An Excuse to Drink – 205th Birthday of Edgar Allan Poe

photo by “Random Things Entering My Field of Vision” via flikr.com

Today in 1809, maudlin master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe was born. Known for such works as “The Raven”, “Cask of Amontillado” and “The Tell-Tale Heart”, Poe was one of the earliest practitioners of the American short story form and pioneered both the detective novel and the science fiction genre.

Though he resided in many cities along the east coast, Poe is buried in Westminster Church and Burial Grounds in Baltimore, MD where he died under mysterious circumstances in 1849. Since 1949 (though this is disputed), the mysterious “Poe Toaster” has appeared in the wee hours of the morning on the anniversary of his birthday, leaving a bottle of cognac and three roses on the original grave marker after making a brief toast to the author. According to local legend, the tradition was passed from father to son(s), but for the second year in a row, the “Toaster” has failed to appear…

Despite the possible demise of a long-enduring urban legend, we still have plenty to toast to and here’s a few Poe-themed cocktails to get you going:

Montresor & Fortunato

The name is derived from the main characters of the revenge tale “Cask of Amontillado.

Recipe adapted from Damian Windsor of the Roger Room in West Hollywood , from an article by the chicago tribune

• 1 1/2 ounces amontillado sherry


• 3/4 ounce Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge


• 1/2 ounce Carpano Antica vermouth (if unavailable, substitute Carpano Punt e Mes)

Glass: Cocktail

Garnish: 1 piece each: lemon peel, orange peel, 3 Spanish Queen olives

Pour sherry, Grand Marnier and vermouth into ice-filled shaker. Express oils from lemon and orange peels by twisting them over shaker (discard peels). Stir; strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with olives.

The Poe-Themed “Annabelle Lee” Tavern in Baltimore features several themed drinks, including their take on the “Dark N’ Stormy”

Descent Into the Maelstrom

an attempt at reverse-engineering the original drink.

• 2 oz Goslings Rum


• 4 oz Ginger Beer


• float of Bacardi 151

Build in an ice filled glass, top with Ginger beer, “drag” gently to combine and add a float of Bacardi 151.

by Gregory Priebe via A History of Drinking