Gin pahit
Encyclopedia
Gin Pahit is an alcoholic drink made with gin
and bitters
, as enjoyed in colonial Malaya
. The name means "bitter gin" in Malay
.
The recipe, according to the food and beverage service of the Raffles Hotel
, is 1½ ounces of gin and ½ ounce of Angostura bitters
. At least one book on drinks from the 1930s describes it as identical to a pink gin
, which would imply considerably less bitters.
Often referred to by the writer W. Somerset Maugham
. For example his short story, "P. & O." (Copyright 1926), Maugham's character Gallagher, an Irishman who had lived in the Federated Malay States for 25 years, orders the drink. Gin pahit appears in several other Maugham stories, including "Footprints in the Jungle" , "The Book-Bag" and "The Letter" all set in Malaya, and in the novels "The Narrow Corner" (opening line of Chapter xviii), and in "The Outstation" (Two Malay boys,..., came in, one bearing gin pahits,..).
Maugham himself spent many years in the Malay archipelago
and was most certainly acquainted with the drink from his travels. He refers to gin pahit in the opening pages of his 1930 travelogue "The Gentelman in the Parlour" (Chapter iii). The Raffles Long Bar in Singapore listed Gin Pahit on the cocktail board as late as 1985 but other references to Pink Gins are correct - a traditional Royal Navy drink ("..one had no ice, d'you see?") of Gin and bitters where the bitters were added to the glass first and barman would then ask "In or Out, Sir?"
Gin
Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries . Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories...
and bitters
Bitters
A bitters is an alcoholic beverage that is flavored with herbal essences and has a bitter or bittersweet flavor. There are numerous brands of bitters that were formerly marketed as patent medicines but are now considered to be digestifs, rather than medicines...
, as enjoyed in colonial Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
. The name means "bitter gin" in Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
.
The recipe, according to the food and beverage service of the Raffles Hotel
Raffles Hotel
Raffles Hotel is a colonial-style hotel in Singapore, and one of the world's most famous hotels. The hotel was established by the famous Armenian Sarkies Brothers. Opened in 1887, it was named after Singapore's founder Sir Stamford Raffles. Managed by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, it is...
, is 1½ ounces of gin and ½ ounce of Angostura bitters
Angostura bitters
Angostura bitters, often simply referred to as angostura, is a concentrated bitters made of water, 44.7% alcohol, gentian root, and vegetable flavoring extracts by House of Angostura in Trinidad and Tobago. They are typically used for flavoring beverages, or food...
. At least one book on drinks from the 1930s describes it as identical to a pink gin
Pink Gin
Pink Gin is a cocktail made fashionable in the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century, consisting of Plymouth gin and a dash of 'pink' Angostura bitters, a dark red extract of gentian and spices, known from the 1820s at Angostura, Venezuela but now made in Trinidad and Tobago...
, which would imply considerably less bitters.
Often referred to by the writer W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham
William Somerset Maugham , CH was an English playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and, reputedly, the highest paid author during the 1930s.-Childhood and education:...
. For example his short story, "P. & O." (Copyright 1926), Maugham's character Gallagher, an Irishman who had lived in the Federated Malay States for 25 years, orders the drink. Gin pahit appears in several other Maugham stories, including "Footprints in the Jungle" , "The Book-Bag" and "The Letter" all set in Malaya, and in the novels "The Narrow Corner" (opening line of Chapter xviii), and in "The Outstation" (Two Malay boys,..., came in, one bearing gin pahits,..).
Maugham himself spent many years in the Malay archipelago
Malay Archipelago
The Malay Archipelago refers to the archipelago between mainland Southeastern Asia and Australia. The name was derived from the anachronistic concept of a Malay race....
and was most certainly acquainted with the drink from his travels. He refers to gin pahit in the opening pages of his 1930 travelogue "The Gentelman in the Parlour" (Chapter iii). The Raffles Long Bar in Singapore listed Gin Pahit on the cocktail board as late as 1985 but other references to Pink Gins are correct - a traditional Royal Navy drink ("..one had no ice, d'you see?") of Gin and bitters where the bitters were added to the glass first and barman would then ask "In or Out, Sir?"