Grand Brulot Coffee Cognac is Changing the Coffee Cocktail Game
Nothing feels as good as that first cup of coffee in the morning, except of course that pre-dinner espresso martini or that post-dinner Carajillo (more on that later). But what’s the one common denominator between all three of those drinks? Coffee. Now imagine, sipping on a recipe of coffee, mixed with cognac, that has a 200-year-old lore.
So whether it’s an early morning ‘wake me up,’ an after-dinner ‘pick me up,’ or a digestif to enjoy as a dessert-like treat, coffee reigns king, especially when it comes to cocktails.
Emerging from the pack for the last few years, the espresso martini continues to be one of the best-selling cocktails around the country. But despite their popularity, you know a good one when you taste it; not all coffee cocktails are made the same. Ingredient quality is paramount, and some of the world’s most renowned restaurants and bars have discovered the uniquely dry and smooth blend of Grand Brulot Coffee Cognac. If you’re paying $17 for a cocktail, you might want to think twice about what’s in it.
Grand Brulot revives a 200-plus-year-old French tradition where coffee was blended with Cognac to create an exquisite-tasting drink: The Brulôt. The legend of Café Brûlot extends back to New Orleans in the early 1800s and the infamous French pirate Jean Lafitte who may or may not have created the first pairing of coffee and cognac. Enrooted in French lore, Grand Brulot can be enjoyed in a wide range of cocktails, or it can simply be served as a coffee shot or over ice with an orange peel. But you don’t have to travel to New Orleans or France - Grand Brulot combines the finest VSOP Cognac with rich Robusta coffee from Ecuador for a palate-pleasing blend that doesn’t overpower or underplay its two key ingredients and it’s all bottled up and served at some of the hottest locales on the globe.
Whether it’s in the Espresso Martini, the Carajillo, or just neat, Grand Brulot is found at hotspots such as the 5 Hertford Club, Joe Robuchon Mayfair and Mr. Foggs in London, Mondaine de Pariso and CoCo in Paris, France; England; Dirty French, Le District, Bobby Vans and Peter Lugers in New York; Doma and Smith & Wollensky in Miami; The Little Nell in Aspen, to name a few. and beyond.
Not an espresso martini girl or guy?
2024 could be poised to be the year of the Carajillo. Yelp reports that the Carajillo is the new coffee cocktail trend to watch, with searches for the energizing cocktail up 118%.
The Spanish classic, which later rose to popularity in Mexico, is a lighter version of the better-known espresso martini. Like every good coffee cocktail, using the right ingredients is key to crafting the perfect recipe. Grand Brulot VSOP Coffee Cognac is the ultimate coffee liqueur to elevate this trending cocktail.
Want to make them at home? We’ve got the recipes!
GRAND BRULOT CARAJILLO
Recipe:
1.5 oz Grand Brulot
1 shot of espresso
1.5 oz orange liqueur
.5 oz vanilla syrup
Orange twist
Directions: Mix ingredients and shake together in a circular motion to create foam. Pour in a coupe glass and garnish with an orange twist.
GRAND BRULOT ESPRESSO MARTINI
2 oz Grand Brulot
1 oz Espresso
½ oz of Amaretto or Vanilla Syrup
Directions: Using a shaker, combine Grand Brulot, coffee and liqueur or vanilla syrup together. Shake (25 times) vigorously with ice and then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a few cracked coffee beans and an orange twist. Pro Tip: The 25-time shake is what gets the perfect no-cream-needed froth!
Interested in tasting yourself? Take a sip when you click here and make sure to follow Grand Brulot on Instagram.