October Historical Cocktail Feature
The Lion’s Tail (1937)
From the pages of the Café Royal Cocktail Book to Parlour 1886, the Lion’s Tail lives on—pairing Kansas-crafted Boot Hill Bourbon with allspice dram and bright lime for a taste of history and warm autumn spice.
October Historical Cocktail Feature
The Lion’s Tail
A spirited classic. Poured for today.
Recorded in W. J. Tarling’s 1937 Café Royal Cocktail Book, the Lion’s Tail brings together an unexpected combination: bourbon, fragrant allspice, and fresh lime. It's warm spice and bright citrus give this historic cocktail a character all its own.
The name is commonly linked to the expression “twisting the lion’s tail”—a reference to provoking the British lion. Although the drink’s exact origins remain uncertain, its appearance in the London cocktail collection preserves a distinctive piece of cocktail history.
At Parlour 1886, we give this classic a Kansas connection. Our Lion’s Tail combines Boot Hill Bourbon with St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, fresh lime, simple syrup, and Angostura bitters, shaken and served in a chilled martini glass with a lime twist.
The allspice brings notes reminiscent of clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg, while lime adds a refreshing lift to the bourbon’s richness. The result is warmly spiced, balanced, and fitting for an October evening in our historic dining room.
A little history. A little spice. A Kansas spirit.
September Historical Cocktail Feature
The Stone Fence
An Early American Classic. Poured for Today.
Long before the golden age of cocktails, American taverns were pouring simpler drinks made from what was close at hand. The Stone Fence emerged from this early drinking tradition, combining a strong spirit with hard apple cider. By the early 1800s, variations of the drink were part of American tavern culture, although its story may reach even further back.
One of the Stone Fence’s most enduring legends dates to 1775, when Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys are said to have shared a mixture of rum and hard cider before the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. Whether history or tavern lore, the story reflects just how deeply rum and cider were woven into early American drinking traditions.
At Parlour 1886, we bring that tradition to Kansas. Our Stone Fence combines Flor de Caña aged rum with hard cider from Meadowlark Farm in Rose Hill, Kansas, connecting one of America’s earliest cocktail traditions with apples grown and cider crafted here in our own state.
Simple, crisp, and rooted in history, the Stone Fence reminds us that a memorable cocktail doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes the best way to revisit the past is simply to pour it again.
An early American drink. A Kansas harvest. Poured for today.
August Historical Cocktail Feature
The Mamie Taylor
Inspired by 1900. Crafted for today.
The Mamie Taylor first appeared around 1900, during America's Gilded Age. Named for popular stage performer Mayme Taylor—whose name became immortalized as "Mamie" in cocktail history—it introduced a lighter, more refreshing way to enjoy Scotch. Combining blended Scotch, fresh lime, and sparkling ginger ale, it quickly became a favorite in hotels, clubs, and elegant parlors across the country.
At Parlour 1886, we honor that tradition with our own thoughtful interpretation. While the original recipe called for ginger ale, our version features premium ginger beer, creating a brighter ginger spice and a bolder finish while preserving the cocktail's historic character.
More than a century later, the Mamie Taylor remains a reminder that great cocktails—and the stories behind them—continue to evolve. We invite you to experience this timeless classic, thoughtfully reimagined for today.
Experience a taste of the Gilded Age—crafted for today, only at Parlour 1886.
July Historical Cocktail Feature
The Horse's Neck
A Refreshing Bourbon Classic from the Late 1800s
Bold. Spirited. Timeless.
Originally enjoyed as a refreshing blend of ginger ale and lemon in the late 1800s, the Horse's Neck began as a popular temperance drink served in hotels and social clubs. Its signature garnish—a single long spiral of lemon peel—gave the cocktail its memorable name, resembling the graceful curve of a horse's neck.
As America's cocktail culture evolved, bartenders introduced bourbon and aromatic bitters, transforming the Horse's Neck into a timeless highball that became a favorite in hotel bars across the country. Refreshing, approachable, and full of character, it remains a classic more than a century later.
At Parlour 1886, we honor this historic cocktail with Boot Hill Bourbon from Dodge City, Kansas, complemented by crisp ginger ale, aromatic bitters, and fresh lemon. The result is a smooth, refreshing drink that celebrates both American cocktail history and Kansas craftsmanship.
Simple ingredients. Rich history. A classic worth rediscovering.
June Historical Cocktail Feature
The Gin Rickey
A Refreshing Classic from the Late 1800s
Simple. Bright. Timeless.
Born in the heat of Washington, D.C. in the late 1800s, the Gin Rickey became the drink of choice for those seeking refreshment without excess. Named after Colonel Joe Rickey, a political lobbyist known for favoring whiskey with lime and soda, the drink evolved into a crisp gin-based classic that quickly gained popularity across America.
Unlike many cocktails of its era, the Gin Rickey embraced simplicity. With no added sugar, its bright flavor came from just a few carefully balanced ingredients: gin, fresh lime, and sparkling soda water. Light, refreshing, and endlessly drinkable, it became especially beloved during warm summer months and remained a favorite into the early 20th century.
At Parlour 1886, we honor this enduring classic with our June feature—crafted with Old Ransom Tom Gin, fresh lime, and soda water, prepared with respect for the drink’s original roots.
No syrups. No excess. Just a beautifully refreshing cocktail with a story worth savoring.
May Historical Cocktail Feature
The Tom Collins
Bright. Refreshing. Timeless.
The Tom Collins traces its roots back to the 1870s, when a playful rumor swept through bars across America.
Known as the “Tom Collins Hoax,” patrons were told a man named Tom Collins had been speaking poorly of them nearby—sending people from tavern to tavern searching for someone who didn’t exist. Bartenders embraced the moment, serving a refreshing mix of gin, lemon, sugar, and soda water under the now-famous name.
Light, citrusy, and sparkling, the Tom Collins quickly became a favorite in hotel bars, parlours, and gentlemen’s clubs, earning its place as one of America’s enduring classics.
At Parlour 1886, we honor this tradition with Old Ransom Tom Gin, fresh lemon, simple syrup, and soda—creating a cocktail that is both historic and refreshingly timeless.
