The Green Apron

“We never fought in bed,” she supposedly said about Sinatra. “The fight would start on the way to the bidet.” Ava Gardner is the legendary femme fatale in question. I was led to this quote because of a song I heard earlier today. It’s one of my favorites from a few years back: “Frank & Ava” from Suzanne Vega’s Beauty & Crime. This was printed in with the album artwork. The video for the song is classic in its own right. If you love New York City or 50’s Americana, it’s a must see. And what’s the point of this you might wonder? Naming a new drink!

I have a semi-frozen drink made with bourbon that I could never appropriately (or inappropriately) name before. Nothing with meaning or unique association ever stood out. The only idea I had was to base the name off the materialistic 1950’s. This time in American history was all about having a cocktail, looking fantastic and pointing fingers…no? When I heard that 2 ½ minute tune this morning I knew I’d found the answer. I did a little more research into the personal life of this high-profile couple and found out several dirty little things about them. My synopsis of these two – a glamorously destructive relationship that was under constant scrutiny from press and society. Well I’d probably have kept the alcohol flowing, too!

I decided this intriguing drink would relate to “one of the most beautiful women of her day” and leave ‘Ol Blue Eyes to sit this one out. Here’s the story I chose as my muse. It turns out that when she was 19, Miss Gardner visited her sister Beatrice in New York while away from school. That weekend she was given the opportunity to have her portrait taken by a professional photographer. Does it really matter that it was her brother-in-law? Apparently the final print was so remarkable it displayed it in the front window of his photography studio on Fifth Avenue. Later that same year she was offered a contract by MGM and headed to Hollywood. Because of that photo, because of her sister Beatrice, she got her start.

SISTER BEATRICE

INGREDIENTS
2 cups water
4 sun tea bags
7 cups water
1 ½ cups sugar
3 cups bourbon
1 can frozen orange juice, 12 ounces
1 can frozen lemonade, 12 ounces
Ginger ale
Bourbon cherries

PREPARATION
In a small saucepan bring 2 cups of water to a full boil. Add the 4 sun tea bags and steep for 5 minutes. Because we’re using larger tea bags it should be strong. Mix remaining water, sugar, bourbon (use something you actually like), orange juice and lemonade in a large bowl. Add tea into mix and freeze overnight. This recipe will make about 1 gallon of frozen cocktail. To serve, use an ice cream scoop to round out a portion or two of the mixture and place in a highball glass, fill with ginger ale and garnish with a bourbon cherry.

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