The Incredible Hulk

About The Incredible Hulk

To be fair, there’s a few different versions of the Incredible Hulk depending on which region of the country you’re from. The most widely accepted version is used combining Hennessey© and Hypnotiq© to create a very strong and flavorful cocktail that is green in color. Named after the famous green brutish superhero, this cocktail lives up the strong aspect of the name and is a sipping drink served cold.

Ingredients:

• 1 part Cognac

• 1 part Hypnotiq ©

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:     On the Rocks

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Stir together and pour over ice.

The Vieux Carré

About The Vieux Carré

The Vieux Carré is named for the French Quarter of New Orleans. The cocktail traces its origins to the 1930s but officially appeared in print in 1937. It is a rich in flavor cocktail that employs the use of decadent ingredients. Raise a toast to New Orleans!

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Rye Whiskey

• 1 oz. Cognac

• 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth

• 1 Barspoon Bénédictine©

• 2 Dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters

• Orange Zest and Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes. Stir well. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with orange zest and a maraschino cherry.

The American Beauty

About The American Beauty

Another Washington D.C. original cocktail, the American Beauty is an eclectic cocktail creation named after the District’s Official Flower; the American Beauty Rose. This cocktail combines Cognac and Port Wine along with Creme de Menthe. The resulting flavor profile is strong willed, yet smooth as well. Certainly, a sipping drink, the American Beauty is best served in good company.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Cognac

• ¼ oz. Creme de Menthe

• ¼ oz. Port Wine

• ¼ oz. Simple Syrup

• 1 oz. Orange Juice

• ½ oz. Grenadine

• Mint Sprig for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all of the remaining ingredients except the port and mint. Shake well; strain into a chilled martini glass. Stir in the port. Garnish with the mint.

The Alexander

About The Alexander

A cocktail named the Alexander debuted in 1910 but the version listed below and recognized by the IBA as an official cocktail wasn’t published in print until 1915. A famous after-dinner cocktail, the Alexander is still a popular cocktail in the current mixology scene and is often seen in upscale establishments.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Cognac

• 1 oz. Creme de Cacao

• 1 oz. Light Cream

• Nutmeg for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain contents into a cocktail glass. Sprinkle nutmeg on top and serve.

The Sidecar

About The Sidecar

The invention of the drink is credited to an American army captain in Paris during World War I and named after the motorcycle sidecar that the captain used. The Sidecar cocktail is a highly customizable cocktail, and it serves as the launch point for several sister cocktails similar in design.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Cognac

• ¾ oz. Triple Sec

• ¾ oz. Lemon Juice

• Orange Slice for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Add all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into large cocktail glass.

The Finding Nemo

About The Finding Nemo

This is an Empire Signature Cocktail! This cocktail was invented shortly after the release of the eponymous movie and is credited to originating in San Diego, CA. Multiple versions of this drink were invented on the fly by simply adding a Swedish Fish to any blue colored cocktail. This version adds a bit of a tropical flavor and the signature spirit Hypnotiq© is required for this recipe, the color is essential to the visual product.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Coconut Rum

• 1 oz. Hypnotiq© Cognac

• ½ oz. Lime Juice

• ¼ oz. Blue Curacao

• ¼ oz. Pineapple Juice

• 1 Swedish Fish for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

In a cocktail shaker, add all of the ingredients except the candy; shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass; add the candy.

The French Connection

About The French Connection

The classic French Connection cocktail is the marriage of the famous French Spirit Cognac, and the Italian Liqueur known as Amaretto. Named after the 1971 neo-noir film The French Connection starring Gene Hackman. It can be served on the rocks in a lowball glass or neat in a Brandy Snifter. For www.empiremixology.com purposes we chose the latter, although the lowball version is equally as good.

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Cognac

• 2 parts Amaretto

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks or Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Build ingredients in serving glass with ice (if in lowball glass). Stir until well mixed.

The International

About The International

Meet your new favorite cocktail. Classy yet fun, the International is a personal recipe of our resident Lead Mixologist. This cognac and vodka based cocktail is absolutely packed with flavor and delivers a smooth finish. The triple sec and elderflower liqueur mask the “bite” of the primary spirits, creating a delectable and flavor packed finish to your sip. This is one our signature recipes at Empire Mixology and we hope you enjoy it just as much as we do.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Cognac

• 1 oz. Triple Sec

• 1 oz. Elderflower Liqueur

• ½ oz. Vodka

• Lime Wedge for Garnish

• Lemon Wedge for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 5.0 Stars

• Served: Neat

• Strength: Medium

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Sweet

Method:

Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Unlike James Bond, stir this one until well chilled and strain into a martini glass.

Empire Tip: Garnish with a lemon twist or olives to your preference.

The Stinger

About The Stinger

You may not be familiar this one, but back in its heyday the Stinger was a popular evening beverage. Famous drinkers include Cary Grant and your idol and mine; James Bond. The Stinger used to be known as an evening drink or even as a hangover cure (yuck!). The Stinger is a fairly powerful cocktail that is typically drank slowly to avoid it, well, stinging you.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Cognac

• 1/2 oz. White Crème de Menthe

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit

Method:

Pour ingredients into mixing glass with ice and stir gently. Strain into martini glass or into rocks glass with ice if preferable.

The Between The Sheets

About The Between The Sheets

The cousin of the Sidecar, the IBA Classic Between the Sheets is a product of Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, France. There’s also claims it was invented in French brothels or rival hotels. This is a spirit forward cocktail that exudes class and a taste for vintage drinks. Order this at your local bar to impress the mixologist and the friends in your company.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Silver Rum

• 1 oz. Cognac

• 1 oz. Triple Sec

• .5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:  Strong

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Strong

Method:

Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

The Sazerac

About The Sazerac

The IBA Classic from the Big Easy makes a claim to be the oldest known American cocktail, with possible pre-Civil War origins. Although it can be a little tricky to make, this cocktail is typically a showcase drink for accomplished mixologists and is typically not in favor in the current bar scene. The Sazerac was named as the official cocktail of New Orleans in 2008.

Ingredients:

• .5 oz. Absinthe

• 2 oz. Cognac

• .5 oz. Simple Syrup

• 2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

• 1 Lemon Twist for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Complex

• Flavor:       Spirit

Method:

Rinse a chilled Old Fashioned glass with Absinthe, then fill with crushed ice. In a mixing glass (separate from the Old Fashioned glass), add all other ingredients and fill with ice. Stir until well chilled. Discard ice and excess absinthe in the Old Fashioned glass, and strain ingredients into glass. Garnish with lemon twist.