Brandy Smash
Ingredients
- 7 fresh Mint leaves
- 2 oz Cognac
- 1⁄4 oz Sugar syrup 'rich'
Method
Glass:
Photographed in a Libbey Old Fashioned 11oz
Prepare:
- Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.
- Prepare garnish of mint sprigs.
Method:
- SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
- FINE STRAIN into ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).
Garnish:
- Garnish with mint sprigs bouquet.
History:
Smashes, or "smashers," first emerged in America, particularly in the South, in the 1840s, reaching their peak of popularity in the 1850s.
Jerry Thomas notably includes the Brandy Smash (along with the Gin Smash and Whiskey Smash) in his 1862 The Bar-Tender's Guide, the first known book specifically aimed at bartenders, in which he says of "The Smash", "This beverage is simply a julep on a small plan." He repeats his Brandy Smash recipe verbatim in the 1876 edition of his Guide, then rebalances and updates his recipe for the 1887 Edition.
Review:
Sweetened cognac flavoured with mint. Simple but beautiful.
