Once Upon A Time

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (6 ratings)

Photographed in a Speakeasy Nick & Nora 4.75oz

Ingredients:
1 oz Blanche armagnac
1 oz Aromatized wine (e.g. Lillet Blanc)
1 oz Gentian liqueur (e.g. Suze, Salers etc)
0.08 oz White wine vinegar (Chardonnay)
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Nick & Nora glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.
  3. THROW all ingredients with ice.
  4. STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 6/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 8/10

Review:

A short and lightly bitter aperitif-style cocktail with an attractive golden, almost sunny appearance.

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History:

Adapted from a 2019 recipe by Mattia Lombardi, Amsterdam, this cocktail was inspired by the Negroni and the Brandy Alexander, and a mistake he made during his first bar shift while making them. Mattia says, "The white wine vinegar is a dedication to my colleague and friend Cécile Fayn, as it's her favourite ingredient."

Nutrition:

One serving of Once Upon A Time contains 162 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.4 standard drinks
  • 21.86% alc./vol. (21.86° proof)
  • 20.2 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Leo Barr’s Avatar Leo Barr
12th November 2023 at 22:23
Throw?
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
13th November 2023 at 07:20
I've turned the worth THROW into a link to a page which explains this mixing method.
Marcus Burckhardt’s Avatar Marcus Burckhardt
28th January 2023 at 21:55
I made this one with Cognac and acutally really liked it. Now I realize Blanche Armagnac is quite a different product (which I do not own either). Guess I will have to re-try with Grappa or Pisco. :D