If you've ever read Dracula or other late-19th century novels, you may have been surprised by the medicinal power of brandy. Feeling weak after a blood transfusion? Drink some brandy! Have a sore throat? It can cure that, too. This weekend, a few close friends and I decided to sample the spirit for the first time to see if it really is all it's cracked up to be.
Brandy is basically distilled wine and is often considered to be an after dinner drink. Its name comes from the Dutch word brandewijn, meaning "burnt wine". Traditionally aged in wooden casks (though caramel color is often added nowadays to give it an aged look), brandy bottles contain an age rating. VS (meaing "Very Special", aged at least 3 years) and VSOP ("Very Superior Old Pale", 5 years minimum in a barrel) are the most common ratings.
We purchased Jacques Bonet Brandy, the finest bottle $9.95 could buy, which contained the VSOP stamp. We first drank it neat, that is, by itself, warming the glass in our hands to release the aromas and attempting to savor every last sip. It was awful. And it burned. We came to the conclusion that the only curative power the spirit had was that its after taste was so overwhelming that it distracted you from any ailment you could possibly be suffering.
Still left with a nearly full brandy bottle, we then set out to find the perfect brandy cocktail. Defaulting to my favorite website, www.drinksmixer.com, we tried three: the Sidecar and variations to the popular Brandy Alexander and Brandy Fizz.
The Brandy Alexander is perhaps the most well-known brandy cocktail. It is made from 1 part brandy, 1 part dark creme de cacao, a splash of half and half, and a dusting of nutmeg on top. It is a classy drink, served in a champagne flute. We tried an even more feminine version, the Brandy Alexandra, replacing the cacao with Kahlua, the nutmeg with cinnamon, and the half and half with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Still finding the drink to be too strong, we stirred in two additional scoops of ice cream, as well as a concoction of Hershey's chocolate and Autocrat coffee syrup. In a high ball glass, the drink looked like icy, frothy goodness. Once sipped, it tasted like cold, milky brandy. However, the ice cream made the brandy thicken and burn less, so, all in all, it was an improvement.
Next up was the Sidecar, a classic drink made from 2 parts brandy, 1 part Rose's triple sec, and a splash of lemon juice. This was actually good. If you try it, first rim your glass with sugar for a sweet&sour sensation.
Lastly, we attempted a Brandy Fizz. Instead of the usual sour mix and club soda, we substituted Sprite, the closest thing we had on hand. For novice brandy drinkers, 1 oz brandy and 7 oz Sprite turned out to be the perfect combination.
Brandy is extremely versatile. It can be combined with tea, lemon and honey to make a hot toddy, a traditional Christmas cocktail. Fruit brandies, including blackberry and apricot, are very popular in mixed drinks. Brandy can also be used in cooking meats and enhances the flavor of many apple-based desserts. I hope to develop a taste for it one day. But, for now, when I feel sick, I'm going to stick with orange juice.
No comments:
Post a Comment