So, using cognac in cocktails is not overly common. The Sidecar is of course an iconic cognac-cocktail most know of, but this time we wanted to try a “Brandy Crusta”. It has similarities with a sidecar, but the brandy crusta uses maraschino liqueur as sweetener (rather than cointreau). Just like champagne in cocktails, cognac adds that extra luxury feel, and it also gives the cocktail a very nice golden, dark brown kind of orange color.
The cocktail tastes great. It’s obviously relatively alcohol strong, although the lemon and maraschino somehow disguise that a bit. Still, it’s a cocktail to sip slowly, but doing so is truly enjoyable.
Is it embarrassing to tell that the vintage glassware we served the cocktail in was found at a thrift shop for around a dollar a pair. We like them a lot more than that!
What’s in a Brandy Crusta?
1,5 oz v.s. cognac
0,25 oz maraschino liqueur
0,25 oz orange curacao
0,25 oz fresh lemon juice
1 dash angostura bitter
Shake all ingredients and serve in a tall cocktail glass with a sugar rim.
This is a classic cocktail so the recipe is widely available. We found it in lovely book “Vintage Cocktails” published by Assouline.
