Join Al Zambone and guest John Shelton Reed (author of The Ramos Gin Fizz, for the LSU Press series on iconic New Orleans cocktails) for a deep dive into the history, culture, and legend of the Ramos Gin Fizz—a cocktail that’s as much a symbol of New Orleans as it is a drink. From its 19th-century origins and the city’s cosmopolitan mix, to Prohibition, Huey Long, and the modern cocktail renaissance, this episode explores how a single drink can carry the weight of place and time.
- 00:00 — Podcast intro
- 00:23 — Welcome and guest introduction
- 02:35 — The Ramos Gin Fizz: A New Orleans Legend (episode setup)
- 02:35 — Origins and pronunciation of “Ramos”
- 05:56 — Carl Ramos’s biography and 19th-century mobility
- 05:56 — New Orleans in the late 19th century
- 05:56 — Cosmopolitan city, Caribbean and European connections
- 08:56 — Cultural divisions in New Orleans
- 10:55 — German immigration and Civil War era
- 11:06 — Rise of celebrity bartenders and cocktail culture
- 13:18 — New Orleans’ iconic cocktails
- 16:22 — The Ramos Gin Fizz recipe and its components
- 17:45 — Al’s first attempt at the drink
- 19:30 — The “shaker boys” and the three-minute shake
- 21:00 — Flavor profile and chemistry
- 29:29 — Fame, Prohibition, and Huey Long
- 38:23 — Southern soft drinks and temperance
- 44:48 — Where to find the perfect Ramos Gin Fizz today
- 46:46 — Closing thoughts and thanks
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