Posts Tagged ‘brandy’
Warming up with Cognac (or Brandy)
by Dennis Mayer on February 16th, 2012 | Ask the Bartender, LiquorI've read that both cognac and brandy make excellent sipping drinks in the winter. What is the difference between the two? Is one a better choice to try first?
Not to get too cute, but cognac is brandy.
Just like Champagne is a specific type of wine, cognac is a specific, premium type of brandy, made in the Cognac region of France and following a specific set of rules outlined by the government. Both brandy and cognac can be great winter tipples -- they have much of the same body and effect as a good Scotch or bourbon, but with an underlying
Eggnog
by Dennis Mayer on November 30th, 2011 | Cocktails, Events
Today's subject is a dicey one for a lot of people, and for understandable reasons. For one, eggnog's a punchline more often than an actual holiday drink -- countless Christmas-themed movies and television shows use it as a shorthand for getting too drunk at a holiday party (which portrays it as a ridiculous drink and stigmatizes it for teetotalers and novice drinkers.) For another, there's the raw egg, which many people find disgusting, and even a little scary. (Eggs have salmonella, right?)
I can't help with eggnog's reputation, but I can give you a few words of comfort regarding egg.
I can't help with eggnog's reputation, but I can give you a few words of comfort regarding egg.
Sangria
by Dennis Mayer on September 6th, 2011 | Red Wine, Sparkling Wine, Wine
Some day, I will probably hate myself for saying this, but no drink really has a "correct" recipe.
Most drinks have a traceable "original" recipe (cocktail writer David Wondrich has tracked down many of them on Esquire's drinks database.) Many have a popularly accepted recipe, and some even have a "sanctioned" recipe from the International Bartender's Association (which I picture to be something akin to SPECTRE in the James Bond movies.) But the "right" recipe? Drinks change over time, as do tastes, and at the end of the day, the only thing that really matters is my recipe (if
Most drinks have a traceable "original" recipe (cocktail writer David Wondrich has tracked down many of them on Esquire's drinks database.) Many have a popularly accepted recipe, and some even have a "sanctioned" recipe from the International Bartender's Association (which I picture to be something akin to SPECTRE in the James Bond movies.) But the "right" recipe? Drinks change over time, as do tastes, and at the end of the day, the only thing that really matters is my recipe (if
Between the Sheets
by Dennis Mayer on July 15th, 2011 | Cocktails, Martinis, Mixed Drinks
Cocktails fall into two main categories.
The first, more refined category includes any drink with one primary spirit and secondary ingredients to complement it. Examples range from the Manhattan (vermouth and bitters to complement your bourbon) to the margarita (curacao and lime juice to punch up tequila) to the Godfather (a splash of amaretto to sweeten up a Scotch on the rocks) and countless others. Simple, classic cocktails, designed by bartenders who had limited ingredients and hoped to give their customers the best tastes possible (or at least mask the flavor of whatever rotgut booze was available in more austere times.)
The
The first, more refined category includes any drink with one primary spirit and secondary ingredients to complement it. Examples range from the Manhattan (vermouth and bitters to complement your bourbon) to the margarita (curacao and lime juice to punch up tequila) to the Godfather (a splash of amaretto to sweeten up a Scotch on the rocks) and countless others. Simple, classic cocktails, designed by bartenders who had limited ingredients and hoped to give their customers the best tastes possible (or at least mask the flavor of whatever rotgut booze was available in more austere times.)
The
Keoki Coffee
by TK on December 4th, 2009 | Cocktails, Hot Drinks
Recently,there was a request at Idea Offer for a good cocktail that has coffee as an ingredient. The winning choice was an interesting drink called Keoki Coffee.
The winning poster was sjks0427 (catchy handle!), and this is what he/she wrote:
There is a really good drink called a Keoki Coffee which has Kahlua, dark rum, brandy and creme de cacao (quarter shot of each), then add coffee and top with whipped cream. Very yummy. A lot of bars offer a version of this that include only 3 of the 4 liquors, but the original version is as stated above.
The recipe sounds
The winning poster was sjks0427 (catchy handle!), and this is what he/she wrote:
There is a really good drink called a Keoki Coffee which has Kahlua, dark rum, brandy and creme de cacao (quarter shot of each), then add coffee and top with whipped cream. Very yummy. A lot of bars offer a version of this that include only 3 of the 4 liquors, but the original version is as stated above.
The recipe sounds
