No doubt about it.
Frank Sinatra knew his way around
a jazz standard, but also, a perfectly
concocted whiskey cocktail.
As booze lovers ourselves,
we thought we'd put together a video
with some of Frank Sinatra's
favorite drinks.
Old Blue Eyes didn't screw
around with his drinks.
His tipple of choice was
a very precise mix of ice,
Jack Daniel's Whiskey, and water.
But God help the bartender who screwed
up this deceivingly simple concoction.
After all, Sinatra was rumored to
have connections to the Italian mob.
One extra cube of ice and that
barkeep might end up sleeping next
to a severed horse head.
Fun fact, the entertainer Jackie Gleason
allegedly introduced Sinatra to Jack
at Toots Shor's Bar in New York.
It was love at first sip.
The bond between Sinatra and his beloved
Jack was stronger than most marriages.
It even went beyond the whole,
"Until death do us part," bit.
Yep, Frank was buried with
a bottle of Jack Daniel's Black Label
right by his side.
#relationshipgoals.
Anyway, Sinatra was no one-trick pony.
Indeed, the Chairman of the Board
knew his way around some spirits.
He was famously quoted as saying,
"You only go around once,
but if you play your cards right,
once is enough."
And Sinatra definitely had an affinity
for playing those cards at bars
all around the world.
When he wasn't cozying up to
a glass of Jack, you'd find him
enjoying a Martini or two.
But according to bartenders Victor Gower
and Peter Dorelli, at The American Bar
in the Savoy Hotel, Sinatra was
very particular about that Martini.
For starters, it was a classic.
Beefeater gin with a touch of vermouth,
served on the rocks with a twist of lemon.
It also had to be dry and extremely cold.
Any small slip up, and you'd be on the
receiving end of an epic tear down.
But it didn't stop there.
Every time he visited a bar or hotel,
he demanded the same room,
the same waiter at the bar,
and the same drinks.
He even had his very own chairs and
barstools at some establishments,
which might sound
a tad bit, well, diva-ish.
But in case you didn't get the memo,
it's freaking Frank Sinatra
we're talking about here.
If anyone gets a pass, it's this guy.
He wasn't always such a hard ass, though.
Just ask his favorite boozing bros,
The Rat Pack.
It wasn't odd to find some combination
of Dean, Sammy, Joey, and Pete sharing
a booth, bar, or stage with Frank.
And by all accounts,
he was a true blue, loyal pal.
Supposedly, he never forgot
a friend's favorite drink.
In fact, he loved mixing Martinis
for his inner circle and sharing them
with his pals on stage.
Rumor has it that on the Oceans 11 set,
he was the go-to barkeep
for his castmates, and a
damn good one at that.
So, to recap, Jack Daniel's Black Label
was Frank Sinatra's main squeeze,
but he had a roving eye for
an expertly made Martini as well.
When it came to good friends,
he was quick with a drink and a light
of a smoke, and hell, couldn't we
all use more friends like that?
Next time you're at a bar and see
a bottle of Jack, order it the way Sinatra
would have wanted it.
It's the closest you'll get to stepping
back in time and walking in the shoes
of a drinking and singing legend.
♪ [music] ♪
