Name: Burnt Fuselage
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 30 ml Cognac (brandy); 30 ml Grand Marnier; 30 ml Dry vermouth; 1 dash Orange bitters

Burnt Fuselage
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Serve in a Coupe glass

Ingredients:
1 oz	Rémy Martin V.S.O.P. cognac
1 oz	Grand Marnier or other cognac orange liqueur
1 oz	Strucchi Dry Vermouth
1 dash	Orange Bitters by Angostura optional

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

Select and pre-chill a Coupe glass.
Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist (or orange zest twist).
STIR all ingredients with ice.
FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Dry vermouth - Sulphur Dioxide/Sulphites

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Review:

Cognac and Grand Marnier are well-suited bedfellows in this spirit-forward "stiff steadier". Dry vermouth combines with these surprisingly well. Adding balance and herbal complexity.

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History:

The Burnt Fuselage first appears in the "Cocktails Around Town" section of Harry MacElhone's 1927 Barflies and Cocktails where he lists cocktails of regulars ("Men About Town") at his Harry's New York Bar.

To quote MacElhone, "Chuck Kerwood takes to the air so frequently that he likes a stiff steadier when he comes down to earth. The famous flying man calls his concoction the 'Burnt Fuselage'. And believe me, 1/3 Grand Marnier, 1/3 Cognac, and 1/3 French vermouth, and your own fuselage will be warm, to say the least." From Philadelphia, USA Colonel C.W. (Chuck) Kerwood, was President of the International League of Aviators and was apparently known as the "wild man of aviation."

More cocktails by Harry MacElhone

Nutrition:

One serving of Burnt Fuselage contains 179 calories

Alcohol content:

1.7 standard drinks
25.71% alc./vol. (25.71° proof)
23.2 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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John CARR

1st September 2024 at 13:24

Burnt fuselage indeed. The orange colour and flavour come with a warmth and intensity that by some sensory magic conjures the title. I happened to use a blood orange twist which unintentionally but very happily amplified the effect!

John CARR

20th October 2024 at 12:10

Repeating and again felt the urge to reach for the orange bitters bottle (even without checking previous notes) to add a little aroma and bite.

John CARR

1st September 2024 at 14:18

I’d be tempted to add a dash of bitter truth orange bitters. Has the rawness and unapologetic flavour intensity of proper vintage cocktails. 🧡

1 reply

Annabelle Egginton

1st July 2023 at 18:28

This is a sophisticated warm drink to sip before or after dinner. If after dinner pais well with some petits fours such as financiers and palmiers.

denner ross

7th April 2023 at 20:24

used 3/4 oz GM, and 1.5 oz cognac with 1 oz Noilly Dry...less sweet and more spirit forward.

Joseph Murray

11th February 2023 at 18:23

This simple drink now added to my short list of favorites! Ingredients combine to produce a spiked honey flavor

Beth Schneider

3rd November 2022 at 19:46

A super sipper (pun intended)! Not too sweet as John notes.

Scott from Fife

25th October 2022 at 17:47

Agree. A perfectly well balanced pre dinner blend of flavours. The perfect mid week smooth snifter !

Nathalie O'Flynn

25th March 2022 at 23:01

Just realised I had noted this one to make some while back and forgot till I visited the 20 best cognac cocktails list yesterday. Being an easy cocktail to make and having started to show my husband how to make some too, I thought this was a good one to give him to make and it was great, bless.