A brandy sour is a cocktail made from brandy and citrus juice.
A brandy sour is a mixed alcoholic cocktail that is usually made with brandy and citrus juice. The drink originated in the Mediterranean on the island of Cyprus in the 1930s. It is the national drink of Cyprus and takes advantage of one of the island’s most prolific exports, cognac, as well as the native sour lemons found there.
During the 1930s, a visitor to King Farouk of Egypt requested an alcoholic alternative to the iced tea served at his hotel. Despite being a Muslim, the young king had an affinity for alcoholic cocktails. However, he tried to be discreet and asked that his drink be prepared in such a way that any onlooker would think he was simply having a glass of iced tea. The bartenders at his hotel created the drink and it wasn’t long before other restaurants, hotels and clubs on the island copied the recipe.
Brandy sours were originally made to resemble iced tea.
There are several variations of the original sour brandy recipe. People who want to stay true to the drink’s Cypriot roots can find imported cognac from Cyprus in many liquor stores. There are four basic elements to a classic sour brandy: cognac, citrus, bitters, and lemonade or soda.
When bittering a brandy, any brandy will do, but some people prefer to use one that has been imported from Cyprus to maintain the integrity of the original drink. Traditionally, a sour brandy begins with two parts brandy and one part citrus component. Some recipes call for freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice, but others list pumpkin as the citrus of choice. Pumpkin, also known as cordial, is a non-alcoholic concentrated fruit syrup.
Occasionally, a recipe calls for a sweet and sour mix instead of cordial or lemon juice. This is a combination of non-alcoholic and pre-mixed citrus juice. It can be found in many supermarkets and liquor stores.
Bitters are alcoholic beverages flavored with herbal extracts. They get their name from their bitter or sweet-sour taste. Depending on the recipe, the sour brandy will be topped off with lemonade, lemonade, or sparkling water.
There are other variations of this type of drink. Using apricot brandy or triple sec, for example, gives the drink a different flavor. Subtle changes, like adding powdered sugar or orange juice, can provide variation without compromising the original concept. Recipes for sour brandy can be found on many popular cocktail websites.