Winter Cosmo

January 18, 2011 (Day 353) — Winter Cosmo

The liquor of the week seems to be cognac. Across countless Twitter accounts and Websites that I tend to frequent, the genteel wine-based liquor seems to be making a surge back into the public consciousness. My good friend Josh Davis over at Drinks on Me has, for quite a while, been my go-to source for cognac. The man knows it better than anyone else I’ve spoke with, and has a wide range of experiences across several brands and lines.

One talented dude.

So, if you really want an expert’s opinion on cognac, both the best for sipping and the best for mixing, be sure and point the proud bow of your browser over to Josh’s site. You won’t be disappointed. On top of that, the second season production down at the theater features a Cosmopolitan for its signature cocktail. However, I’ve already written about the Cosmo, and it seems just a bit too summery for the chilling rain we’re facing across the state.

In other words, cognac and Cosmos must have been on my mind…

The Winter Cosmo

(Recipe courtesy of Courvoisier)

.5 oz. fresh lemon juice

.5 oz. simple syrup

1.5 oz. cognac

.5 oz. Triple Sec

2 oz. cranberry juice

Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and stir well until everything mixed together and the drink is completely chilled. Now, the directions I originally found called for you to shake it, however with the ingredients listed I think you can have a much prettier presentation by stirring and not fogging up the drink. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

This is incredibly delicious. The heaviness of the cognac gives this drink just the thickness it needs to not be overwhelmingly summery on a winter evening. The base flavor is definitely akin to a Cosmo, however the cognac gives it a nice, winey, heavy aftertaste and body. I’m not usually a huge fan of cognac cocktails, but the more cocktail I have like this one, the more I’m starting to appreciate the liquors versatility.

Cheers!

— Mark