PHOSPHATES
Phosphates were carbonated beverages made-from-scratch by the "soda jerk" using carbonated soda water, flavored syrups and phosphoric acid, an ingredient still used today in many brands of soda-pop including Coke. Popular flavors included cherry, lime (usually called a green river), chocolate and vanilla. The variations were limited only by creativity, creating such hybrids as the cherry-lime rickey. The trick here is to find the phosphoric acid. Find a pharmacist over 50, and ask if they carry it or know where you might find some. Soda jerks kept it in a shaker bottle (like hot sauce or worchestershire) and added just a few drops to each phosphate.
To a tall glass, add one of the following to taste:
•Cherry Phosphate: Cherry flavored fountain syrup or snow-cone syrup
(or substitute the syrup from jar of maraschino cherries)
•Lime Phosphate (Green River): Lime flavored fountain syrup or snow-cone
syrup
•Chocolate Phosphate: Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
•Vanilla Phosphate (Cream Soda): Vanilla flavored fountain syrup or snow-cone
syrup (or substitute vanilla extract and sugar syrup)
•Cherry Lime Phosphate (Rickey): Equal parts cherry and lime flavored fountain
syrups or snow-cone syrups
Fill glass about 3/4 full with chilled club soda (no salt added). Shake in
a few drops of phosphoric acid. Briskly stir-in flavoring with a spoon. Add
ice.