Lest you think that this whole cocktail revolution and embracing of unusual ingredients in San Francisco is something new, may we draw your attention to page 7 of The Morning Call news-paper of July 11th, 1894?
Among the awards given at the California Midwinter International Exposition, the world's fair to which we owe Golden Gate Park's Japanese Tea Garden, were the following:
American section:
- A. Rapsold & Co, first, Rapsold cognac
- California Bottling Company, second, Manitou table water, ginger champagne, sarsaparilla
- Wilmerding & Co., second, Peruvian bitters
- W & A. Gllboy. first, Castle Grand Scotch whisky, Glen Scotch whisky, Castle Grand Irish whisky, Castle Old Tom gin, etc.
- S.B. Rothenberg, first, Berliner Magen bitters
- E. G. Lyons Company, first, general line liquors, fruit brandies, cordials, bitters
- Crown Distillery Company, first, rye; special, bourbon
- California Malt Whisky Distilling Company, first, Seal brand California malt whisky
- Sherwood & Sherwood, first, Keystone Monogram whisky
- Merchants' Ice Cold Storage Company, special, ice
- Ludwig Wagner, second, soda water apparatus
French section:
- G. Picon & Co., first, bitters (Amer Picon)
- Bisquit, Dubouche, & Co., first, brandies (cognac)
- Marie Brizard & Roger, first, liquors
- Marie Brizard & Roger, special, cognac
- Louis Maumont, first, bonificator for cognac
- R. Schoutecton, first, curacoa, kummel
- G.R. Durand & Co., third, shaded rum, brandy
- J.B. Lorquin, second, Lorquin bitters
- J. Desromaux, third, Malaga au quinquima
- H. Cuvillier & frere, first, red and white French wines, old cognacs
Italian section:
- Freund, Ballor & Co., first, vermouth
Spanish section:
- A. de Borja, third, liquor
- Ant. Rinz, second, liquor
- A. Tolos, third, quino morno
- T. Gimenez, third, wines and liquors
- Fausto Macua, third, anis
Austrian section:
- Moritz Reich Nachfolger, first, collection of genuine Galizian liquors
- E. Lichnits, second, liquors
- La Ferme Company, second, liquors
- G. Luxardo, second, liquors (Maraschino)
- Ludwig Vantoch, second, liquors; recommended by medical authorities—cognac
- Romano Vianov, third, Maraschino liquors
British section:
- Coates & Co., third, original Plymouth gin
- H. Walker & Sons, first, "Canadian Club" whisky
Swiss section:
- Edouard Pernod, first, absinthe green and white kirschwasser, gentlance
Belgian section:
- E. Masquelier, first, Boonekamp bitters
Peruvian section:
- Peruvian government, special, wines, alcohols, bitters, liquors, whisky, etc.
Oh for a time machine!