Inside the Hotel New York (Continental), Cluj
As many of you will know by now, I travel to Romania pretty frequently and I am fortunate enough to stay and work in the beautiful city of Cluj which Paddy says he visited during his road trip tryst with Angéla in the summer of 1934.
Paddy’s descriptions in Between the Woods and the Water are very accurate and detailed, and the one of the Hotel New York was the most impressive which I highlighted in this article last year with accompanying photographs.
Nick and Tom outside the Hotel New York (Continental), Cluj
During Nick Hunt’s recent walk across Europe we were able to meet up outside of the hotel and I was desperate for us to drink a cocktail there just like Paddy, Istvan and Angéla. The fact that the hotel is closed should not have been a barrier to this; all I had to do was find the recipe and a willing local barman and all would be OK. Unfortunately following an ‘occupy’ protest security at the hotel was heavy and we were firmly told we could not enter. It must have been Nick’s road weary look and dusty attire which was the blocker!
I had done some research, and whilst I could not find the recipe of the Cluj cocktail which was described by Paddy thus in Between the Woods and the Water …
An hotel at the end of the main square, called the New York – a great meeting place in the winter season – drew my companions like a magnet. István said the barman had invented an amazing cocktail – only surpassed by the one called ‘Flying’ in the Vier Jahreszeiten bar in Munich – which would be criminal to miss
… I contacted the Bar Manager of the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski in München to find out the recipe for Flying. Florian Fischer kindly replied as follows, so maybe this autumn, to celebrate the publication of the biography, you may order one or even make it at home.
Dear Mr. Sawford,
thank you very much for your request. These are the things which are creating culture!
I am really interested in cocktails of this period. I was thinking about the recipe and I am quite sure, that it must be the following :
Flying Cocktail
2 parts of Gin
1 part of curacao Triple sec ( Cointreau preferred )
1 part of freshly squezzed lemon juicefill up with champagne
served in a champagne fluteActually it is the famous “White Lady” with champagne and this drink was really popular in these times.
Greetings from Munich and enjoy your “Flying Cocktail”
Cheers
Florian Fischer
Barmanager
Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski München
Maximilianstr. 17 · 80539 München · Germany Tel +49 89 2125 2217· Fax +49 89 2125 2222 florian.fischer@kempinski.com
Related article:
An eye for detail and the memory of the Hotel New York in Cluj
Patrick Leigh Fermor 
Thanks for this Tom! I was looking for a cocktail recipe that involved Cointreau as I have recently inherited a bottle of the stuff and had no idea what to do with it. In the event, I served Flying Cocktails to some friends who came over for dinner, and I can report a positive reaction. One to remember!
If you want a ‘Flying ‘ cocktail Tim why not try a ‘Blue Blazer’?
Thanks for the tip, George. Is that the one with a mug of ignited whisky and a mug of boiling water, where you get the mix by throwing the blazing liquid from one mug to the other? Sounds great, but I notice that novices – such as myself – are advised to practise for some time with cold water….
Thanks for Florian Fischer’s ‘Flying Cocktail’ recipe, which I’ll add to my Savoy Cocktail Book. It’s things like this that make the internet worthwhile.