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Grog Meets Mulled Wine

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This recipe is somewhat of a blend of grog and mulled wine. Mulled (or spiced) wine was popular in Victorian England at Christmas and grog originally referred to a drink made with water or “small beer” (a weak beer) and rum, which British Vice Admiral Edward Vernon introduced into the Royal Navy in 1740. Both are great cold weather treats that will keep you and your friends warm on these chilly winter nights and this blend of the two will have them coming back for more!

Dry ingredients:
  • 3 pieces whole star anise
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 orange (the whole rind)
  • Vanilla pod (optional)
  • 6 cloves
  • Cheesecloth
  • String (non-dyed)

Alcoholic ingredients:
  • A bottle of full-bodied wine (Cabernet or Merlot)
  • Spiced rum (Chairman’s Reserve or Captain Morgan)
  • Cointreau (or triple sec)

Directions:
Empty the wine into a pot and put on a very low heat. While starting to warm, combine your dry ingredients in the cheesecloth and make a kind of sack by tying it off with string. Submerge into the liquid. Let heat for about 20-30 minutes. Simmering is okay, but do not let it boil.

After you take the wine off of the heat, add 3 oz of spiced rum and 1 oz of Cointreau. Garnish with fresh orange peel and enjoy with plenty of friends!

By Michael Hepworth

​
What exactly is GRAND BRULOT I thought to myself as I opened the bottle for the first time just around the time this lockdown took effect. Well, Grand Brulot is listed as a VSOP Cognac Café and it can be used in Bloody Mary’s, Manhattans, Negronis, Martinis, spritzes and sidecars , just for starters. It is a blend of Ugni Blanc & Colombard that is crafted into 80 proof VSOP. Then 100% Robusta Ecuadorian coffee bean essence is extracted and blended with brandy to meld for a few months and finally, it is blended with the VSOP Cognac. There is also a whiff of peppermint, nutmeg and hot cocoa in the drink. The retail price is $42.99.

The idea for the drink was instigated in 2015 by John Bernbach who asked for the help of industry veteran Francisco Tonarely to investigate the potential of a cognac/brandy drink blended with coffee. Three year later in August 2018 Grand Brulot was launched. This cognac comes from the Tardy Cognac Group and the grapes come from its single estate. Grand Brulot also plays homage to a New Orleans specialty of the same name that is still served around town.  The name Grand Brulot was inspired by the famous French pirate Jean Lafite who helped New Orleans repel the British invaders in 1812. He would order coffee, pour cognac in the saucer, set it alight and mix it with the coffee.
Recipes:

THE RISE AND SHINE
2 oz Grand Brulot
Orange Twist

Just pour Grand Brulot over ice and the orange will highlight the flavors
of the spirit.

BRULOT BLACK MANHATTAN
1 oz Grand Brulot
1 oz Bourbon
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
3 dashes Orange Bitters

Bartender Todd Smith created this one. Stir all the ingredients together in
a mixing glass. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass with ice and garnish

with orange wheel.

FRENCH NEGRONI
1 oz Grand Brulot
1 oz  Sweet Vermouth
1 oz Campari

Build in a rocks glass over ice and garnish w/orange wheel.

GRAND BRULOT CAFÉ HOLIDAY
1 oz Grand Brulot
0.5 oz Crème de Cacao
3 oz Porter Beer or Stout
3 dashes of bitters

Throw cocktail ingredients between two cups a couple of times to mix
And ignite the foam from the beer. Pour into a highball glass over ice
And garnish with nutmeg.



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