BRANDY & COGNAC COCKTAILS

Brandy: A strong alcoholic spirit distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice.

Categories include: Cognac, Armagnac, American Brandies (Apple Brandy was the very first distilled spirit made in America.) and fruit brandies.

Brandy began being distilled as a medicine in France around 1313 with commercial distaillation of drinking brandy beginning in the 1500's. According to Wikipedia, "Brandy" is a shortening of brandywine, which was derived from the Dutch word brandewijn, which literally means "burned wine", (derived from the process that most brandies are made with by applying heat, originally from open flames, to wine.)   Brandy has a defined rating system, the most common of the ratings include:
V.S. (very superior) or V.S.P. (very special) or three stars designates a blend in which the youngest brandy has been stored for at least two years in a cask.
V.S.O.P. (very superior old pale), Reserve or five stars designates a blend in which the youngest brandy is stored for at least four years in a cask.
XO (extra old) or Napoléon designates a blend in which the youngest brandy is stored for at least (recently upgraded to) ten years.
Hors d'âge (beyond age) is a designation which is formally equal to XO for Cognac, but for Armagnac designates brandy that is at least ten years old. The term is used by producers to market a high-quality product beyond the official age scale.

Though I am not as well versed in brandies as I would like to be, I do enjoy a good snifter of very excellent (hidden and hoarded) Cognac and I love brandy in cocktails.  I generally opt for a good mid-range VSOP for my cocktails, leaving my much pricier Cognac as a treat for very special occasions.

BRANDY COCKTAILS
  B & B  Equal parts Brandy and Benedictine served in a snifter.
BRANDY COCKTAIL  2 ounces brandy,1/2 ounce orange curacao liqueur
2 dashes  each of Angostura bitters and Peychaud's bitters with a lemon peel garnish
1492 COCKTAIL
AN APERITIF TO REMEMBER
BLACKBERRY FIZZ
BLACKBERRY CAIPIRINHA
BRANDY ALEXANDER
BRANDY OLD FASHIONED
CHERRIES JUBILEE MARTIN
CHERRY CLAFOUTIS MARTINI
CHERRY PIE MARTINI
CHICAGO COCKTAIL
CRÊPES SUZETTE COCKTAIL
DRUNKEN CHERRY MARTINI
END OF THE WORLD MARTINI
IRISH STINGER
METROPOLITAN  A brandy version of a cross between a Manhattan and a Martini with 2 ounces of Brandy, 1 ounce of sweet vermouth, a bit of simple syrup and a few dashes of Angostura bitters
NOSTERATU'S REVENGE
PURGATORY PUNCH
RATTLED SKULL
ROSH HASHANAH COCKTAIL
SAGZERAC
SIDECAR
SPARKLING PEAR MARTINI
SPICED APPLE OLD FASHIONED
STINGER
TANGELO BOURBON TANGO WITH COGNAC FOAM
VIEUX CARRÉ
WICKED WITCH'S BREW
  You might also like to make some homemade BRANDIED FRUIT.
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SPICED APPLE OLD FASHIONED COCKTAIL

I wanted an Old Fashioned but I didn't have any fresh oranges which are kind of an essential part of a classic Old Fashioned cocktail. According to the I.B.A., an Old Fashioned is basically a bitters soaked sugar cube muddled in the glass (with a bit of water to help dissolve the cube) then topped off with ice and whiskey and garnished with an orange and a cocktail cherry. Most of the time, when you order an Old Fashioned in a bar, they will muddle the orange slice and cherry with the sugar to release their juices into the cocktail. Though this is heresy to some, I happen to like this application of the muddled garnishes, it brings back fond memories.
But, again, no oranges. What I did have was an apple, fresh ginger and spices and I'm never shy when it comes to mixing things up, especially basic recipes like an Old Fashioned. There are tons of Old Fashioned recipes replacing the brandy or whiskey with rum, tequila and even vodka and moonshine. You can also replace the sugar with flavored liqueurs or simple syrups and even switch out the orange for another citrus.
Of course, by that time, you end up with a new cocktail, one that can no longer be called simply an "Old Fashioned". My thought is that if you only change out the spirit you add that spirit, as in "Rum" Old Fashioned (like a "Vodka" Martini). In my opinion, if you start messing with more ingredients an ingredient precise moniker is called for.
So, meet my:

