The British Invasion is part of a collection of cocktails inspired by the headlines of 2007. This one refers to the move of celebrity soccer player, David Beckham, and his songstress wife, Victoria. In January Beckham made the move from the UK to the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team and LA cocktail consultants Marcos Tello and Damian Windsor created this drink to remember the occasion. That aside, this is one of the most fascinating brandy cocktails I've seen in a long time. And while it is an intense preparation process it is worth every second and makes a perfect, sophisticated nightcap.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 parts Courvoisier Exclusif Cognac
- 3/4 part Starbucks Coffee Liqueur
- 3/4 part Knob Creek Bourbon
- 2 orange peels
- almond cream (recipe below)
- super-fine sugar for rimming
Preparation:
- Pour the Courvoisier Exclusif into a sugar-rimmed brandy snifter.
- In a separate mixing glass, combine the Starbucks Coffee Liqueur and Knob Creek and stir.
- Ignite the cognac slowly turning the snifter and rotating it so as to caramelize all the sugars on the rim of the snifter.
- Express the two orange peels into the brandy snifter so as to coat the inside of the glass with the caramelized orange oils. (This should create quite a spark so be careful!)
- Discard the orange peels.
- Strain the coffee liqueur/bourbon mixture directly into the brandy snifter, putting out the flame.
- Layer the almond cream on top of the mixture.
- Allow to cool and enjoy carefully as the brandy snifter may be quite hot around the rim.
Almond Cream
Combine 2 oz. heavy whipping cream with 1/2 oz. Orgeat Syrup and shake vigorously in a glass and mixing tin for 20 slow seconds until sufficiently whipped.
