Category: Cocktails

August is the perfect moment to slow down, enjoy the sunshine and raise a glass to all things refreshing. At Brandyclassics, we’ve curated a selection of exceptional spirits and aperitifs that are ideal for crafting bright, elegant summer spritzes. These French favourites bring finesse, flavour and a seasonal twist to every glass. Château de Beaulon Pineau des Charentes White 2000 Aged with care and crafted with finesse, the Château de Beaulon Pineau des Charentes White 2000 offers gentle sweetness, notes of dried fruit and a mellow richness that balances beautifully in a chilled spritz. Add fizz and you’ve got a… Read more

World Cocktail Day, celebrated annually on May 13th, pays tribute to the artistry and skill involved in cocktail crafting. It acknowledges the global significance and diversity of cocktails, tracing back to the first definition of the term “cocktail” in 1806 within The Balance and Columbian Repository, a publication based in Hudson, New York. Cocktails have since become integral to social gatherings, offering a wide array of flavours and concoctions for people to enjoy and unwind. From the classic sophistication of a Martini to the tropical allure of a Piña Colada or the refreshing tang of a Mojito, cocktails provide endless… Read more

Introducing the Grapefruit Montanaro Cocktail: A Refreshing Twist on a Classic Cocktail If you’re seeking a sophisticated yet light libation to elevate your evening, look no further than the Grapefruit Montanaro Cocktail. Crafted with the finest ingredients including Montanaro Aperitivo 6 PM vermouth and Mosgaard Organic Dry Gin, this drink promises a delightful symphony of flavours that dance across your palate. Montanaro Aperitivo 6 PM vermouth sets the stage for this cocktail with its invigorating blend of citrus and herb essences. This vermouth isn’t just an accompaniment; it’s the star of the show. Sipping it on the rocks with a… Read more

This current cold weather is perfect for trying some of our new, Hot Cocktails. All based on summer varieties they introduce some new, warming ideas to keep away the winter chills. Hot Toddy Based on the traditional Hot Toddy, often used to relieve cold and flu symptoms, this popular night cap is fruity and spicy. Ingredients Method: Combine boiled water, whisky, honey, lemon juice, and water in a mug. Garnish with a lemon wedge and cinnamon stick. Hackney Homebrew A little stronger and sharper but a lovely warm sipper. Ingredients Method: Combine gin, vermouth and sugar syrup in a pan. Simmer on… Read more

This Christmas we are looking forward to drinking some very popular cocktails at home. So, to make things easy, we are offering Cocktail Kits at discounted prices – they will be on sale throughout December on our home page. The Kits comprise all you need to make these delicious cocktails in the comfort of your own home throughout the festive season: Negroni To make the perfect classic Negroni cocktail, use equal parts gin, vermouth and bitters poured over ice, stirred and garnished with orange peel. The Negroni Kit includes: Mosgaard Organic Dry Gin Montanaro Vermouth Rosso Di Torino Montanaro Bitter… Read more

This is apple harvest time and Friday 20th October is World Calvados Day. To celebrate we thought you might like to try something new. Apple Calvados is a lovely, warming drink to enjoy on an autumnal evening: Place a piece of root ginger and a cinnamon stick in a pan over a low heat. Pour in 50ml of Toutain Reserve 3yo Calvados and 150ml of fresh apple juice. Stirring constantly, heat the cocktail but do not let it boil. As soon as it warms up to 70/80 degrees C, pour it into a glass and serve. And if calvados is… Read more

Today Thursday, 20th October, is World Calvados Day.  If you would like to try this fabulous French apple brandy how about making something different?  Calvados and tonic is France’s answer to the G&T and is a staple in Normandy.  Although traditionally served chilled, it is just as fabulous with heaps of ice, a ton of tonic and a simple lemon twist producing a drink that’s “A little bitter and sweet, refreshing and bright”. INGREDIENTS Serving: 1 50 ml Calvados tonic water, to top Garnish: lemon twist DIRECTIONS Pour the Calvados into a Burgundy glass over ice. Top with tonic water. Garnish with a… Read more

Calvados is a brandy made from apples and produced exclusively in Normandy.  Its history dates back to 1553, when the drink was known as cidre eau-de-vie.  The name calvados was introduced in the late 1700s, when France was divided into departments, and it is now known as one of the Three Noble French Eaux de Vie (cognac and armagnac being the other two).  National Calvados Week is now in its tenth year and will run, alongside the annual apple harvest, from 10 – 16 October in bars and retailers throughout the UK.  World Calvados Day will follow on shortly afterwards, on the 20th… Read more

Negroni Week was originally scheduled to take place on 12-18 September brand but it will now take place in the UK on 3-9 October 2022.  The aperitivo brand, Campari, put all marketing activities in the UK on hold in the days following the Queen’s death on 8 September, including the week-long annual celebration of the Italian cocktail. Brad Madigan, managing director, commented “Whilst it felt appropriate to postpone Negroni Week in the UK, out of respect for Her Majesty the Queen, we are looking forward to being able to celebrate the landmark occasion of the 10-year anniversary with lovers of this cocktail across the country.” … Read more

On the 21st of March, we are going to celebrate Vermouth Day.  Created by Giancarlo Mancino, the date corresponds with the beginning of spring, a period of the year where everything is flourishing.  ‘The first flowers bloom, the plants become increasingly green and the scents in the air are so many and so diverse that you want to trap them all inside a bottle.’ Vermouth is an aromatised fortified wine, flavoured with various botanicals (roots, barks, flowers, seeds, herbs, and spices). The modern versions of the beverage were first produced in the mid to late 18th century in Turin, Italy. While… Read more