SPICED APPLE OLD FASHIONED
INGREDIENTS 2-1/2 Oz. Brandy 1/2 Fresh Apple (I used a Gravenstein), chopped fine 1 Tsp. Cardamom Ginger Simple Syrup (Recipe Below) 1/2 Oz. Fresh Lemon Juice 3 Dashes Orange Bitters
Garnish: Apple Cube, Homemade Maraschino Cherry, Orange Twist (if you have an orange ...)
Tools: Muddler, Cocktail Shaker, Hawthorne Strainer
Glass: Old Fashioned
DIRECTIONS Chill the glass in the freezer. Muddle the apple pieces and lemon juice in the bottom of the cocktail shaker until the apple pieces release juices. Fill the shaker with ice add the brandy, cardamom ginger simple syrup and bitters then shake until well chilled. Strain into the chilled glass, garnish and serve.
Cardamom Ginger Simple Syrup
Ingredients 2 Tablespoons of Thinly Sliced Fresh Ginger 15 Cardamom Pods 1 Cup Turbinado (Raw) Sugar 1/2 Cup Water
Directions Bring all the ingredients to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Immediately reduce the heat o low and and let simmer for 15 minutes. Let it cool and allow it to steep for an hour or longer. Strain and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Yes, Bailey was all over it.

Old Fashioned Week is November 2nd through November 11th.
Check out my other signature Old Fashioned Recipes here.
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OLD FASHIONED COCKTAIL RECIPES

It's time to celebrate the classic Old Fashioned Cocktail. 
Lucky for me because I happen to love an Old Fashioned, it's actually one of my first "signature" cocktails, having been introduced to it by a very great lady back in my early college days. It became a weekly ritual with us after I finished classes on Thursdays, one week at her house, next at mine. Mrs. Smothers, my neighbor, made hers the way they were expected in those days, with lots of Maraschino cherries and several orange slices muddled together before tossing in the ice and her brandy. Though many consider this a blasphemy in this age of bespoke cocktails, I ignore the critics and will still make an Old Fashioned this way occasionally (though I skip the toxic chemical loaded "Maraschino cherries" found on your local grocery shelf and use my own Homemade Maraschino or Bourbon Cherries instead.)
Below is my animated video recipe, complete with voiceover instructions and list of ingredients for the classic Old Fashioned:

This recipe is exactly what is defines a "cocktail" making the Old Fashioned one of the first drinks to be called a cocktail.

FUN VARIATIONSON THE  OLD FASHIONED   BOURBON OLD FASHIONED BRANDY OLD FASHIONED DOOMSDAY OLD FASHIONED ELDER FASHIONED HONEY OLD FASHIONED PUMPKIN SPICED OLD FASHIONED PRICKLY PEAR OLD FASHIONED RHUBARB GINGER OLD FASHIONED   SPICED APPLE OLD FASHIONED STRAWBERRY JAM OLD FASHIONED SPICY MOLE RUM OLD FASHIONED
If you've never had an Old Fashioned, now is the time to try one. June 14th is Old Fashioned Day and Old Fashioned Week is celebrated somewhere between October 2st and the end of November, depending on who you ask.

Updated 6-2021

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FERNET CADILLAC COCKTAIL

I was on a quest to add some more fernet drinks to my cocktail list and stumbled on a recipe for a Fernet Alexander. That recipe is not only in the Alexander family of drinks, it's similar in ingredients, ratios and taste to a Golden Cadillac. Where a Golden Cadillac is typically made with equals parts Galliano, crème de cacao and cream, the Fernet Alexander employs Fernet Branca, another herbal liqueur, in place of the Galliano.
Fernet is an Italian amaro and one of the more aggressively herbal liqueurs, definitely an acquired taste. Though typically served as a digestif, it can add some serious aromatic herbal essence to a cocktail if used judiciously. Usually made with the basic components of saffron, myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom and aloe, the recipes vary from brand to brand and all are heavily guarded secrets. My personal favorite is Fernet Branca and over the last few years I have developed a fondness for it's bitter, minty licorice forward flavor, especially when mixed into the right cocktail.
Here I have replaced the white crème de cacao with dark crème de cacao, added a dash of orange and adjusted the ratios to create a fernet infused Golden Cadillac / Alexander which I've called a Fernet Cadillac.

