According the Spirits column at The Washington Post, the Yellow Daisy is supposedly an Old West “cowboy cocktail,” purportedly invented by a man who gave rise to the legend of Deadwood Dick, a popular cowboy hero in books and films of yore.
These days, the recipe feels more appropriate to the tastes of the 20s and 30s, and indeed it made its first appearance in print in the pages of The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock in 1930.
Wherever it really came from, it’s a great little drink. It’s a nice introduction to the martini pantheon, with orange curaçao taking the place of bitters. For an even sweeter kick, try it with a floral blanc vermouth or a sweet Old Tom gin.
