Best brandy for tiki drinks

[Colin]

I have lots of rum, but no brandy in my bar. I want to make a couple of tiki drinks that call for it in the recipe — such as the Fog Cutter and the Scorpion Bowl.

Does anybody have any recommendations for an inexpensive, widely available brand of brandy that works well in rum drinks?

[rumdog007]

Any VSOP from any of the usual suspects work great. Look for Christian Brothers, etc.. The cheaper ones are from California but taste great in those drinks.

[Paulipbartender]

Any VSOP from any of the usual suspects work great. Look for Christian Brothers, etc.. The cheaper ones are from California but taste great in those drinks.

Sounds spot on to me - I'd even go VS or VSOP from any of Martell, Hennessy, Courvoisier etc

[The Scribe]

Try Ibis XO.
Cheers. - S

[Dood]

One of the nice things with tiki drinks is that the less expensive and stronger-flavored spirits often work very well in them. I usually use Hennessy VSOP.

[bunnyhugs]

Some of the Fogcutter recipes I have seen call for pisco brandy.

Personally I think pisco can often make a more robust and interesting drink than regular aged brandy. Regular brandy adds smoothness and richness, whereas pisco adds robustness and fruitiness - depending on which brands you are using.

I much prefer Fogcutters with pisco as opposed to regular brandy anyway.



Mind you, I just accidentally poured rye into a drink cognac was supposed to go into, and yet it still tastes pretty good. Therefore I figure provided you have a well stocked bar you can overlook a great many little details.

[RobertBurr]

there are relatively inexpensive brandies and cognacs from Alize, Calvados, Christian Brothers, Courvoisier, E&J, Hennessy, Jacques Cardin (JC), Korbel, Martell, Paul Masson, Polignac, Presidente, Raynal, Remy Martin, Cardinal Mendoza and others. I've seen the E&J used in a lot of cocktail recipes for many years.

[Rum Runner]

there are relatively inexpensive brandies and cognacs from Alize, Calvados, Christian Brothers, Courvoisier, E&J, Hennessy, Jacques Cardin (JC), Korbel, Martell, Paul Masson, Polignac, Presidente, Raynal, Remy Martin, Cardinal Mendoza and others. I've seen the E&J used in a lot of cocktail recipes for many years.

A rather eclectic and charming selection Robert. Brother Timothy at Christian Brothers has done a good job of bringing forth a nicely aged dryish California Brandy. And to bring the ying to the yang...The Cardinal Mendoza is a very nice Spanish Brandy showing a bit of sweetness which certain Continentals enjoy at the end of a meal as a "Completo"...That is, A big snifter of Brandy, a really well pulled cup of Espressso..And an appropriate cigar.

I love the Spanish Brandies for mixing..And at the higher end for sipping.

[Besotted]

I've used Christian Brothers very successfully -- you definitely don't need an expensive brandy for tiki drinks.