Cognac_directory_FINAL

Sidecar
This classy little cocktail is both simple and chic. It not only tastes
fabulous, but looks just wonderful when served. It is believed
that it was so named after the motorcycle sidecar in which an
eccentric British captain in Paris during the Second World War
was transported to the bistro where the cocktail was born. The
first recorded listing for this cocktail can be found in the early
1920s books, Harry’s ABC of Cocktails, and Cocktails, How
to Mix Them.
In the USA the Sidecar is often served with a sugared rim,
and is very popular. However, this then leads to a completely
different cocktail: one named the Brandy Crusta (see below for
more details). Of course, you can enjoy the Sidecar (or Brandy
Crusta) served however you prefer.
Ingredients
2 parts of VS or VSOP cognac
1 part fresh lemon juice
1 part Triple Sec
dash of sugar syrup
1 twist of lemon peel for garnish
Place all the ingredients (bar the lemon peel) in a cocktail
shaker with some crushed ice and mix. Allow to cool and
then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the
twist of lemon peel and serve immediately.
Cognac Tonic
Made with either tonic or soda, this is a popular way to enjoy
eaux-de-vie in the Cognac region. It’s a simple way to make a
long, refreshing drink that has a hint of lemon and combines the
taste sensations of both sweet and sour. There are many different
tonics that can be used to create a Cognac Tonic, but the best that
we’ve come up with are shown below:
Ingredients
ice cubes
a shot of tonic water
splash of lemon juice
one measure of VSOP cognac (brand of your choice)
Place the cognac and ice cubes in a glass, add the tonics and
stir in a splash of lemon juice. Serve immediately.
Blazing Brandy
This was created by Jeremiah P. Thomas (1830–1865), a head
bartender who toured the whole of the USA as well as overseas.
Cognacs were his speciality, and he’s widely regarded today as
the ‘father of the cocktail.’ He published the first ever cocktail
guide in 1862 – How to Mix Drinks or The Bon Vivant’s
Companion – and several further editions of the book were
published over the following decades.
Create your own Blazing Brandy in the following manner …
Ingredients
2 parts VSOP (brand of your choice)
½ part orange liqueur
8 coffee beans
1 orange zest
3 dashes of Angostura bitters
Heat a brandy balloon glass under hot water. Add the orange
liqueur, coffee beans and Angostura bitters and warm over a
rocks glass full of hot water. Once warmed, ignite the liquid
and rotate slowly to coat the inside of the glass. Once the