French Old Fashioned

2023 Let’s Get Blitzen: Cocktail Advent Calendar – Day 2 – French Old Fashioned. I am absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Hine Cognac for the first time and wanted to showcase this incredible spirit in a stirred cocktail that lets H by Hine VSOP Cognac do the talking.

This post is sponsored by Hine Cognac.

H by Hine VSOP Cognac is a divine creation from the award-winning Cognac house. Distilled from Grande and Petite Champagne grapes, this Cognac pours brilliant amber and displays beautiful notes of lime, apricot, ginger, vanilla, and pepper. On the palate, H by Hine is medium-bodied and fruity with a long, elegant finish.

In this Old Fashioned, I’ve paired it with baking spice flavours of clove, cinnamon, and molasses from the gingerbread syrup and a blush of anise from the Peychaud’s bitters. The finished product is an exercise in refinement best-suited to sophisticated palates like yours.

The adventure of Hine began in 1763 on the banks of the river Charente, in Jarnac. Two and a half centuries after Thomas Hine’s founding journey from Dorset, the historic cellars of the 16 quai de l’Orangerie opened.

If you (like me) have a regal tastes, you’ll be pleased to know that Hine House was the sole official cognac supplier to Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II.

Spirit-forward sippers like this one demand top-notch ingredients and H by Hine VSOP Cognac is just that. This cocktail is the perfect pre- or post-dinner sipper so be sure to join me for Virtual Happy Hour this evening at 5 p.m. Eastern in my Instagram stories for a step-by-step stir down.

Cheers, friends!

French Old Fashioned

Print

French Old Fashioned

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

20 mins

 

H by Hine Cognac VSOP is a sophisticated spirit that gets a star turn in this sipper. Notes of iris, jasmine, acacia, white apricot, and white pepper get a baking spice boost with gingerbread syrup and a blush of anise from the bitters.

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: French

Keyword: Brandy, Let’s Get Blitzen, Old Fashioned

Servings: 1 drink

Author: Yvonne Langen

Ingredients

• 1½ oz H by Hine Cognac
• ¼ oz gingerbread syrup
• 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
• Garnish: orange twist

Gingerbread Syrup

• 1 cup demerara sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 tbsp molasses
• 2 tbsp fresh ginger thinly sliced
• 1 tsp whole allspice berries
• 1 tsp whole black peppercorns
• 5 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and stir over ice until well-chilled.
2. Strain into a rocks glass over a king cube.
3. Express citrus oils from the orange peel onto the surface of the drink. Rub the peel around the lip of the glass, fashion into a twist, and drop in.

Gingerbread Syrup

1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil, stirring frequently.
2. Reduce heat to medium low and let simmer for about 20 minutes until syrup is slightly thickened.
3. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
4. Remove solids and fine strain into an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 1 month.