Irish Coffee (1952)

[Jonathan Lighter]

For a number of years beginning in the '80s, "Harvey Washbanger" was the name of a just off-campus business where students could do their laundry while getting beered up.

Always thought that was a pretty clever name.  Come to think of it, with that name and that service,there was no good reason for the place EVER to close up!

JL

"James A. Landau" <JJJRLandau at AOL.COM> wrote:
---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: "James A. Landau"
Subject: Re: Irish Coffee (1952)
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In a message dated Wed, 20 Oct 2004 01:11:08 -0400, Bapopik at AOL.COM writes:

> Another citation for this drink.
>
> (Proquest Historical Newspapers)
> THE TRIBUNE TRAVELERS' GUIDE; Ireland Puts a Lot of Beauty in Little Space
> James Doyle. Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1963). Chicago, Ill.: Jun 8,
1952.
> p. F17 (1 page):
> The Irish also do not serve elaborate dishes garnished with cunning
sauces.
> But Irish food is in the top European class--succulent grills, tender
steaks,
> fresh-water salmon straight from the river, and Irish coffee, black, with a
> jigger of Irish whiskey, sugar and thick cream on top.

I have a vague recollection that in the late 1950's a vendor of Irish whiskey
in the US ran a series of ads (I must have seen them in New Yorker magazine)
promoting Irish coffee. You would know better than I whether this advertiser
coined the name of the drink or whether he took advantage of an already named
concoction.

(A friend of mine once ordered an "Irish coffee" in a bar and was served
something made with Scotch and instant coffee. "It was," he said, "a sobering
experience.")

Similarly I was once told that the "Harvey Wallbanger" was invented by the
man who had the franchise to sell Galiano (sp?) in the US and introduced the
Wallbanger as a way to promote his product. Considering that Galiano tastes like
kerosene, I am inclined to believe this story.


OT: has anyone even heard of the following potable: make a punch-bowl full
of sidecar and add some dry ice so that the mixture smokes like fuming nitric
acid (a well-known rocket fuel)? If so, what is it called?

- James A. Landau


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