On July 20 1969 Neil Armstrong was the first human setting foot on the moon after safely landing the Apollo 11 Eagle lunar module in the Sea of Tranquility. It was an incredible feat of engineering seen by 600 million people glued to their tv screens across the planet, effectively making the US take the lead in the space race. Four days, six hours and 45 minutes after leaving earth the crew of three, Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins returned safely to Earth. After a 21 day quarantine (nobody knew what disease or bacteria could be caught during space travel) the crew went on a 45 day, 24 country celebratory Apollo 11 “Giantstep Presidential Goodwill World Tour”.

Before traveling across the globe they celebrated with cocktails and the first cocktail they had after returning from space was a Moonwalk. The cocktail was the invention of Joe Gilmore, head bartender at the Savoy’s American Bar in London. Even though the world tour took the astronauts to London mr Gilmore never got a chance to serve them his concoction at his bar. Instead he made the crew a batch of the cocktail and sent it to the US along with Champagne and glasses and this was the very first cocktail they had after quarantine.

Commemorative cocktails seem to have been something of a speciality of Joe Gilmore’s. Apart from the Moonwalk he made several specialty cocktails for Winston Churchill’sbirthday parties as well as many drinks honoring royal weddings and births. He also made yet another space themed cocktail in celebration of the first international space mission in 1975, a drink called Link Up.

The cocktail glass, another product made in honor of the Apollo 11 expedition, was made by Libbey in 1969 and is called Moonshot.

Moonwalk

1 part Grand Marnier
1 part Grapefruit juice
1 dash Rose water
2 parts Champagne

Shake all but Champagne with ice. Strain into a Moonshot glass and top with Champagne.

Enjoy while looking at the amazing photos on nasa.gov or watching your favorite sci-fi movie.