Velvet Threesome

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (79 ratings)

Glass:

Serve in a Coupe glass

Ingredients:
23 oz Calvados / apple brandy / straight applejack
23 oz Cognac (brandy)
23 oz BarSol Mosto Verde Italia Pisco
12 oz Licor 43 Original liqueur
14 oz Strucchi Dry Vermouth
13 oz Chilled water omit if using wet ice
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

Prepare:

  1. Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.

How to make:

  1. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  2. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish:

  1. EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 9/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 6/10

Review:

A trio of brandies with a dash of herbal vanilla, rounded with vermouth.

View readers' comments

History:

Created in 2010 by yours truly.

Nutrition:

One serving of Velvet Threesome contains 170 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.7 standard drinks
  • 25.84% alc./vol. (51.69° proof)
  • 23.9 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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Jeremy Harrold’s Avatar Jeremy Harrold
26th January at 08:35
The Licor 43 certainly tames the three Brandie’s and gives a warm vanilla flavour with a few botanicals thrown into the mix by the vermouth. Nice.
Loz Horner ’s Avatar Loz Horner
17th January at 17:51
Yup as everyone says nicely balanced (dialled down the liquor 43 slightly). Reminded us of a Titre Provisionaire, though we prefer those slightly for the interesting addition of the vinegar!
Tuber Magnatum’s Avatar Tuber Magnatum
20th March 2025 at 22:35
As others have mentioned, a very well balanced cocktail. I was worried that the Licor 43 would overwhelm but my fears were unfounded. The addition of chilled water as recommended if using dry ice in my view is critical; the added dilution helps tone down the syrupy mouthfeel of the Licor 43.
Caspian Berggren’s Avatar Caspian Berggren
26th January 2025 at 15:00
Very balanced and interesting cocktail. The vermouth is surprisingly in the front, but quickly gives way to oak from the cognac and the apple and vanilla gives it all some backbone. At first I couldn't detect the pisco but it's there, playing second fiddle to the rest of the ingredients.
Jeff Newcastle’s Avatar Jeff Newcastle
15th September 2023 at 19:39
Delicious, but I’m a little wary to have two. It’s very boozy….. Oh go on then, I’ll have another one ?
Miguel Perales’ Avatar Miguel Perales
22nd November 2022 at 23:17
I'm usually more into "minimalist" cocktails ( fewer ingredients) but I must say this was a very nice. Everything was nicely balanced. All the flavors combine very nicely, with the Calvados and Licor 43 being just slightly prominent. Very nice cocktail.
Sandrine Mazoyer’s Avatar Sandrine Mazoyer
11th September 2022 at 03:01
I tried it with vanilla Galliano and was well pretty boring. We, recently, found a bottle of licor 43 and it is a game changer for this cocktail. It is so much more complex and balance with 43 licor.
Morten Carlsbaek’s Avatar Morten Carlsbaek
6th August 2022 at 10:14
Interesting but dominated by Licor 43. I might try it again but with less Licor 43 (7,5 or maybe 10 ml?)
18th October 2025 at 17:49
Are you sure that it is the 43?
The pisco gives it a very special "feeling" in my opinion. So i'm very interested in what you found as a conclusion. :-)
Patrick Valentino’s Avatar Patrick Valentino
18th June 2022 at 15:36
This was excellent. Its going to the top of the class.
19th April 2022 at 01:48
Daron, Martell, and Barsol Qubranta all blended harmoniously in my glass!