Christmas is coming and it is time to have some fun – decorating the tree, buying presents for loved ones and planning a party. Served as an after-dinner drink and added to Christmas puddings, Cognac is very much part of the British Christmas tradition, but why not shake things up, get creative and surprise your guests with Cognac cocktails at your Christmas party?
Mixing With Heretics
Back in 1995, when I was organising a Cognac media tour in the UK, the idea of mixing Cognac in long drinks and cocktails was not always well-received. Press coverage for the Cognac media tour even included a regional newspaper article with an unusual headline: “Cognac Cocktails – Mixing with Heretics”. A great example of the British sense of humour.
Historically, Cognac has always featured in classic cocktails such as a Horse’s Neck (Cognac & ginger ale) and Champagne cocktail. Nowadays, with the multitude of style bars and mixologists all around the UK, cocktails have become trendy again and it is really easy to make your own Cognac cocktails at home.
From the Classics to the New Wave
You only need a shaker, some ice cubes, a bottle of Cognac VS or VSOP (XO/Extra Old Cognac is better drunk on its own), a selection of glasses and a few added ingredients (syrup, fruit juices…) to add a delicious retro touch to your Christmas party.
Classic Champagne Cocktail
1 sugar lump
1-2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 measure VS or VSOP Cognac
4 measures chilled Champagne
Optional: a couple of raspberries or an orange zest.
Put the sugar lump into a chilled Champagne flute and saturate with the Angostura bitters. Add the Cognac, then fill the glass with Champagne. Add the raspberries or an orange zest.
Side Car
In a shaker, mix:
1/4 lemon juice
1/4 Cointreau
1/2 VS or VSOP Cognac
Shake it and pour into cocktail glasses!
SO New Wave – SO-YANG
If you love Cognac but want to try a new take on a traditional product – SO-YANG, an innovative blend of green tea and Cognac is perfect for you. Recently launched in France, SO-YANG is well-worth a trip to Paris on Eurostar. Choose from SO-YANG WHITE (green tea, Cognac and vine peach) or SO-YANG BLACK (green tea, Cognac and ginger) and start creating your own cocktails, or you could try these two recipes:
So Bubble
3cl SO-YANG WHITE
Chilled Champagne
Lime zest
In a glass, pour 3cl of SO-YANG WHITE, top with chilled Champagne and add a lime zest.
So Smoothie
3cl SO-YANG BLACK
1/4 pear
2 ice cubes
In a glass, blend 3cl SO-YANG BLACK with 2 ice cubes and 1/4 pear.
SO-YANG Paris stockists:
Terres d’Aperitifs –2 specialist shops: 7 rue le Marois, rue d’Auteuil, 75016 Paris.
Drugstore Publicis on the Champs-Elysees, 75001 Paris.
Price: 38 Euros per bottle with a special Christmas promotion of 2 bottles for 60 Euros instead of 76 Euros.
You can also enjoy SO-YANG on boat trips on the rive Seine (Compagnie des Bateaux Mouche) and at the famous Fouquet’s restaurant on the Champs-Elysees.
Remember to enjoy Cognac cocktails in moderation.
Sophie's Taste 