The Spirit
Aged Cherry Brandy — cherry, French oak, vanilla and plum. Rich enough to anchor a cream cocktail without disappearing into it.
What You'll Need — serves 1
- —50 ml Aged Cherry Brandy
- —25 ml Black Russian Coffee Liqueur
- —40 ml fresh cream
- —Freshly grated nutmeg — generous
- —Chocolate-dipped cherry (garnish, optional)
- —Ice
Glass: Chilled coupe or martini glass Garnish: Fresh nutmeg, chocolate cherry
Instructions
- 1Combine brandy, crème de cacao and cream in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- 2Shake hard for 12 seconds.
- 3Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
- 4Grate fresh nutmeg generously over the top. Don''t be shy — the nutmeg is half the drink.
- 5Add a chocolate-dipped cherry on a pick if you''re feeling generous.
The Story
The Brandy Alexander is a Victorian-era cocktail (the era, not the state) that went through a period of being considered deeply uncool. It deserves rehabilitation. Made with quality brandy, fresh cream and real nutmeg, it''s a genuinely sophisticated after-dinner cocktail.
Our Cherry Brandy''s stone-fruit character adds a dimension the classic recipe doesn''t have. Serve it after a long meal in front of a fire. That''s its proper context.
> Buy a whole nutmeg and a microplane grater. Pre-ground nutmeg is not the same thing.
