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Why they all can’t be winners


East India Cocktail

  • 3 oz. brandy
  • 1/2 oz. raspberry syrup
  • 1 dash Angostura bitters
  • 1 tsp. orange Curacao (Cointrea)
  • 1 tsp. maraschino liqueur

from Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails by Ted “Dr. Cocktail” Haigh.

We might just have to file this one under “Seemed like a good idea at the time”. The problem is that Brandy, while better than vodka, just doesn’t add a great deal of complexity. The Maraschino liqueur, raspberry syrup and Cointreau all make the drink a little fruity and a lot sweet (think cloying hummingbird food). By the time you get to the bitters, its just too much to ask of a few dashes. I suspect there are a number of people who will like this drink, but if you are into great cocktails, this probably won’t pass muster.

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