November 8: National Harvey Wallbanger Day!
Everyone single person I talked to about Harvey Wallbanger Day was like… huh? What’s that?? Well, it’s a cocktail! A cocktail made popular in the early 1950s! It’s an International Bartenders Association (IBA) Official Cocktail! I didn’t know that was a thing, but IBA Official Cocktails are selected for “use in the annual World Cocktail Competition (WCC) in bar tending” (apparently that’s a thing), and “these mixed drinks are some of the most notable and frequently-made cocktails by professional bartenders around the world.”
Huh. That’s funny since I had to call four bars before finding one that had the liquor required to make one. Have you ever called a bar looking for a particular kind of booze? No? Probably a good thing.So, a Harvey Wallbanger is vodka and orange juice, with Galliano floated on top. All bars will have vodka and orange juice (duh), but most bars will not have Galliano (apparently). I was reallllly hoping to find one that did, because the idea of spending $20+ on anise (blehhh) flavored liquor was not appealing to me. So I started calling around. The first bar didn’t have it. The second bar I called had ran out the previous weekend “from making Wallbangers!” The third bar had no idea what I was talking about. The fourth bar (which happens to be my favorite bar in Palo Alto because it’s divey and you can throw peanut shells on the floor) had it. Hooray!
I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that this particular bar had it. I’m assuming that the typical person who orders a Harvey Wallbanger is a bit of an oldie. Maybe an old lady bar fly? Someone who likes a stiff, cheap drink. Someone who would go to Antonio’s Nut House at 5pm daily.
I ordered my drink and the bartender had no idea what I was talking about (I guess she does not compete at the annual IBA WCC … or at least doesn’t do well there). I reminded her of the ingredients and her memory was refreshed. When she reached for the Galliano, an old, grizzled man sitting at the bar exclaimed “GALLIANO!?!” and seemed rather impressed by my beverage. Which was strange but sort of… cool? I don’t know.
Will I order a Harvey Wallbanger again? Probably not. A little too licorice-y for my tastes. But this was probably one of my favorite challenges so far. I like when I get to learn something about whatever the food item is, and try something new. I was also a little disappointed that I didn’t like the cocktail more… it would have been a fun “signature” order. I feel like I need a signature drink! A drink that is my go-to. I love a good margarita, but that’s not a drink I’d order in a bar (because it likely would be made with gross sugary mix and not be good). If a caipirinha is on a drink menu, I will order it… but that’s not very often. A vodka with soda water is a classic sorority girl/gay man drink, but not particularly classy. A dirty martini is a good option, but I don’t like olives. I want a signature drink that is a classic. Do you have a signature cocktail??
Tomorrow: Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day.
I think it’s funny that a grizzled old man perked up.
Me too. I think it was my favorite part.
To no surprise, given my comments on the Good & Plenty Day entry, I love Harvey Wallbangers as well, and have known about them for many years, but only actually had one for the first time within the past year or so. I say “to no surprise” not only cuz they’re both licorice-related, but also cuz they’re both culinary items beloved to old men everywhere, and I’m an 80-something trapped in a 30-something’s body.
As for signature cocktails, I have a few. I think that root beer is among the most underutilized mixers (many bars don’t even bother having it). Bourbon and Root Beer, or as we call it, the Colonel Rusty, is an absolute favorite (but usually only available at home). I order scotch and sodas pretty frequently, and I enjoy a good Manhattan or Old-Fashioned as well. For a long time my signature drink was a Greyhound, which my regular bartenders knew meant with gin. These days when you order a Greyhound you typically get vodka and grapefruit juice, BUT not unlike the martini, originally gin was the preferred/default liquor in a greyhound, but now it’s vodka. So most places, you have to say “gin greyhound” to get one with gin. ALSO if entertaining at home, or at a house party, or even a street party where it seems appropriate, I like to core a pineapple and drink Malibu and pineapple juice, or basically anything (margarita, cheap beer, gin & tonic, rum & coke), out of that. Anyway, if Good & Plenty were any indication, you’ll hate all of these drinks a whole ton, hah hah!
I think maybe my problem with the vodka soda is that it doesn’t have a good name. A Colonel Rusty is a good name. An Old-Fashioned is a good name. A Harvey Wallbanger is a good name. A Salty Dog (Greyhound + salted rim) is a good name. I want to say a cool name when I order a drink, and “vodka soda with a lime” is lame.
I think I will try a Salty Dog. I like grapefruit juice and a salted rim on my ‘rites, so this might be a good one for me!