Marshall Minaya, beverage director at NYC's Valerie, delves into the rich history and evolution of The Daisy cocktail. From its various base spirits to unique formulas, the podcast covers misconceptions and the balance of sweetness. The conversation also touches on the tequila sunrise's evolution and the influence of Daisies on modern cocktails like the Margarita.
The Daisy cocktail has a rich history of evolving from brandy to gin bases, showcasing its versatility.
Daisies were modified with various spirits and ingredients, inspiring modern classics like the Margarita.
The Margarita simplifies the Daisy's story, reflecting how cocktail histories compress over time.
Deep dives
Evolution of the Daisy Cocktail
The Daisy cocktail's evolution spans from its early forms pre-prohibition, shifting from brandy or whiskey bases to gin classics. The original definition varied, leading to debates among staff over its classification. Over time, the cocktail embraced different forms, spirits, and ingredients, indicating its versatile nature.
Historical Background and Variations
The history of the Daisy cocktail includes mentions in bartender guides, such as Jerry Thomas's editions, highlighting its sour and sweet profile, often modified with liqueurs and topped with seltzer. Notable variations emerged, like the tequila Daisy from Tijuana during prohibition, and different recipes curated across gin, whiskey, and rum bases.
Influence on Modern Classic Cocktails
The Daisy's influence extended into modern classics like the Margarita, which simplifies its story within the cocktail family narrative. The transition of the Daisy to the Margarita signifies a nuanced evolution, reflecting how cocktail histories compress and simplify over time for practical storytelling purposes, emphasizing the lineage of these beverages.
Origin and Evolution of the Margarita
The podcast delves into the history of the margarita, discussing its origins and evolution over time. It highlights the debate surrounding the original recipe of the margarita and how it evolved from its daisy grenadine base in the 1930s to the popular tequila lime quantro version we know today. The episode explores various anecdotes and insights, shedding light on different interpretations and influences on the margarita's development.
White Negroni and Bar Memories
The discussion shifts towards the white Negroni cocktail and the significance of bitter and floral flavors in mixology. The speaker reminisces about visiting a specific bar in Rome and reflects on the experience of learning and adapting cocktail recipes. Additionally, the importance of always taking a meeting, as shared by mentors, is emphasized, along with the value of a notebook and pen as essential tools for bartenders in memorization and learning new cocktail recipes.
Marshall Minaya, beverage director at New York’s Valerie, Madame George, and Lolita, joins us today to pick the petals off the surprisingly intricate cocktail — and category of cocktails — that is The Daisy. Since the late 19th century, Daisies have taken on so many different guises — embraced such a wide range of base spirits and formulas — that a historical is a given in today's episode. Listen on, or read below, to learn Marshall's Daisy recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!
