Category: Cognac / Brandy

Tulip

The TULIP is a semi-sweet cocktail, but not excessively sweet, perfect for spring. It is complex and somewhat floral from applejack (or calvados), apricot liqueur and lemon juice. The mix is traced back to Harry Craddock’s The Savoy Cocktail Book,...

Morning Glory

The MORNING GLORY mix of choice is a delicious 1906 bourbon/brandy cocktail from Louis’ Mixed Drinks. The dominant flavors are from bourbon and brandy (or cognac), with balancing from maraschino liqueur and bitters. Absinthe is called for, but only as...

Webster

From Harry Craddock and the Savoy Cocktail Book of 1930 comes the gin-based WEBSTER. It’s balanced, dry, slightly tart from the lime juice and has apricot tones from apricot brandy. Depending on personal preference and the apricot brandy used, it...

Culross Cocktail

The CULROSS (“cool-ROSS”) is a medium-sweet rum-based cocktail that suits any season. This blend of white rum, Lillet Blanc, apricot brandy and lemon juice dates back to the 1930’s Savoy Cocktail Book from Harry Craddock. It’s well balanced and easily...

Brandy Alexander

In the mid-70’s, the BRANDY ALEXANDER was one of the most-ordered drinks at the downtown restaurant where I waitered. It’s been pushed aside by newer cocktails since then, but is still the same brandy-cream-creme de cacao cocktail it’s been since...

Applejack Rabbit

A good cocktail for the fall is the applejack-based APPLEJACK RABBIT. This full-flavored, multi-layered recipe is a dive into an orchard of fruits covered in a dash of maple syrup. It’s mixed with two common citrus ingredients, orange & lemon...

Harvard

You may not get smarter drinking a HARVARD, but you might definitely think you’re smarter after one or two. The Harvard is a Manhattan-style brandy-based cocktail that originated about 1895. The two wine-based ingredients of brandy and sweet vermouth give...

Golden Dawn

The GOLDEN DAWN is a fruity and tart, yet complex “martini.” It’s not a traditional martini with vermouth. But the bitters mixed with gin, apricot brandy and applejack give it a power-punch equivalent to a martini. The orange juice infusion...