1940s Recipes + Menus

The Baker “Improved” Libre

Makes1 drink
July 1943
The legendary Charles H. Baker Jr., author of The Gentleman’s Companion, was a world traveler. “I’ve met and downed Kooba Lee-brays from Blue Hill, Maine, to Port au Prince in Haiti, to Cat Cay in the Bahamas,” he wrote. “But somehow in the back of my mind the darn thing always has been like a girl five-feet-two in height—it lacked something! It was oversweet, it was seldom served chilled cold enough.” His adventures may not have diminished his sexism, but he did discover a way to make a Cuba Libre he could live with. A jigger is 1 1/2 ounces.

First and foremost, this is a sweetish drink so make it very cold or not at all. Into a 14-ounce thin crystal glass pour two jiggers of Bacardi Carta de Oro or some other good grade of Gold Label light rum; add the juice of 1 small green lime or 1/2 small lemon, and let the squeezed dry hulls fall into the glass. Muddle for a moment to get the aromatic oil up over the inner surfaces of the glass. Add half a glass of fine ice and fill with chilled Coca-Cola. Stir once and consume.

Ratings

Comments

Post a Comment

Please be advised that Gourmet magazine will cease publication after the November issue.

Subscribers can look forward to receiving Bon Appetit magazine for the remainder of their subscription. The Gourmet.com website will remain available during a transitional period, and access to Gourmet recipes will also remain available via sister site Epicurious.com and the Epi iPhone application.

We regret any inconvenience, and look forward to your continued readership. For questions about your Gourmet magazine subscription, please follow this link to subscription services.

The Oct. 23-25 Gourmet Institute events will not take place. Additional information is available at gourmetinstitute.com.

If you purchased the GOURMET TODAY cookbook and would like to take advantage of the offer on the back flap, click here for more information.
Subscribe to Gourmet

Conde Nast Store
Give the Gift of Gourmet

Subscribe

Subscribe to Gourmet
Diary of a Foodie

From Vermont to Vietnam, take a global culinary tour with season three of our award-winning public television show, Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie.