Nothin’ odd about this one. Triple Sec and Brandy are old friends in many a drink and this is one of them. It’s the addition of the oaky Lillet that pushes this drink into the land of ‘must try’. I don’t know who McIntyre was or why folks considered him odd, but the guy sure came up with a hell of a cocktail.

Here we go –

• 1 oz Brandy
• 1 oz Triple Sec
• 1 oz Lillet
• ½ oz Lemon Juice

Shake with cracked ice in a shaker, strain into cocktail glass.

This is a perfect winter drink. If your fortunate enough to have an evening on your hands while the porch light illuminates a nighttime snow fall, do yourself a favor and pour this cocktail. Don’t let the peppermint component throw you, if your brave enough, I’m certain you’ll enjoy the flavor and hopefully be daring enough to try other peppermint cocktails.

Here we go –

• 1 ½ oz Brandy
• ¾ oz Sweet Vermouth
• ¾ oz Peppermint Schnapps

Shake above ingredients with cracked ice in a shaker, strain into cocktail glass, watch the snowfall.

This one’s as delicious as it sounds and I kicked myself for not trying it early enough to get on our fall cocktail list. A bartender poured one for me after I asked him to surprise me with something seasonal.  You should be able to carry this drink through all the cold months.

Here we go –

• 1 oz Apple Brandy (Calvados or Applejack)
• ½ oz Cognac
• ½ oz Grand Marnier

Shake or stir over ice, strain cold into cocktail glass, garnish with a slice of apple.

I was told that this was an excellent pre-dinner drink to have while conversations rev up and the salad is being tossed in the kitchen. I have to agree. This is a wonderful drink to offer your guests if your entertaining a small bunch for dinner and fit in a cocktail component at the beginning of your dinner party. Easy to make so you won’t have to stray from your guests for more than a few minutes. You may very well return to Paradise after leaving the table.

Here we go –

• 1 ½ oz Gin
• 1 ¼ oz orange juice
• ¼ oz Apricot Brandy

Shake ingredients with cracked ice in a shaker ‘til cold, strain into a cocktail glass.

Another delightful reason to break out the bottle of Brandy you’ve had on your liquor shelf for the past few years, the Bombay Cocktail is quite a symphony of tastes and flavors. Slightly fruity from the curacao and sweet vermouth, the drink expands upon the second sip to a complex one with the brandy and dry vermouth. There’s a lot going on with this one and you’ll appreciate it.

Here we go –

• 2 oz Brandy
• ¼ oz sweet vermouth
• ¼ oz dry vermouth
• tsp of Curacao

Shake with plenty of ice in a shaker, strain into cocktail glass.

You can make a Smash with Whiskey, Rum, even Gin, but I prefer the Brandy version. It’s a pretty strong drink and brandy has a distinctive taste that works very well with this one. You’ll need fresh mint but by October, as brandy sipping becomes more called for, your gardens should be bursting with it.

Here we go –

• 1 tsp sugar or sugar cube
• 2-3 sprigs fresh mint
• 2 oz Brandy

In an old-fashioned glass, dissolve sugar with a little water, muddle the mint sprigs and dissolved sugar, add cracked or crushed ice. Pour Brandy over ice and enjoy.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a chilly week around Halloween, mix up a batch of Hot Spiced Cider. In the evenings before Halloween, I’ll pull out an old television set, hook up my DVD player and gather neighbors for Monster Movies out in the car (bar) port.  Sure it gets cool, but that’s fall. This drink will set things right.

Here we go –

• 2 quarts apple cider
• 4 cloves
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 5 shots Applejack or Apple Brandy

Heat cider with cloves and cinnamon, add booze and stir. Pat the rims of mugs in brown sugar and serve the cider in them.

Found in a 1949 Esquire cocktail book, this turns out to be a great drink for the cold months with short days. Like a Brandy Alexander, this is a sweet-sided, creamy drink, perfect, if you’re just having one or three. Why not, when it’s cold outside, crack out the backgammon board, put on the Dave Brubeck records, and take a dive Between Sheets?

Here we go –

• 1 oz Cognac or Brandy
• 1 oz Crème de Cacao (light or dark)
• 1 oz cream
• Dash or two of bitters
• 1 tsp sugar

Shake well with plenty of cracked ice. Strain into a martini or cocktail glass, garnish with a lemon or orange peel.

Another one of those old classics with a different recipe in every bar book I own, I’m going to share the tried and tested version I serve my guests. The drink has a history, invented by bartender, Ngiam Tong Boon for the Long Bar in Singapore, back around 1915. It’s a tall drink that goes well with yummy finger food. I’ll make up some cheese puffs, or lil’ egg rolls and roll out the Singapore Slings on warm evenings.

Here we go –

• 1 ½ oz gin
• 2 oz sour mix (available in super markets)
• ½ oz grenadine
• 2 tsp cherry Brandy
• Club soda

Fill shaker with cracked ice, add ingredients except club soda and cherry brandy, and shake, strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Fill to almost top with club soda, and float the cherry brandy on top. Remember the straw.

With this drink, you’ll finally understand what all the hoopla’s about (“ouch”). This drink’s really starting to grow on me and is rapidly becoming one of Mr. Booze’s “go to’s” when entertaining a few guests before dinner or when you have a more adventurous drinker over. It isn’t one of those cocktails you can make a huge shaker of. Brandy or Cognac is an acquired taste and not all your guests will want one. Remember cold is king with cocktails, and this cocktail requires it.

Here we go –

• ¾ oz Brandy or Cognac
• ¾ oz Lillet Blanc
• ¾ oz Cointreau
• ¾ oz lemon juice

In a shaker, shake everything with ice ‘til quite cold, strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon peel.

Man, guess those old-time Quakers loved their Rye & Brandy ‘cause this drink rocks! You’ll need some raspberry syrup but you’ll find it easily and it has a thousand other uses. Who knew that rye works so well in concert with other flavors? I know I didn’t. Not a bad drink at all for a cool evening and some June Christy on the record player.

Here we go –

• 1 ½ oz Rye
• 1 ½ oz Brandy
• 1 ½ tsp raspberry syrup
• 1 ½ tsp lime juice

Combine everything with ice into a shaker, shake till chilly-willy than strain into a cocktail glass.