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Improved Brandy Cocktail

Name: Improved Brandy Cocktail
Total time: 4 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 50 ml Cognac (brandy); 5 ml Gomme syrup; 2.5 ml Maraschino liqueur; 2 dash Boker's style bitters; 1 dash Absinthe; 1 twist Lemon zest oils

Difford’s Guide

Discerning Drinkers (10)

Measurements in:

Serves:

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Ingredients
1 ²⁄₃ fl oz	Cognac (brandy)
¹⁄₆ fl oz	Gomme syrup
¹⁄₁₂ fl oz	Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
2 dash	Difford's Bokers Bitters By Bob's Bitters
1 dash	La Fée Parisienne absinthe
1 twist	Lemon zest oils

Garnish: Express lemon zest twist over surface of the cocktail, rub lemon zest oils on rim, and discard

How to make

Glassware

Serve in a Nick & Nora glass

Method:

POUR first 5 ingredients into shaker. Express oils from lemon zest twist into shaker and discard. Add ice, SHAKE and fine strain into chilled glass.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Alcohol content:

We don't have enough information to calculate the alc./vol., but based on known ingredients, this recipe contains at least:

16.7 grams of pure alcohol

History

The Brandy Cocktail first appears in Jerry "The Professor" Thomas' 1862 The Bar-Tender's Guide & Bon Vivant's Companion with this "Improved" version debuting in his 1876 The Bar-Tender's Guide 2nd Edition.

Improved Brandy Cocktail.
(Use ordinary bar glass.)
2 dashes Boker's (or Angostura) Bitters.
3 do. Gum syrup.
2 do. Maraschino.
1 dash Absinthe
1 small piece of the yellow rind of a lemon, twisted to express the oil.
1 small wineglass of brandy.
Fill glass one-third full of shaved ice, shake well, and strain into a fancy cocktail glass.
The flavour is improved by moistening the edge of the cocktail glass with a piece of lemon.
Jerry Thomas, 1876

More cocktails by Jerry "The Professor" Thomas

Review

Yes, yes, I know modern convention calls for this cocktail to be stirred but Jerry Thomas stipulates to shake it and it's much "improved" by shaking. "Shake it to wake it" and brandy shines with the other ingredients, adding complexity rather than challenging its dominance. If you can't bring yourself to shake it, at least throw it!

Variations/similar cocktails

Improved Whiskey Cocktail
Improved Holland Cocktail

Luxardo Maraschino liqueur 375ml - makes 150.5 cocktails
$32.99 $0.22 per cocktail Luxardo Maraschino liqueur image

La Fee Parisienne absinthe 200ml - makes 640 cocktails
$17.99 $0.03 per cocktail La Fee Parisienne absinthe image

$0.25 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 150.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.

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* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Gallery

Improved Brandy Cocktail lifestyle image

Comments & Discussion

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John CARR Premium Member 1y

Superb. Cognac delicately fortified and scented with fruit and bitters. Not overly sweet as some vintage cocktails can be. Brought out the dry nuttiness of the Courvoisier that I used.

John CARR Premium Member 1y

Care with not over-shaking with the small quantity involved.
Also enjoyed with Hennessy VSOP.

Nathalie O Flynn Premium Member 3y

I presume I can use standard sugar syrup no?

Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member 3y

Yes, Nathalie. A direct ml for ml swap.

John CARR Premium Member 3y

... on the basis that 2:1 sugar syrups (commercial or otherwise) are fairly viscous and add the desired smoother and richer mouthfeel?

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