THE LOST HISTORY OF THE PARIS SHANGHAI COCKTAIL
Probably very few people know what is a Paris Shanghai cocktail! Its existence and origin were unknown to me until I discovered in an old coffer in my attic a book called Cocktails de France et d'Orient. The author, Jean Robert, was the barman of the Cercle Sportif Français, the former Shanghai French Club, and crafted the cocktail in 1933!
His inspiration was Shanghai cosmopolitan vibe during the 1930s glamorous days. The vodka incarnating the infuencial White Russian community living in the former French Quarter. The gentiane liquor and Armagnac giving a French flavour. The bergamot black tea expressing both the Chinese and, to a lesser extend, a certain British feel.
The drink became a speciality of the French Club, a favourite haunt of movie star Ruan Ling Yu, the famous head of the Green Gang, Du Yue Sheng and prominent businessmen and socialites of the tout Shanghai!
Patrice Drummond Bonzom
HOW TO PREPARE A PARIS SHANGHAI COCKTAIL?
3 CL of Vodka
2 CL of Suze (gentiane liquor)
1 CL of Armagnac brandy
3 CL of bergamot black tea syrup
3 CL of freshly squeezed lime juice
1 dash angostura aromatic bitters
1 dash angostura orange bitters
Recipe tips:
Make your own bergamot black tea syrup for the wow factor! Infuse 20 teaspoons (or tea bags) of bergamot black tea in 1L boiling water for 5mn. Add 1Kg of sugar. We recommend to use brown sugar as it will give a more exotic flavour to the cocktail. Alternatively you can infuse the tea in 0.5L boiling water and complete with 0.5L of ready-to-use brown sugar syrup. Faster and easier! Add 2-3 CL of orange flower water (optional).
Campari, Aperol or Picon can be used instead of Suze. Cognac can replace Armagnac as well.
MATIN D'OPALE No8
Matin d'Opale No8 is a citrusy and slightly woody fragrance that perfectly echoes the aroma of the Paris Shanghai cocktail. Fresh scent of bergamot and floral tea are combined with woody and warm notes of sandalwood and ambergris these latter expressed in the cocktail by the Armagnac brandy... #matindopaleno8
