February 3, 2016

RIP Mr. Lee

One of my favourite summer cocktails is a Southside, but really a Mr. Lee’s Southside. The famous Mr. George Lee, Sr. made his own cocktail mix, no fancy bottle or hipster-designed label for him.  image

All you really needed was a bottle of Mt. Gay rum, or gin or vodka depending on your preferance, some of Mr. Lee’s mix and some soda water. If you happened to have a sprig or two of mint to decorate the glass, all the better.

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Over the weekend came the news that Mr. George Lee, bartender extraordinaire, had died at age 96. He was one of 15 children and spent his life in service as a butler, bartender and finally a cocktail maker! He was always such a cheerful presence at a party, remembering exactly how you liked your drink served. His obituary is here.

A few years ago, a friend was visiting from the UK, and I wanted to serve Southsides. I couldn’t rustle up Mr. Lee, so another friend whose shop we were visiting, zipped back to his house and brought me a bottle of Mr. Lee’s mix, because he couldn’t stand the fact that I’d serve anything less than the best. And Mr. Lee would drop off a case of mix at my mother’s house when my brother would be coming into town, so he could stock-pile it at home.image

RIP dear Mr. Lee.

10 comments:

  1. Where does one get a bottle of Mr. Lee's mix?? Sounds and looks divine!

    Michael

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    Replies
    1. You don't. His nephew or someone makes it, but it ain't the same.

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    2. Goodness gracious, Meg we are sorry to hear of the passing of a Baltimore icon. But the caveat "it ain't the same" in what way?? Mr Lee's mix had the proper ratio of (blank) to (blank) I dare say the not so fancy bottle certainly has a fantastic shape. Green for limes???? certainly some food scientist ran some tests to isolate the ingredients??? The internet research begins....

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    3. Just doesn't have the same taste. The experts have declared this, and I have corroborated. If you try it, add the tiniest bit of fresh ginger to the mix. I think that's the secret - but don't tell!

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  2. What a lovely man. Does the recipe die with him?

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  3. “The soul takes flight to the world that is invisible but there arriving he is sure of bliss and forever dwells in paradise.”
    ― Plato

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  4. Very sad news. Thank you for your efforts to rustle up the proper Southside mix when I was in Baltimore. The drinks were superb.

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  5. ....gives a whole new meaning to the "heavenly cocktail hour" now that he has left us......

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  6. 96 - wow!!! Is that S and J's kitchen? Any more of that bottle left?

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