The Algonquin Hotel, a.k.a. The Gonk on New York’s 44th Street was designed by architect Goldwin Starrett and opened in 1902. Originally the owner wanted to name it “The Puritan” due to his involvement the Temperance movement. Frank Case, the general manager, objected and thought it was a terrible name that would scare guests off. Instead he suggested “The Algonquin” after finding out that the first settlers in the neighborhood were Native American Algonquins.
In 1907 mr Case took over the lease and then bought it in 1927. Thanks to the fact that the hotel sat right in Theater District and just down the street from Vanity Fair it became a preferred lunch spot for New York’s writers, journalists, artists and actors. In 1919 a group that called themselves “The Vicious Circle” formed, originally to welcome New York Times’s drama critic Alexander Woollcott back from WWI. The original members were, amongst others, poet and screenwriter Dorothy Parker (known for her wit and love of Martinis), humorist and actor Robert Benchley, critic and journalist Woollcott, actor Harpo Marx and publicist John Peter Toohey. The lunches were so successful they ended up having lunch every weekday for 10 years. Apart from the founders of the group, that is more often called The Algonquin Round Table, additional members like actor Tallulah Bankhead, designer Norman Bel Geddes and playwright Noël Coward that came and went.
The hotel never was called “The Puritan” but Frank Case was also a believer in temperance and the hotel was dry even before prohibition. It’s hard to believe that his view on alcohol made much difference for the mischievous crowd at the Round Table though. The Algonquin cocktail was probably created during the time of the Round Table and first appeared in print in 1935. But who created it, no one knows.
The silver cocktail cup was designed by Danish designer Erik Magnussen in 1928.
The Algonquin
2 parts Rye Whiskey
1 part Dry Vermouth
1 part Pineapple juice
Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry.
Enjoy!
