Bardinet French brandy
Are you planning a Valentine’s Day cocktail party at home? Want to try something different? Philip Day invites readers to look at Bardinet French brandy.
When you mention cocktails, people tend to think of them as being made with gin, whisky or vodka. Everyone forgets about brandy. If you suggest brandy, they often think of it as an older person’s drink, which is a shame, because something as delicious as Bardinet French brandy has much to offer at the bar. For anyone hoping to create an ambience for ‘l’amour’, then why not take inspiration from the country that created romance this Valentine’s Day… France.
Bardinet French style brandy can be relied on to create a variety of delicious cocktails perfect for sharing with your partner (or on your own or with friends if you are single). All are guaranteed to add a little ‘Je ne sais quoi’ to your celebrations, without needing to cross the channel! The Brandy Alexander is arguably the most popular brandy cocktail. It’s a creamy, boozy delight, invented by bartender Troy Alexander in New York back in 1916. This intriguing and delicious drink is simplicity itself to make, mixing equal parts of brandy with cocoa liqueur (creme de cacao) and cream: it’s also classier than the vodka based White Russian.
Brandy Alexander
Ingredients:
- 45ml Bardinet brandy
- 45ml Bardinet Creme de Cacao Brown Liqueur
- 45ml ounces heavy cream or half and half
Instructions:
- Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Add 2 handfuls of ice and shake for about 20 seconds until cold.
- Strain into a cocktail glass.
- For the garnish: Top with grated fresh nutmeg and serve.
Bardinet Pomme Canelle
Apple and cinnamon match really well with the vanilla and dry fruit notes of Bardinet Brandy. This wintery cocktail will add a sprinkle of sugar and spice to your Valentines.
Ingredients:
- 35ml Bardinet Brandy
- 15ml lemon juice
- 15ml cinnamon syrup*
- 20ml clear apple juice
- Soda water
*To make cinnamon syrup:
- Mix 100ml water, 100g caster sugar and 2 cinnamon sticks In a pan, heat up the water and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Cut and add the sticks, infuse for 10/15 mins. Cool and strain.
Instructions:
- Mix all the ingredients in a wine glass and top with soda water.
- For the garnish: a slice of lemon wedge and a cinnamon stick.
The Sidecar
The Sidecar is another one of the most classic brandy cocktails and there are many variations to try out.
The basic cocktail recipe I use includes four parts brandy, two parts triple sec, and two parts lemon juice.
Ingredients:
- 40ml Bardinet Brandy
- 20ml fresh lemon juice
- 20ml Bardinet orange liqueur or triple sec
Instructions:
- Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Add 2 handfuls of ice and shake for about 20 seconds until cold.
- Strain into a cocktail glass.
- For the garnish: A twist of orange peel is classically used as a garnish.
Bardinet Champagne Cocktail
This cocktail is simplicity itself – you don’t even need a cocktail shaker. The Brandy provides extra body and flavour. It’s a stunning drink for a celebration, or if you want to impress that certain someone.
Ingredients:
- 25ml of Bardinet brandy
- 3-4 drops of bitters
- 1 small sugar cube (or 1 teaspoon/4g of sugar)
- Champagne or sparkling white wine.
Instructions:
- Take an empty champagne flute. Place a small sugar cube in the bottom. A measure of brandy (25ml) is poured over the sugar cube, together with three or four drops of bitters.
- The cocktail is finished by topping the flute up with champagne or sparkling white wine.
Don’t forget that Bardinet also launched Bardinet Coffee: its coffee-flavoured brandy last year, crafted with French passion by Bardinet’s Master Blender in Bordeaux. The result celebrated a timeless flavour pairing, with the rich, smooth, mellow taste of roasted Arabica and Robusta coffee combining perfectly with Bardinet’s sweet, dried fruit notes.
The result was a deliciously bittersweet spirit that can be enjoyed neat, with ice or served up with an array of indulgent flavours in a cocktail.
Montmartre Melt
For years Café Culture has made up a large portion of daily life in the Montmartre area of Paris. Artists, tourists and writers still flock to the region for good food and drink, company and of course…people watching.
Ingredients:
- 35ml Bardinet Coffee
- 15ml dark rum
- 35ml espresso
- 10ml vanilla syrup
- 1 scoop rum & raisin ice cream (*optional)
- For the garnish: a few coffee beans
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to a shaker (minus the ice cream) and shake hard with ice. In a sundae or tumbler glass, add a scoop of rum & raisin ice cream, before pouring the shaken drink over ‘à la Affogato’. Serve with a small spoon and garnish with coffee beans.
French lessons
- On trinque? (Shall we toast?) …
- A la nôtre! (To us!)
About Bardinet Brandy
Crafted in the traditional French way, every drop of Bardinet’s finest brandy is an act of collective passion. Bardinet was founded in 1857 by passionate young Frenchman Paul Bardinet, who had a vision of creating quality spirits for all to enjoy. The brandy which takes his name is crafted with the same passion today.
Made in France for more than a century, by a team dedicated to ensuring its quality and accessibility, this brandy’s rounded, balanced taste can be enjoyed by everyone, in cocktails or on its own. Distilled from grapes, Bardinet is patiently aged in oak barrels and expertly blended at the House’s Domaine de Fleurenne estate, near Bordeaux.
Bardinet is one of the world’s top 10 internationally-sold brandies (the 3rd biggest-selling French-made brandy). Bardinet: Crafted with French Passion.
About La Martiniquaise-Bardinet
Founded by Jean Cayard in 1934, La Martiniquaise is an independent French spirits group with a large portfolio of international brands. Headquartered near Paris, the group operates in over 100 countries with 38 subsidiaries and production sites. The Group’s four pillars are Scotch whiskies, ports, brandies, wines, rums and craft spirits from France. www.la-martiniquaise.com
References
- Official Press Release images and sample kindly provided through Burt Greener Communications.
- www.la-martiniquaise.com
- https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/sidecar
- https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/cocktails-and-drinks/brandy-alexander
- https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/classic-champagne-cocktail