We’ve looked to Louisiana for cocktail inspiration on several occasions this year: following the success of our Mint Julep and Sazerac events, this Thursday we complete a New Orleans cocktail trilogy as we bring you the Ramos Gin Fizz!

This classic was invented in 1888 by Henry C. Ramos, a barman at Meyer’s Restaurant in New Orleans. Ramos’ drink differs from a regular Gin Fizz because of the inclusion of orange flower water and egg white. The Ramos Gin Fizz is a tad laborious to prepare, since each cocktail must be shaken individually: such was it’s popularity at Meyer’s that the bar employed several “shaker boys” to assist in meeting demand.

The Roosevelt Hotel (above) also popularized the drink, as did former Louisiana governor and U.S. senator Huey Long, who introduced it to New York. Indeed, the hotel’s website has the full anecdote:

During one of his many political trips to New York, Long stayed at the New Yorker, a hotel that boldly claimed to be the home of the Ramos Gin Fizz. After taking one sip of the New Yorker’s Fizz, the Kingfish picked up the phone and called The Roosevelt New Orleans with orders “to send his best gin fizzer on to New York by plane so he could teach these New York sophisticates how and what to drink.”

The next day Sam Guarino, head bartender at The Sazerac Bar, arrived and spent the next three hours schooling his northern counterparts on the proper way to make Long’s beloved libation. From then on out, Huey could enjoy 8 oz. of New Orleans even when he was thousands of miles away.

Now, some 70-plus years later, the Ramos Gin Fizz has arrived at Vino.

Cocktail Hour
RAMOS GIN FIZZ
Thursday, August 19
5:30-7:30pm

Tasting is free, no reservation required. For more information please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.