Booze and a Book: More than a Woman
Natalie Kardum
Oh, Bette Davis.
The woman who inspired so many other ladies to become actresses.
Born Ruth Elizabeth Davis, she got her break in New York City performing in Ibsen's Wild Duck and made her Broadway debut in 1926 in Broken Dishes.
After moving to Hollywood, she became a star—she played roles ranging from shrews to Southern belles, managed to win Oscars, started one of the greatest feuds ever (with star Joan Crawford), and got married four times along the way.
Sound interesting? Want to find out more? Read James Spada's More than a Woman: An Intimate Biography of Bette Davis. (Bantam Books, 1993). And while you read that, mix yourself up one of these babies:
Manhattan
1 1/2 oz. Bourbon
1/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth or Dry Vermouth ( recommend Dry--you could never accuse Davis of being "Sweet")
dash Angostura Bitters (optional)
Garnish - Maraschino Cherry
Throw all ingredients into a cocktail shaker full of ice. Shake it the way Bette Davis wanted to shake the life out of Joan Crawford. Strain into your favorite cocktail glass.
For a dry Manhattan use Dry Vermouth and garnish with an olive.
For a sweet Manhattan, use a 1/4 oz. of Both Sweet & Dry Vermouth, garnishing with a lemon twist.
There you have it: a mix that will relax you while you read about the early days of Hollywood and RKO, following the life of one of the biggest screen stars ever. And don't just stop at one drink! Have another and another, until your voice croaks and you start smoking ciggies you never even knew you had. Find your own inner Bette. You won’t regret it.