The Olympic Cocktail {Recipe}

the olympic cocktail recipeI love the Olympic games, cocktails, and a good story, so I naturally fell for the tale of the classic cocktail, The Olympic. The forgotten stepsister of the popular Side Car, the Olympic originated in London in 1922, likely in recognition of Olympic ocean liner, not the athletic competition.

The first recipes were one part cognac to one part orange juice to one part curacao, likely a non-electric-blue color because Brilliant Blue FCF hadn't originated yet.

In celebration of the 2012 games in London, we began experimenting with the Olympic. Our version, heavier on the cognac than the original, is refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness.

We'll serve the Olympic tonight with a London-inspired meal of steak and mushroom pasties, shaved brussels sprouts salad, popovers, and roasted peaches. I can hardly wait!

olympic cocktail ingredients

The Olympic Makes 1 drink

fresh squeezed juice of half a navel orange 2 ounces VSOP cognac 1 ounce quality orange brandy liqueur like Grand Marnier 1 dash Peychoud's bitters strip of orange peel for garnish

1. Place ice and water in a cocktail glass. 2. Pour orange juice, cognac, orange brandy and bitters over ice in a cocktail shaker. 3. Shake and strain into glass. Garnish with a strip of orange peel.

 

Are you watching the Olympics? Who are you cheering for?

Olympics!

We are a sports loving family.  Ohio State Buckeye football receives our attention in the fall and we follow the Tour de France every summer.  The pinnacle of our sports watching is the biennial Olympic games.

This year, we hosted a party for the Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremony.  Because we can't pass up a chance for fun food, we asked guests to bring a dish from their favorite country.

By the end of the night, our multicultural spread included Japanese snacks, French cheese, home dry cured French style sausage, Indian chickpeas and rice, Swedish cardamom bread and pepparkakor cookies, American oysters and more.

Beer from Bell's Brewery in Michigan, homemade Italian style Limoncello, and French wines were also served.

Are you an Olympics fan?