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Longines

Name: Longines
Total time: 4 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 40 ml Spanish brandy; 15 ml Aniseed liqueur; 30 ml Cold black tea; 7.5 ml Sugar syrup 'rich' (2:1)

Difford’s Guide

Discerning Drinkers (7)

Measurements in:

Serves:

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Ingredients
1 1/3 fl oz	Spanish brandy
1/2 fl oz	Aniseed (anise) liqueur
1 fl oz	Cold black tea
1/4 fl oz	Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix

How to make

Glassware

Serve in a Coupe glass

Prepare

Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist.

Method

SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Longines contains 163 calories

Alcohol content:

1.2 standard drinks
16.85% alc./vol. (33.7° proof)
16.7 grams of pure alcohol

History

Adapted from a recipe created in the 1930s-40s by the famous bartender, Constante Ribalaigua Vert at his Floridita bar in Havana, Cuba. The Longines shows his Spanish origins (he was born outside of Barcelona in 1888) with its use of Spanish brandy and (originally) Anis del Mono, a Spanish aniseed liqueur available in two styles, Dulce (sweet) and Secco (dry). The Dulce is by far the most popular style and almost certainly the one used by Constante.

More cocktails by Constantino "Constante" Ribalaïgua Vert

Review

The combination of Spanish brandy, strong aniseed liqueur (at least 40% alc./vol.) and black tea give this cocktail a pleasing liquorice flavour with mouth numbing freshness. Traditionally a dulce (sweet) Spanish aniseed liqueur would be used without the added sugar. If using a dry (secco) aniseed liqueur then I'd suggest adding a generous bar spoon of sugar.

Gallery

Comments & Discussion

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Ian Carpick 1y

Substituting oksusu-cha (Korean corn tea; you can use cheap stuff from any Asian grocery store) for the black tea and brown sugar syrup for the simple syrup makes for a subtle, complex, and delicious cocktail.