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Cocktail History
The Brandywine Sour is a dessert cocktail that was created by bar manager and author Nick Mautone and was first published in his book The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails. The recipe mixes a tart citrus sour mix with brandy, homemade red wine syrup, and dessert wine, which is what makes it truly unique. It can taste drastically different depending on the type of wine used.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Cognac: This is a type of brandy made in Cognac, France with distilled white wine. I used Courvoisier VSOP Cognac.
Sweet & Sour Mix: This is a sweetener made with lemon juice, lime juice, sugar, and water. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.
Dessert Wine: This is a type of wine that has a sweet flavor and is typically served with dessert. I used Villa Bellezza Dolce Ice Wine.
Red Wine Syrup: This is a sweetener made with Cabernet Sauvignon and sugar. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
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Tasting Notes
his cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Bright red-pink color
• Aroma: Sweet white wine with a hint of pineapple
• Taste: Sweet dessert flavor with grape-alcohol notes and light-bodied ice wine
• Finish: Brandy, oak tannin, and tart lemon
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “I don’t think this was meant to be a Valentine’s Day recipe given it came from a Christmas cocktail book, but wow, does it taste like sweeTART candy in a glass. The fruity ice wine dances across the palate and is interwoven between notes of brandy and dark red wine, and the frothiness from the sweet and sour mix is a fun addition. All in all, the Brandywine Sour one heck of a delicious wine cocktail that is worth indulging in come time for dessert any time of the year.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails by Nick Mautone.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-01-22.
Brandywine Sour
The Brandywine Sour is a dessert cocktail that was created by bar manager and author Nick Mautone and was first published in his book The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails. The recipe mixes a tart citrus sour mix with brandy, homemade red wine syrup, and dessert wine, which is what makes it truly unique. It can taste drastically different depending on the type of wine used.
Ingredients
Method
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Add brandy, sweet & sour mix, wine, red wine syrup, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Pour into a lowball glass.
