Cocktail Recipes

The Flip

Classic | Flip, Beer Cocktails | by The Cooks Oracle (1822) | from Jon Townsend

Flips originally comprised rum or brandy, beer and molasses or sugar, mixed together then heated with a red-hot poker which caramelised the drink and made it bubble and froth. Over time, a tin or copper vessel known as an ale-warmer replaced the poker. Helped by sailors, the Flip crossed the Atlantic where President George Washington became a notable Flip drinker. Here is one of the first complete recipes for a flip from The Cooks Oracle:

To make a quart of Flip: Put the Ale on the fire to warm, beat up three or four Eggs with four ounces of moist Sugar, a teaspoon full of grated Nutmeg or Ginger, and a quartern of good old Rum or Brandy.
When the Ale is near to boil put it into one pitcher, and the Rum and the Eggs, etc into another; turn it from one pitcher into another until it is smooth as cream.
The Cooks Oracle, 1822

Ingredients

Amount	Ingredient	Brand
12 oz / 300 ml 18 oz / 450 ml 24 oz / 600 ml 36 oz / 900 ml	Ale	Old Speckled Hen
1 oz / 25 ml 1 1⁄2 oz / 38 ml 2 oz / 50 ml 3 oz / 75 ml	Jamaican Rum	Smith & Cross
1 whole 1 1⁄2 whole 2 whole 3 whole	Egg
1 oz / 25 ml 1 1⁄2 oz / 38 ml 2 oz / 50 ml 3 oz / 75 ml	Demerara Sugar
1⁄4 tsp 1⁄2 tsp 1⁄2 tsp 3⁄4 tsp	Ginger, Powdered
1⁄4 tsp 1⁄2 tsp 1⁄2 tsp 3⁄4 tsp	Nutmeg, Grated

Notes

• Method: Build in the Glass
• Pour: Add all ingredients directly to the glass
• Glassware: Beer Mug
• Garnish: None
• Special Prep:
  1. Heat the ale, but do not boil
  2. Add the rum, egg, sugar and spices to a bowl, and whisk to combine
  3. Add the hot ale to one mug, and the batter to another
  4. Toss the ale into the batter
  5. Continue to toss the now mixed drink back and forth several times until the drink is smooth.