite movies from Disney. I love the mice, I love the songs, I love the dress and I love the slippers (though the slippers in the live action version were even cooler).

I’ve always loved the Grimm’s fairy tale, Cinderella… the young girl who was forced to be her stepmother’s servant, but then thanks to her fairy godmother, becomes a princess who falls in love with a prince. It’s every girl’s dream… course then reality hits. But even if I don’t have a fairy godmother and I don’t live in a castle, I still got my prince and I still love the story. And while I don’t actually own a pair of crystal slippers, drinking one is just as good.

Coming from my 1935 Old Mr. Boston bartender’s guide, the Crystal Slipper is made with gin, Creme Yvette and orange bitters. I used Sip Smith because the recipe called for a dry gin. But instead of Creme Yvette, I used Creme de Violette. Both are violet liqueurs, but they’re quite different. The Creme Yvette is pretty sweet, where as the Creme de Violette has a much more floral, violet flavor. But the real difference comes to color. The Violette is actually violet, whereas the Yvette has more of a reddish hue, probably from all the different berries that have been added for flavor. So, when the gin is combined with the Violette and orange bitters, you get a cocktail that’s light and crisp but with some serious floral undertones. And the color… well the color is a beautiful violet… reminiscent of the classic Disney cartoons.

If this cocktail sounds like the classic Aviation, you wouldn’t be wrong. Both drinks are made with gin and Creme Yvette, but that’s where the similarity ends. The Aviation is a little sweeter because it has lime juice and Maraschino whereas the Crystal Slipper is a much drier drink. But both are great for the spring and summer, especially if you’re heading off to Disneyland for a vintage affair. Now if only I could get a pair of crystal slippers before Sunday.