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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. We used Courvoisier VSOP Cognac because it has a rich mouthfeel and a delightful brandy spice with notes of peach, almond, and cinnamon. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Escape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternative in place of the brandy.
Sweet & Sour Mix: This is a sweetener made with lemon juice, lime juice, sugar, and water. We made ours at home using Alex’s stovetop recipe.
Dessert Wine: This is a type of wine that has a sweet flavor and is typically served with dessert. We used Villa Bellezza Dolce Ice Wine because it’s fruity and flavorful. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Fre Alcohol-Removed Moscato in place of the wine.
Red Wine Syrup: This is a sweetener made with Cabernet Sauvignon and sugar. We made ours at home using Alex’s stovetop recipe.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We 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. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
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Tasting Notes
The Brandywine Sour features aromas of sweet white wine with a hint of pineapple followed by a sweet dessert flavor that combines a plethora of grape-alcohol flavors with the light-bodied ice wine front and center among brandy, oaky tannin, and lemon to balance.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: Neither of us expected to enjoy this recipe as much as we did, but it is truly a delicious, tart delight. We don’t usually go for the idea of mixing ice wine in cocktails given how unique (and not to mention, expensive) they can be on their own, but it was incredible in this cocktail.
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, this is 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 2024-10-14.
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.
