Suffering Bastard
Suffering Bastard: The WWII Hangover Cure from Cairo
According to Jeff Berry and others, a suffering bastard cocktail was created at the Shepheard's Hotel in Cairo. Bartender Joe Scialom was looking to make a hangover drink for allied troops and according to the story made one as a "cure" for the suffering soldiers who complained about the poor Wikipedia quality of available wartime liquor.
A trained Chemist, he discovered making drinks was much more enjoyable and began working as a bartender. During World War II the Shepheard's Hotel was a favored watering hole for British officers and the press corps Alcohol Professor.
Historians agree that the drink was invented sometime in 1942 at Shepheard's Hotel bar in Cairo, Egypt. Due to the mentioned liquor shortage, Scialom had to improvise and came up with a concoction of Gin, Brandy, bitters, lime, and ginger beer Cocktail Society. The allies did well, however, and the drink was supposedly so popular with the troops that a telegram was sent asking for several gallons to be made and brought to the front lines Wikipedia before the Battle of El Alamein.
Berry also notes that when Scialom made other versions he had different names for them, and that the addition of bourbon made the drink a Dying Bastard, and the addition of both bourbon and rum made it a Dead Bastard Wikipedia. The cocktail later became a tiki bar staple when adopted by Trader Vic.
RECIPE:
1 oz gin
1 oz brandy (or bourbon)
½ oz fresh lime juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Ginger beer to top
Method:
Add gin, brandy, lime juice, and bitters to glass with ice
Stir briefly
Top with ginger beer
Garnish with mint sprig and orange slice