Cheers With Hennessy V.S For National Cognac Day
June 4th celebrates, National Cognac Day. Did you know there was such a holiday? Well, you are not alone. The holiday celebrates the popular spirit and its influence in history and the spirit business.
Cognac was considered the “must have” spirit during the end of the 19th century. During their wine trading voyages the Dutch, recognized that the wine they often traded spoiled but, the “burnt wine,” they purchased from the Cognac area in France, aged well during their journey. The cognac didn’t spoil due to it being distilled*.
For many cognac is a “Luxury spirit” so versatility seems limited when thinking of cocktail recipes. Our good friends at Hennessy put together a few cocktails options for you to celebrate today’s holiday, as well as few other events over the summer.
EL DIABLO’S FIRE
- 1.5 oz Hennessy V.S
- .75 oz Crème de cassis
- .5 oz fresh Lime Juice
- ½ tsp of Chipotle Powder
- Pinch of Salt
- Splash ginger beer or ginger ale
GARNISH: Blackberry
METHOD: Combine all ingredients except the ginger beer in a shaker tin with ice, shake until well chilled and pour into a rocks glass with fresh ice, garnish with a blackberry.
BRAZIL SPRICE
- 1.5 oz Hennessy V.S
- .5 Fresh Lime Juice
- .5 Fresh Simple Syrup
- Splash of soda
- 4 dashes of Angostura bitters
GARNISH: Lime wheel
METHOD: Shake all ingredients but the sprite and strain into a rocks glass with ice add a splash of sprite and garnish with lime wheel
HENNESSY GRAPEFRUIT
- 1.5 oz Hennessy V.S
- 2 oz Fresh Squeezed Pink Grapefruit Juice
- Splash of Simple Syrup
- Splash of Maraschino Liqueur
- Top with Sprite
GARNISH: Orange twist
METHOD: add everything except the sprite to a shaker tin with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a Collins glass with fresh ice and top with sprite, garnish with an orange twist.
SOUTHERN TEA PUNCH
- 750 mL bottle Hennessy V.S
- 1 cup Grand Marnier
- 1 cup Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
- 1 cup Simple Syrup
- 4 oz Drysack Sherry
- 2 quarts Iced Tea
- 3 oz Peach Schnapps
GARNISH: Lemon, and Orange Wheels with Peach Slices
METHOD: Add all ingredients to a large punch bowl with 1 large ice block, allow to chill and serve.
*According to About.com Distillation is a used method for separating mixtures based on differences in the conditions required to change the phase of components of the mixture.