The FERNET CADILLAC Cocktail
INGREDIENTS  3/4 Oz Fernet Branca 1-1/2 Oz Dark Crème de Cacao 1-1/4 Oz Half & Half 2 Dashes Angostura Orange Bitters Dash of Sea Salt*
Garnish: Dusting of Dark Cocoa Powder, Orange Twist (express over top of cocktail)
Tools: Cocktail Shaker, Hawthorne Strainer
Glass: Coupe
DIRECTIONS Chill the coupe in the freezer. And the ingredients to an ice filled cocktail shaker and shake vigorously (to dissolve the salt) until well chilled. Strain into cocktail glass, garnish and serve.
* Why the salt? Because it tames the very aggressive herbal nature of the Fernet a bit and it brings up the chocolate.
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ZOMBIE ANEURYSM SLUSH HALLOWEEN COCKTAIL

Looking for a sure fire way to kill a few brain cells on Halloween? Yeah? Well, this ought to do it.
Warning: Not kidding. Line up your Lyfts and Ubers now and make sure you have the next day(s) off - this cocktail is named after zombies for a reason.* Oh, and did I tell you? You get brain freeze too.
Happy Halloween.

ZOMBIE ANEURYSM SLUSH COCKTAIL
INGREDIENTS 1/2 Oz. Crystal Head Vodka 1-1/2 Oz. White Rum 1 Oz. Dark Rum 1/2 Oz. 151 Proof Rum 3 Oz.  Pineapple Juice 1 Oz. Orange Juice 1 Oz. Lemon Juice 1 Oz. Lime Juice 1 Tsp. Papaya Juice 1 C. Finely Crushed Ice
Garnish: Shot of Homemade Pomegranate Simple Syrup (Grenadine),  Halloween Straws
Tools: Blender, Funnel, Syringe or Meat Injector
Glass: Empty Crystal Head Vodka Bottle or Skull Glass
DIRECTIONS Combine all the ingredients in a blender and pulse until slushy smooth. Pour into your empty Crystal Head Vodka bottle through the funnel. (I filled the funnel then lightly tapped the bottle on a towel covered counter several times until the bottle was full to the eye ridges.) Remember to leave space for the freezing cocktail to expand. Freeze for about an hour, just long enough to let the bottle frost over and the slushy to solidify a bit. Stir with the skewer to loosen. Just before serving, fill the meat injector (syringe) with the pomegranate simple syrup then shoot this against the inside of the glass somewhere near the eye sockets and brain. The syrup is heavier than the cocktail and will slowly slide down to the bottom for a nice layered effect. Add the straws and serve.
* MartiniDiva.Com and subsidiaries take no responsibility for any stupidity arising from this recipe. Drink at your own risk.
National Zombie Day is July 7th.
Updated 7-2019 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

The STRANGER THINGS BOOZY SLUSHY Maple Walnut Bourbon Cola Cocktail

When I think about Netflix's Stranger Things the first thing that comes to mind, of course, is Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). But the next thing that comes to mind are Eggo waffles. El's fondness for junk food is a theme throughout season one. Being on the run from Papa (Matthew Modine) and Hawkins National Laboratory, junk food is the easiest food for her to get her hands on and she is a kid, albeit a strange kid, so Eggos figure heavily in Eleven's diet.

