Our next cocktail is the Chatham Hotel Special. One of the signature cocktails of this former hotel, this is a great after dinner/dessert drink. The brandy and port play together nicely, and the cream and hint of chocolate provided by the creme de cacao give this drink just a hint of sweetness. It’s not cloying at all, and is altogether an excellent cocktail. Cheers!
Chatham Hotel Special
1 1/2 oz Brandy
1/2 oz Ruby Port
1/2 oz Cream
1 dash Dark Creme de Cacao
This is quite possibly the most confusing cocktail I have come across to date.
In his 1887 book, Jerry Thomas offers this description of this beverage:
“The name of this drink is a misnomer, as coffee and bitters are not to be found among its ingredients, but it looks like coffee when it has been properly concocted.”
I’m not really sure what kind of port Jerry was using, but this drink looks nothing like coffee when it is made. You could maybe pass it off as a raspberry latte, but even that is pushing it a little. However, appearance aside, this really is a great cocktail. The brandy comes through in the initial taste, followed by the sweetness of the port wine. I was pleasantly surprised and will definitely be having this one again. Cheers!
Coffee Cocktail
1 oz Brandy
1 egg
3 oz Ruby Port
1 tsp Sugar
Rock & Rye 