Posts Tagged ‘cognac’
Brandy Champerelle
by Dennis Mayer on April 27th, 2012 | Budget-Friendly Wine Review, Liquor, Mixed Drinks
I'm always suspicious of trends, and one of the biggest trends in mixology these days is to turn back to the past and resurrect old recipes and ingredients. This isn't the worst trend to follow, but it can be a mixed bag. I've written before about how I think brandy is due for a huge resurgence as a primary cocktail ingredient, and while I'm not sure you ever need more than one bottle of bitters on your bar, I love that there are an expanding number of options to choose from. On a less exciting note, there's maraschino liqueur,
E&J: These Easy Jeans are Very Special
by Jason Lightner on March 13th, 2012 | LiquorAfter having sampled some cognac a few weeks ago, I decided it was time to up my game and give brandy another go. Dennis Mayer had an excellent writeup on the topic last month that you should definitely check out.
This particular tasting occurred in an old shoebox apartment, amongst friends who were much more friends-of-a-friend-of-a-friend than anything else. Honestly, why and how I get myself into these situations, I'll never know – or rather, remember, but I do find them to be good ideas at the time. To be fair to the brandy, the environment in which
The Pale Gold of Hennessy Black
by Jason Lightner on February 29th, 2012 | Liquor
A few weeks ago I had an opportunity to get a bit outside my areas of expertise, so I did what any self-respecting person would do and jumped right in. I've heard this may not be the correct way to have done it. At any rate, my adventure landed me smack-dab between several mustached gentlemen and a small glass of Hennessy Black.
Before we begin, I feel it's necessary to record exactly what Hennessy is and the nature of the spirit. Hennessy is cognac – a variety of brandy produced in the Cognac region of France
Before we begin, I feel it's necessary to record exactly what Hennessy is and the nature of the spirit. Hennessy is cognac – a variety of brandy produced in the Cognac region of France
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
Raspberry-Elderflower Warmer
by Dennis Mayer on January 13th, 2012 | Cocktails, Crafty Bartender, Liquor
In the warm, summer months, mixing drinks with fresh fruit flavors can be as easy as walking outside and picking whatever you grow in your yard -- or perusing the seasonal fruits in the produce section of your supermarket. Finding those same kinds of flavors in the winter can be a challenge, but you can still do it. Jarred fruit preserves (of the preserve, jam, or jelly variety) are made and processed at the fruit's peak ripeness, so the finished product captures the flavors we love in the summer. The same stuff you spread on your peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich can