Mike (Finn Wolfhard): "Don't worry, when all this is over you won't have to keep eating junk food and leftovers like a dog anymore. My mom, she's a pretty awesome cook. She can make you whatever you like." Eleven: "Eggos?" Mike: "Yea, Eggos, but real food, too."
When she disappears after disintegrating the Demogorgon, Chief Hopper (David Harbour) gives us hope Eleven is still alive by placing plates of Eggo waffles in a box for her on Christmas eve.
Coke shows up a lot, most likely as a result of paid product placement, but still cans of it pop up often. Chocolate pudding makes an appearance as a lunch lady's hoarded food and there are multiple mentions of other edibles, also mostly junk, but not always: Dustin (Gaten Mazzarrato): "Alrighty, so we've got Nutty Bars, Bazooka, Pez, Smarties, Pringles, Nilla wafers, apple, banana and trail mix." 
I'm saving my binge of this year's season for a full day treat so no spoilers here, but I couldn't pass up doing a Stranger Things Cocktail and took my cue from the primary munchies of season one. Since cocktails aren't for kids but the show is about kids, I went down a sort of Upside Down cocktail recipe trip of a maple waffle cola slushy, appropriately served up in a soda bottle with a straw. If you want to make these for kids simply replace the bourbon with a dash of maple syrup and add a few walnuts on top of the Eggos.

The

STRANGER THINGS Maple Walnut Bourbon, Coke & Waffle SLUSHY
INGREDIENTS 1-1/2 Oz Toasted Maple Walnut Bourbon Cold Cola Ice
Garnish: Eggo Waffle, Quartered, Homemade Maraschino Cherry, Biodegradable Paper Straw
Tools: Blender, Wooden Skewer
Glass: Soda Bottle
DIRECTIONS Pour the bourbon into your soda bottle then add enough cola to fill the bottle but ONLY to three quarters full. You must leave this room because you are then going to place the bottle in the freezer to turn it slushy. After an hour take the bottle out and give it all a stir with the skewer then place it back in the freezer. Another hour in the freezer should be enough for full slush (if not simply stir then put it back in the freezer again). You'll notice the drink has started to swell. Take the bottle out and give it a good stir (don't shake, unless you want bourbon and soda all over your face). Slip the waffle quarters and the cherry on your straw and pop this in the soda bottle and serve.
Stranger Things Day is celebrated every November 6th.

"Something’s coming. Something hungry for blood. A shadow grows on the wall behind you, swallowing you in darkness. It is almost here."

Updated 11/2021

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AGAVECILLIN - A Tequila and Mezcal Riff on the Penicillin Cocktail

Inspired by New York Bartender Sam Ross' (Attaboy, Milk & Honey) Penicillin Cocktail*, I took his smoky scotch and ginger cocktail and added a bit of mad science spirit to it for Halloween. After some inductive reasoning, I formed a hypothesis that the two Scotches could safely be replaced with Tequila and a smokey Mezcal. Additionally, I predicted blood orange was an acceptable variable to lemon in this cocktail equation. I then proceeded with my experiment.
After analyzation (I analyzed two), I conclude the end result a rousing success. You don't have to take my word for it, feel free to test my methods, the formula is below.

TheAGAVECILLINCocktail Experiment 
INGREDIENTS2 Oz. Espolon Blanco Tequila3/4 Oz. Fresh Blood Orange Juice1/2 Oz. Blood Orange Honey Syrup (recipe below)1/4 Tsp. Ginger Syrup
FLOAT: 1/4 Oz. Del Maguey VIDA Mezcal
Garnish: Candied Ginger, Orange Twist, Halloween Straw
Tools: Cocktail Shaker, Fine Metal Mesh Strainer, Funnel
Glass: Graduated Lab Cylinder
DIRECTIONSChill cylinder in the freezer.Fill the cocktail shaker with ice, add the ingredients, shake until ice cold.Using the funnel, strain into your lab cylinder then float the Mezcal on top.Garnish and serve.
VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:

Once upon a time I used fresh ginger and muddled it with the juice but I discovered it was a lot easier and quicker to use a good quality homemade ginger syrup. I'm getting lazy in my old age, sue me.
BLOOD ORANGE HONEY SYRUPMix equal parts hot water and Honey Ridge Farms Honey Créme Blood Orange until blended.
My lab partner, as usual, was Bailey the Cat:

* Interestingly enough the Penicillin itself is a variation of a bourbon cocktail called the Gold Rush which, in it's turn, is pretty much a dressed up Whiskey Sour. Which, I figure, makes my version a Halloween costumed Tequila Sour.

Updated 10-2021 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY