Here in the Windy City the high got all the way to 46 degrees today. It’s been gray and rainy for the last 72 hours and the wind chill today feels like it’s 36 degrees out. Really? It’s May 15th! Friday the temp dropped 20 degrees in about 10 minutes and by Happy Hour, I must admit, my choice of the daiquiri was an attempt to “springify” the weather a bit. But today, I just couldn’t fight Ma Nature. So I mixed a batch of Combustible Edisons to warm things up. My first (literally anyway) flaming cocktail :-P
If you have some friends over who appreciate good cocktails and you feel like being a showman, make this one. Not much tops the drama of ignited brandy and that ethereal blue flame streaming into a cocktail glass. Prep your friends, though, before the first sip. Campari and lemon juice make for a bitter first couple sips. Ditto for the warmth of the bev. Being used to icy cocktails means this is not unlike an American getting his first beer in England. But The Partner noted that he thought the warmth worked in the CE’s favor. Cold with this level of bitterness might be even more challenging.
As you sip the body and flavor change, becoming a bit syrupy in the mouth and less astringent. By the bottom of the glass the lemon and brandy together are the predominant notes.
If you’re not feeling brave enough to light your cocktail on fire, shake the brandy along with the other ingredients and call it an Edisonian. In the name of research, I tried it this way too. Contrary to The Partner’s prediction, it was good cold as well, though notably different. Thinner in the mouth, lighter and with bright citrus flavors it goes down a bit easier than the Combustible version. It’s dryness lasts well past the last sip which leaves a rather pleasant memory as the evening progresses.
Combustible Edison/Edisonian
2 oz. brandy
1 oz. Campari
1 oz. lemon juice
Warm the brandy in a chafing dish. Shake the Campari & lemon juice with cracked ice and pour into chilled cocktail glass. Light the brandy and pour into the other ingredients in the cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twists.
If you have some friends over who appreciate good cocktails and you feel like being a showman, make this one. Not much tops the drama of ignited brandy and that ethereal blue flame streaming into a cocktail glass. Prep your friends, though, before the first sip. Campari and lemon juice make for a bitter first couple sips. Ditto for the warmth of the bev. Being used to icy cocktails means this is not unlike an American getting his first beer in England. But The Partner noted that he thought the warmth worked in the CE’s favor. Cold with this level of bitterness might be even more challenging. As you sip the body and flavor change, becoming a bit syrupy in the mouth and less astringent. By the bottom of the glass the lemon and brandy together are the predominant notes.
If you’re not feeling brave enough to light your cocktail on fire, shake the brandy along with the other ingredients and call it an Edisonian. In the name of research, I tried it this way too. Contrary to The Partner’s prediction, it was good cold as well, though notably different. Thinner in the mouth, lighter and with bright citrus flavors it goes down a bit easier than the Combustible version. It’s dryness lasts well past the last sip which leaves a rather pleasant memory as the evening progresses.
Combustible Edison/Edisonian
2 oz. brandy
1 oz. Campari
1 oz. lemon juice
Warm the brandy in a chafing dish. Shake the Campari & lemon juice with cracked ice and pour into chilled cocktail glass. Light the brandy and pour into the other ingredients in the cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twists.
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