Brandy Alexander

I recently taught a class on Vintage Cocktails along with a chef teaching appetizers at Culinary Enterprises in Signal Hill on last Friday night. One of the drinks that I featured was the Brandy Alexander. It's origin is from the Alexander Cocktail named after Czar Alexander II that's made with gin. This variation uses brandy was supposedly concocted for the wedding of Princess Mary and the Viscount Lascelles in London in 1922.  It became very popular during the Jazz age and is recently made a comeback. Try this recipe and you'll think you're drinking chocolate, you wont be disappointed!

God bless and cheers,

John Apodaca
john@daddyosmartinis.com

Brandy Alexander 


3/4 oz Brandy
3/4 oz Brown cream de cacao
3/4 oz Heavy cream
Ground nutmeg for garnish

Place all ingredients in a cocktails shaker with ice and shake vigorously and pour into a chilled cocktails glass, sprinkle ground nutmeg on top before serving. 

Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge is a film and romantic musical and based on the Orpheam myth and Giuseppe Verdi's opera, La Traviata. It tells the story of a young English poet / writer who falls in love with the star of Moulin Rouge cabaret actress and courtesan. It uses the musical setting of the Montmartre quarter of Paris France.

Because this film is so fun and won so many awards, I knew there had to be a drink by the same name. I did some research and found one in two books with varying ingredients but the I choose and know you'll enjoy.

Moulin Rouge


1/2 oz of Orange flavored gin
1/2 oz of Apricot brandy
3 dashes of Grenadine

Stir well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Pick me up cocktail

Some days are harder then others to get through with stress, jobs or lack of work and many other things. Sometimes a walk, prayer, coffee or a beer is just not going to help either but there's and old libation that can lift your spirits called the Pick me up. I stumbled upon this drink in my copy of Old Mr. Bostons bartender guide from 1940. It's sounds mouth watering and I want to have one now because it's five O' clock somewhere. Give this one a try.

Cheers,

John Apodaca
john@daddyosmartinis.com

Pick-Me-Up Cocktail


1 1/2 oz Apricot brandy
1/2oz fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. pomegranate grenadine
Champagne

Shake well with ice, strain into a 6 ounce coupe glass and top off with champagne. 

Time for Mississippi Punch

When it comes to Mississippi Punch, master Barman Jerry Thomas said in the nineteenth century, " Wherever it's from, it testifies to the capacity and taste of our forbears." In other words we can't be sure where in South this punch originates but punches where very popular in the 1850's and served in parties and drinking establishments and this one happen to be a winner.

Mississippi Punch


2 oz of Brandy
1 oz of Jamaican Rum
1 oz of Whiskey Bourbon
1 Tbsp of powdered sugar
Juice of half a large lemon

Squeeze the lemon juice into a mixing glass, add the sugar, and stir to dissolve it. Add the spirits and the iced and shake well and serve.

Josephine Baker Cocktail

This is John Apodaca from Daddy-O's Martinis. I'm a fan of live music, standards preferably and a performer that's no longer with us but needs mention is Josephine Baker. She was an Black American woman born in Saint Louis MO 1906 - 1975. She was not only a singer and actress but an amazing performer in Harlem and went on tour in Europe and decided to stay in France where she became a French citizen. She was so popular she inspired many artists, authors, clothing designers and even bartenders, that's why there is a cocktail called the Josephine Baker. I found this gem in 1935 reprint of Bar Florida from the club La Floridita in Havana Cuba when where good cocktails where always found.

Josephine Baker

1/2 Soberano Cognac or top shelf brands
1/2 Port wine
1/3 Apricot Brandy
1 Teaspoon powdered sugar
1 Lemon Peel
1 egg yolk

Shake with ice and serve in a cocktail glass and garnish with cinnamon on top.