Rawling's Book of Mixed Drinks. San Francisco: Ernest P. Rawling, Guild Press Publishers, 1914.
First Edition. Original illustrated wrappers (by W. R. De Lappe), 100 pages (plus frontis portrait with printed signature of Rawling), 6 1/2 by 3 3/4 inches. "An up-to-date guide for mixing and serving all kinds of beverages, and written expressly for the man who entertains at home." An extremely scarce pre-prohibition cocktail recipe book, with only one library holding found on WorldCat. According to the highly detailed German blog Bar-Vademecum, this title includes the earliest recipe for B&B, Benedictine and Brandy, served uncooled and as a pousse cafe. Rawling also includes an early variation of The Aviation Cocktail using Irish whiskey and grape juice (Boothby used Dubonnet and Sherry [1912] and Straub Applejack and lime [1913]) Also early (or earliest) use of a hazelnut in the Gibson Cocktail is found. A contemporary review of the booklet states that Rawling was a bartender at Wheeland and Collins at the corner of California and Montgomery Streets in San Francisco. Found in Straight Up Or On the Rocks: The Story of the American Cocktail by William Grimes. Rawling is quoted in many cocktail theme blogs for his sentiments on Fizzes: "When the spirits are jaded and body is weary; after a long automobile trip on hot and dusty roads; it is then that the Gin Fizz comes like a cooling breeze from the sea, bringing new life and the zest and joy of living.” Very Good, some dog eared pages, centimeter chip to top spine end, edges with wear and some rubbing.
Price: $3,500.00