Brandy is a spirit which is prepared by distilling wine. The term “brandy” has been derived from the Dutch term “brandewijn”, which literarily means “burnt wine”. The alcohol content of this spirit generally lies within 35-60% and depending on that, brandy can be classified into various types.
Brandy is normally consumed as an after dinner drink, but now-a-days it is also used to prepare some of the very popular and gorgeous cocktails like the ones stated below. So, if you have brandy in hand, you can definitely try to prepare any of these easy to make wonderful and refreshing cocktails.
Brandy Alexander Cocktail
Ingredients
1 oz. of cream or half and half 1 oz. +1/2 oz. of brandy 1 oz. of dark Crème de Cacao or cacao liqueur A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Mixing Tools
1 cocktail shaker 1 grater 1 chilled cocktail glass Ice spade 1 bar strainer 1 jigger
Preparation Procedure
Pour good amounts of ice cubes into a cocktail shaker and then set it aside. Next, take a cocktail glass and dump some ice cubes into that as well. Using a jigger measure out the amount of brandy needed and then pour it into the cocktail shaker.
Similarly, measure the required quantity of Crème de Cacao and cream using the jigger and then pour them into the cocktail shaker. Once done, put the other half of the cocktail shaker on top to lock both parts and then shake it lightly to mix.
Finally, throw out the ice cubes from the cocktail glass and then pour the drink into it by straining it through a strainer. Finally, grate some nutmeg on top of the drink to serve it.
Apricot Fizz Cocktail
Ingredients
1 oz. of lemon juice 2 oz. of apricot brandy ½ oz. of simple syrup Soda water 1 wedge of lemon, for garnishing
Mixing Tools
1 highball glass 1 knife 1 Boston shaker 1 jigger
Preparation Procedure
Drop some ice cubes into the tin part of a Boston shaker and then pour the apricot brandy into it after measuring out the required volume with the help of a jigger. Then fold that up with the lemon juice and the simple syrup. Once everything is poured into the shaker tin, invert the glass part of the shaker above the tin part and then give it a thrust to lock both parts.
Once properly secured, hold up the shaker and then shake it for 6-7 seconds. Once done, pour the prepared drink into the highball glass and then top it off with the soda water. Finally, stick a lemon wedge to the rim of the glass and serve the drink.
Brandy Cassis
Ingredients
1 oz. of brandy 1 oz. of freshly extracted lemon juice 1 lemon twist, for garnishing 1 oz. of Crème de Cassis
Mixing Tools
1 cocktail shaker 1 strainer 1 citrus press 1 cocktail glass 1 twist knife 1 knife
Preparation Procedure
Hold a fresh lemon in your hand and then cut out a twist of lemon from it. Then cut the lemon in half and press it down in a citrus press to extract 1 oz. of lemon juice from it. Once done, fill up a cocktail shaker with some ice cubes and then pour the brandy, Crème de Cassis and the freshly squeezed lemon juice in it.
Put the lid on the cocktail shaker and then shake it to combine all the added ingredients. Once you are ready with the mixture, pour it down through a bar strainer into a chilled cocktail glass and then garnish it with the twist of lemon.
Wedding Bells Cocktail
Ingredients
2 oz. of Gin 1 oz. of cherry bandy 1 oz. of freshly squeezed orange juice 2 oz. of Dubonnet French Vermouth Crushed ice
Mixing Tools
1 ice spade 1 cocktail glass 1 Boston shaker 1 jigger
Preparation Procedure
Fill up the tin part of a Boston shaker with crushed ice and then pour the Gin, fresh orange juice, cherry brandy and the Dubonnet French Vermouth into the shaker.
Place the lid of the shaker tightly on top of it and then shake it vigorously while holding it up. Once done, strain the drink through a bar strainer and pour it straight into a chilled cocktail glass to serve.
Vermont Cocktail
Ingredients
1 oz. of apricot brandy 1 oz. of Gin 1 oz. of maple syrup 1 oz. of apple brandy/ Calvados 1 oz. of Benedictine DOM 1 lemon slice, for garnishing
Mixing Tools
1 cocktail shaker 1 cocktail glass 1 jigger 1 bar strainer 1 knife
Preparation Procedure
Use a sharp knife to cut out 1 lemon slice and then set it aside. Now fill up a cocktail glass with some ice cubes to keep it chilled until you are ready to pour the chilled cocktail into it. Next, pick up some ice cubes from the tub and dump them into a cocktail shaker. Then use a jigger measure out 1 oz. each of apricot brandy, apple brandy, Benedictine DOM, maple syrup and Gin.
Once all the ingredients are measured, pour them into the cocktail shaker over the ice cubes and then shake them up together with the ice. Once the cocktail shaker turns misty, strain the drink directly into the glass and then serve it by attaching the lemon slice on the rim of the glass.
Trinity Cocktail
Ingredients
2 oz. of Scotch Whisky 1 oz. of apricot brandy A dash of orange bitters 1 oz. of White Crème de Menthe Ice cubes 1 oz. of Dubonnet Dry Vermouth
Mixing Tools
1 mixing glass 1 bar spoon 1 cocktail glass 1 bar strainer 1 jigger
Preparation Procedure
- Pour enough ice cubes into a mixing glass to fill it up entirely. Then pour the Scotch whisky, orange bitters, dry vermouth, apricot brandy and the White Crème de Menthe into the mixing glass. Give a light stir to the mixture with a bar spoon and then strain the prepared drink into a chilled cocktail glass without pouring any ice cubes.