Brandy vinegar is a popular alcoholic cocktail from Cyprus made with brandy, citrus, bitters, and lemonade or soda. It was created in the 1930s for King Farouk of Egypt and has since become the national drink of Cyprus. There are many variations of the recipe, but the traditional version uses brandy imported from Cyprus.
A brandy vinegar is a mixed alcoholic cocktail that is typically 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, making use of one of the island’s most prolific exports – brandy – as well as the native bitter lemons found there.
During the 1930s, visiting King Farouk of Egypt required an alcoholic alternative to the iced tea served at his hotel. Though he is Muslim, the young king had an affinity for alcoholic cocktails. He was trying to be discreet, however, so she asked that his drink be prepared in such a way that all onlookers would think he was simply sipping a glass of iced tea. His hotel bartenders created the drink, and it wasn’t long before other restaurants, hotels, and clubs across the island were copying the recipe.
There are several variations of the original brandy sour recipe. People who want to stay true to the drink’s Cypriot roots can find brandy imported from Cyprus in many liquor stores. There are four basic elements to a classic brandy sour: brandy, citrus, bitters, and lemonade or soda.
When making sour 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 brandy acid starts with two parts brandy and one part citrus. Some recipes call for freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice, but others list lemon squash as the citrus of choice. Pumpkin, also known as cordial, is a non-alcoholic concentrated fruit syrup.
Occasionally, a recipe that calls for a sweet and sour mix instead of hot or lemon juice. This is a combination of non-alcoholic premixed citrus juice. It can be found in many grocery stores and liquor stores.
Bitters are alcoholic beverages flavored with herbal extracts. They get their name from their bitter or sweet and sour taste. Depending on the recipe, brandy acid will be flavored with lemonade, lemon soda or carbonated water.
There are other variations of this type of drink. Using apricot brandy or triple sec, for example, gives the whole drink a different flavor. Slight modifications such as adding powdered sugar or orange juice can make variations without compromising the original concept. Brandy sour recipes can be found on many popular cocktail websites.
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