Category Archives: Drinks

Amazing Brandy and Cognac Cocktails

The fad for brandy and cognac cocktails can be attributed to the craze for television series like Madmen. Most can simply be made in a chilled cocktail shaker with ice but if you really want to whip up a froth with these you can use a blender or Magic Bullit. However, if you want these to taste the way they did when Dorothy Parker and the gang gathered around the Algonquin Round table then you will make due with the vintage cocktail shaker.

Between The Sheets

* 1 ounce brandy

* 1 ounce light rum

* 1 ounce Cointreau

* 1/2 ounce lemon juice

Shake with ice. Strain into cocktail glass. This is a very elegant and pretty little drink that tastes smooth and tart at the same time. It is quite heavy and best suits serving at a winter cocktail party. It is very syrupy and you can get drunk on this fast so take it easy.

Brandy Alexander

* 1 1/2 ounce brandy

* 1 ounce cream

* 1 ounce crème de cacao (brown)

Shake with ice. Strain into cocktail glass and serve. This is one of those drinks that is practically a dessert in a glass. You can garnish it in many ways. A cherry and chocolate shavings is quite classic. You can also serve it with a dime of pure white chocolate, Hershey’s kisses or even a dollop of whipped cream.

French Quarter

* 2 1/2 ounces brandy

* 3/4 ounce Lillet

Stir with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a thin quarter wheel of lemon. or orange and a cherry. This is a tart cocktail that is very classic. Make sure the wheel of lemon is speared with an old fashioned cocktail spear.

Nicky Finn

* 1 ounces brandy

* 1 ounce Cointreau

* 1 ounce lemon juice

* Dash Pernod

Shake with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry or a lemon zest. This is a strong little cocktail so there will be no drinking and driving afterward the party is over.

Saratoga

* 3/4 ounce brandy

* 3/4 ounce rye whiskey

* 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth

* 2 dashes Angostura bitters

Stir with ice. Strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with a slice of lemon.

This is sometimes known as a Brandy Martini.

Sidecar

* 2 ounces Brandy (cognac)

* 1 ounce Cointreau

* 1/2 ounce lemon juice

Shake with ice. Strain into cocktail glass. You can garnish this with the classic cocktail sword speared with fruit and cherries if you like. A lemon paired with a cherry works best.

Stinger

* 1 ounce brandy

* 1/4 ounce white crème de menthe

Stir with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh sprigs of mint, and serve with a big glass of ice water because this is one of those cocktails that is really sweet!

Fun Drinks That Glow in the Dark

If you really want to impress your friends at your next cocktail party try serving these drinks and then turn the lights down low. They will seem to almost glow in the dark.

 

Alaska

*          2 ounces gin

*          1/2 ounce Chartreuse

*          dash orange bitters

 

Stir with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon or lime peel.

 

Black Bull Dog

*          1/2 shot vodka

*          1/2 shot Kahlúa

*          1/2 squeezed lemon

*          cola

*          loosely whipped cream

 

Fill a highball glass with ice cubes. Add vodka, Kahlúa and lemon.

Stir and fill up with cola to create a pitch black drink. Top with l whipped cream

 

Combustible Edison

*          1 ounce Campari

*          1 ounce fresh lemon juice

*          2 ounces brandy

 

Shake Campari and lemon juice with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass. Heat brandy in a chafing dish. When brandy is warmed, ignite and pour in flaming stream into the cocktail glass.

 

If the brandy is chilled and shaken rather than ignited, the drink is simply known as the Edisonian.

 

Champs Elysées

*          1 ounce brandy (cognac)

*          1/4 ounce Chartreuse

*          1 ounce lemon juice

*          2 drops Angostura bitters

 

Shake with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

 

Green Wedding

*          3/4 ounce vodka

*          1 ounce Midori melon liqueur

*          1 dash Roses Lime

*          champagne

 

Build in layers in the above order in a champagne flute to create a sparkling layered green drink. Decorate with 5-6 leaves mint or lemon balm.

 

The Kents

*          1 shot of vodka

*          equal amounts of Roses lime and cranberry juice

*          a splash of Sprite

 

Build over crushed ice in a highball glass to create a bright pink drink.

 

Monkey Gland

*          2 ounces Gin

*          1 ounce Orange Juice

*          1/4 ounce Grenadine

*          1 dash Pernod

 

Shake with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an Orange Twist.

 

Pink Baby

*          1 ounce creme de cassis

*          3-4 ounces milk

 

Shake with ice and strain into a highball glass to create a tall pink drink. Garnish with raspberries or a maraschino cherry.

 

Tidee Bowl

*          1/4 ounce vodka

*          1/4 ounce gin

*          1/4 ounce blue curacao

*          1/4 ounce cointreau

 

Shake, strain and pour over ice to create a tall blue cocktail in a Collins glass.  Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

 

The reason that so many of these drinks seem to glow in the dark is because they contain chartreuse which always gives a drink a bit of an eerie glow.