What is a May Queen?
Frederick Altamont Cornwallis Twistleton, fifth Earl of Ickenham,
has the following to say about the drink May Queen in Uncle Fred
in the Springtime:
"Its full name is, 'Tomorrow'll be of all the year the maddest,
merriest day, for I'm to be the Queen of the May, mother, the
Queen of the May.' A clumsy title, generally shortened for
purposes of ordinary conversation. Its foundation is any good
dry champagne, to which is added liqueur brandy, armagnac, kummel,
yellow chartreuse, and old stout, to taste."
I recommend 2 or 3 parts champagne to 1
part of everything else, and lots of ice.
The name of the drink comes from the refrain of
Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem "The May Queen."
Return to P. G. Wodehouse Appreciation Page.
Page maintained by Tom Kreitzberg.
Please send comments and suggestions to
tak@smart.net