The Good Old Days

Remember the good old days when you'd get a little extra at the gas station with a fill up. Glasses, toy cars, maps. Hell they'd even check your oil and and wash your window!

One of the mailings I subscribe to had sent out a link for his latest newsletter and he'd acquired a small bar guide that a Shell service station at 5th and Folsom in San Francisco had given out in 1952.

There’s still a Shell Station at 5^th and Folsom in San Francisco and it’s got three service bays and no quickie mart! I wonder if they still give out a little extra?

The book included a recipe for a Zombie that's a bit different than the norm. I had to try it! My changes, measurements and notes are in italics

Lou's Shell Station Zombie

•  1 ounce Passion Fruit Juice – Homemade Passion Fruit Syrup diluted 1 to 2 pts water
• 1 ounce Plum or Apricot Juice – I substituted 1 oz Mango
• Juice 1 small lime – 1oz
• 1 tsp. powdered sugar – 1 barspoon 1/1 simple syrup
• 1 dash Bitters
• Juice of 1 medium-sized orange – 2 oz
• ½ Anisette – ½ barspoon Absinthe
• 2 ½ oz. rum – Cruzan Aged
• ½ oz. Apricot Flavored Brandy – Rothman & Winters
• ½ oz. Dememara, 151 proof – Lemon Hart – I floated this on top
• 1 oz. Jamaica Rum – Smith & Cross
• 1 oz. Puerto Rico Gold Label Rum – Zaca 12yr

 Overall I would say this is a damn fine drink. It's not overly sweet and I would probably leave out the additional sugar/simple syrup next time. It's got definite tropical/tiki twist with the rum and topical fruits. I've got a couple of other Tiki Recipes that use Absinthe and it's a nice addition and adds complexity in small, almost undetectable amounts.

I stirred it all together and served it in a pint glass, on the rocks, with the 151 float and I'm going to slowly drink the whole thing and then take a nap

images courtesy of Barkeeper.com