Brandy Crusta cocktail
The Brandy Crusta is a slightly sweet, fruity cocktail which uses brandy as a base, to which lemon juice, curacao, Angostura bitters and maraschino (cherry) liqueur are added.
The proportions in Brandy Crusta makes for a finely balanced drink with a blend of strong flavours.
The Brandy Crusta cocktail was invented by an Italian bartender named Joseph Santini in New Orleans in 1850. The crusta name refers to the sugary crust around the glass rim.
The Brandy Crusta is considered to be an ancestor of another popular cocktail, the Sidecar.
- Prep Time:
- Total Time:
- Type: Cocktail
- Units: 2
Equipment
- Cocktail glass
Ingredients
- 60 ml brandy
- 15 ml lemon juice
- 15 ml curaçao
- 1 tsp maraschino liqueur
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 lemon slice (for the sugared rim)
- sugar (for the rim)
- 1 lemon peel (to garnish)
Instructions
- Wipe a slice of lemon around the glass edges. Dip it in sugar to create an even rim. Place aside.
- Pour the brandy, curaçao, maraschino liqueur, Angostura bitters and the lemon juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, continue to shake well until blended and chilled.
- Strain into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with a lemon peel.
FAQ
What’s in a Brandy Crusta?
The Brandy Crusta is a refined mix of brandy, orange liqueur, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, and bitters, served in a sugar-rimmed glass with a dramatic lemon peel garnish. It’s considered a forerunner of the Sidecar.
How strong is it?
A standard serve (45ml brandy at 40% ABV, plus liqueurs and citrus) comes to about 2 alcohol units, similar in strength to a Brandy Manhattan.
Why is it called a “Crusta”?
The name comes from the sugar “crust” around the rim of the glass, which sets it apart visually and flavour-wise from other cocktails of its era.
What glass is it served in?
A stemmed wine glass or small goblet, with a sugar rim and a wide lemon peel draped inside the glass for a striking presentation.
When was it created?
It was invented in New Orleans in the 1850s by bartender Joseph Santini, making it one of the earliest cocktails to use citrus juice as a key ingredient.
How does it compare to other brandy cocktails?
The Brandy Crusta is more complex and citrusy than the Brandy Alexander, and more ornate in presentation than the spirit-forward Brandy Manhattan. Its balance of sweet, sour, and bitter is what later inspired the Sidecar.