Banana Sidecar
Cognac is an incredibly fun spirit to explore and I’ve only just begun to dive deeper into it.
A Cognac Sidecar is pretty classic, but I thought this would be a fun spin. Most Cognacs have some banana notes (which has something to do with the French oak used for aging apparently 🤷♂️) so it was a no brainer to pair it with banana liqueur. Tiki bitters added some tropical spice, and finishing it off with a mist of funky, heavy pot still Jamaican rum just made this cocktail something special.
The Plantain garnish is more to have a little salty snack along with your drink, so I wouldn’t necessarily drop one into the cocktail itself (unless you find one that’s shaped perfectly to hang over the side).
instructions:
Combine ingredients & shake with ice. Double-strain into a coupe.
Spray a light mist of Jamaican rum over the top of the drink & garnish with a plantain chip.
Try these other original cocktail recipes from High-Proof Preacher:
This cocktail is made with high-proof bourbon (I used Old Granddad 114 but Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve was really nice too), a touch of quality vanilla liqueur and Rosato amaro; a bittersweet liqueur with fresh and fruity aromas of hibiscus and orange blossom. I also added some tropical spice bitters, but you can just as easily sub in aromatic bitters.
I was really fascinated by the “creaminess” of this gin, so I thought it would make a refreshing martini riff. I added just a few drops of sarsaparilla bitters to the finished cocktail, so when you take the first sip you’re instantly reminded of cream soda or even an old-timey cola.
This cocktail actually tastes like a cookie– but not in a sugary-gross way, more like “I’m drinking a cocktail and thinking of cookies” sort of way. I infused Steel Dust Vodka with brown butter, which gives it a creamy texture and a subtle caramel/toffee flavor.
This creation calls for a split base of funky pot still rum and my very favorite: Yellow Chartreuse. The eye-catching purple float on top of the drink is none other than Empress Gin of Instagram fame, which is made with indigo Butterfly Pea blossoms. As the gin sinks and mixes with the rest of the drink, it forms a soft gradient…
Is it a Manhattan riff? Or is it a Sazerac riff? Both? I don’t really know, but honestly I’m just really enjoying the rye whiskey / cognac split base in cocktails lately.
Cardamaro Vino Amaro is also an interesting bottle (I find mine at the grocery store). It’s sort of a fortified wine, but it’s also sort of an amaro. If you can get your hands on a bottle, definitely give it a shot and use it like you would a vermouth.
Cognac Old Fashioned cocktail meets... tiki? Whatever it is, this cocktail recipe is an especially good one. Stirred and boozy, but with strong tropical vibes– try it out and let me know what you think!
A Cognac Sidecar is pretty classic, but I thought this would be a fun spin. Most Cognacs have some banana notes (which has something to do with the French oak used for aging apparently 🤷♂️) so it was a no brainer to pair it with banana liqueur. Tiki bitters added some tropical spice, and finishing it off with a mist of funky, heavy pot still Jamaican rum just made this cocktail something special.
For this recipe, I wanted to make like a Last Word + Piña Colada sort of thing. I initially felt like it was my weakest recipe, but it ended up being the clear favorite of the night. Funny how that goes!
I received a bottle of Trä Kál a while ago & finally got around to mixing with it. This bottle is crazy; so different from anything I’ve tried before! Apparently Trä Kál is a totally new type of spirit from Patagonia, & is made solely from local ingredients. It starts out like an apple & pear brandy but is then infused like a gin with local botanicals & essential oils. Like I said, I haven’t had anything quite like it.
There, I said it! I still love whiskey too, but an agave-based Hot Toddy just hits different. Here’s an especially delicious Hot Toddy variation, made with one of my favorites: Punta Diamante Reposado from Casa Don Ramon.