Classic Baltimore Bracer Cocktail Recipe

Name: Baltimore Bracer Cocktail
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 ounces brandy; 1 1/2 ounces anisette; 1 egg white

Prep: 3 mins

Cook: 0 mins

Total: 3 mins

Serving: 1 serving

Yield: 1 cocktail

21 ratings

Write a Review

Add a comment

The Baltimore bracer is a simple, flavor-packed classic drink that has the soothing touch that only egg can bring to a drink. The mix of brandy and anisette offers a sweetened anise spice base which is rather interesting on its own. Yet, as anyone who enjoys classic egg drinks knows, it is the foamy texture that makes a great drink even more special.

As with any cocktail that includes egg, if you are disturbed by the fact of drinking raw eggs, it's probably best to avoid this drink altogether. Also, be sure to shake this drink more than you would normally to ensure the egg white is fully integrated.

1 1/2 ounces brandy
1 1/2 ounces anisette liqueur
1 small or medium egg white

Gather the ingredients.

The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati
In a cocktail shaker, pour the brandy, anisette, and egg white. Fill with ice.

The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati
Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.

The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs poses a risk of food-borne illness.

Tips

Many people prefer to begin mixing egg drinks with a "dry shake," especially when it includes egg white only because it increases the froth. It's a simple technique: shake the ingredients without ice for about 10 seconds, then fill the shaker with ice and shake for 30 seconds.
You know that the drink is well shaken when your arms hurt and the cocktail shaker gets really frosty on the outside.
Be sure that the egg you're using is fresh. A quick test can give you a clue: drop the egg into a glass of water and if it sinks, it's fresh. Eggs that float should be discarded.
With a cocktail as simple as this, be sure to choose a top-shelf brandy.
Anisette is a style of anise-flavored liqueur that's made by a number of brands. Again, quality is a big consideration; good choices for a cocktail like the Baltimore bracer include Luxardo, Marie Brizard, and Norseman.

Recipe Variations

If you do not have anisette, any other anise-flavored liqueur will do. The list of viable substitutes includes absinthe, Herbsaint, ouzo, pastis, sambuca, and Pernod. Galliano also has a slight anise taste though vanilla is its other dominant flavor and both are backed by almost 30 other herbs.
Try a flavored brandy substitute over the standard which is distilled from grapes. Apple, peach, and pear brandies should all pair nicely with anise. When shopping for these brandies, look for an eau-de-vie (distilled from the fruit juice) rather than a sweetened liqueur with (possibly) artificial flavoring.

How Strong Is a Baltimore Bracer?

As you might expect from a drink that's almost entirely made of alcohol, the Baltimore bracer is pretty strong. When mixed with the average brandy and anisette, it should shake up to have an alcohol content around 22 percent ABV (44 proof).

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
323	Calories
5g	Fat
15g	Carbs
6g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories	323
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g	6%
Saturated Fat 2g	8%
Cholesterol 186mg	62%
Sodium 72mg	3%
Total Carbohydrate 15g	6%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 28mg	2%
Iron 1mg	5%
Potassium 71mg	2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.