Fitzroy Cocktail
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
One of the many concoctions drunk by strong men "out back.'* The recipe is methylated spirits, ginger beer, and one teaspoonful of boot polish.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Fitzroy Cocktail” mean?
One of the many concoctions drunk by strong men "out back.'* The recipe is methylated spirits, ginger beer, and one teaspoonful of boot polish.
Is “Fitzroy Cocktail” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.