Brandy Cocktails

Ginger & Mandarin Sour (Serves 1)

This cocktail, with mandarin brandy and the warmth of ginger, has sophisticated flavours. I discovered it whilst dining at the Fordwich Arms (review here!), it was one of their signature cocktails. Naturally, I asked for the recipe!..

35ml mandarin brandy

25ml kings ginger

Juice of 1 lime

1 thin slice of ginger, coin-sized

1 egg white

Handful of ice

1. Muddle the slice of ginger with the lime juice in the bottom of a cocktail shaker.
2. Add the remaining ingredients except the ice. Dry shake (without ice) vigorously for 10 seconds then add the ice and shake for another 10 seconds until cold.
3. Strain into a chilled glass. Cheers!

Italian Old Fashioned (Serves 1)

When I mentioned this recipe to a friend, he asked what was Italian about it, he had a point as neither Cointreau or brandy are particularly ‘Italian’. However, I first tasted this cocktail at an Italian restaurant and they made it with Italian brandy, hence its name but you can of course make it with any brandy; the smoother the better. The classic ‘Old Fashioned’ (recipe below) is a favourite of mine but this version with brandy instead of bourbon and a good shot of Cointreau is hot on its heels…

40ml brandy

20ml Cointreau

A couple of dashes of Angostura bitters

Orange peel to garnish

Ice cubes

1. Place the brandy, Cointreau and angostura bitters in a glass.  Hold the orange peel over the glass and squeeze it ‘to express the oils’ and then drop it into the glass, give everything a stir.
2. Add a few ice cubes and stir again and serve.