Comments on: Origin of Cocktail Umbrellas http://daysthatendiny.com/2006/08/18/origin-of-cocktail-umbrellas/ Alcohol's Official Weblog Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:22:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: jimmy http://daysthatendiny.com/2006/08/18/origin-of-cocktail-umbrellas/#comment-193 jimmy Sat, 19 Aug 2006 04:40:37 +0000 http://daysthatendiny.com/wordpress/?p=267#comment-193 I have also heard the Harry Yee story. I think Harry Yee believes he invented it first, so I'll go with that. I have also heard the Harry Yee story. I think Harry Yee believes he invented it first, so I’ll go with that.

]]> By: Craiger http://daysthatendiny.com/2006/08/18/origin-of-cocktail-umbrellas/#comment-192 Craiger Fri, 18 Aug 2006 22:36:14 +0000 http://daysthatendiny.com/wordpress/?p=267#comment-192 And to muddy the waters even further: "Rumor has it that Harry Yee, 'The Dean of Hawaiian Bartenders' was the first mixologist to garnish a drink with an orchid (in 1955) and a paper parasol (in 1959). -From Beachbum Berry's "Intoxica!" Far be it from me to dispute a source as well-regarded as the Beachbum, but I find this somewhat doubtful...if only for the date. 1959 seems very late for the first appearance of a paper umbrella in a drink. Given that Don the Beachcomber's was around since the mid-30's (and Trader Vic's soon thereafter), I'm inclined to think it appeared in drinks well before '59. And to muddy the waters even further:

“Rumor has it that Harry Yee, ‘The Dean of Hawaiian Bartenders’ was the first mixologist to garnish a drink with an orchid (in 1955) and a paper parasol (in 1959).

-From Beachbum Berry’s “Intoxica!”

Far be it from me to dispute a source as well-regarded as the Beachbum, but I find this somewhat doubtful…if only for the date. 1959 seems very late for the first appearance of a paper umbrella in a drink. Given that Don the Beachcomber’s was around since the mid-30’s (and Trader Vic’s soon thereafter), I’m inclined to think it appeared in drinks well before ‘59.

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