A little cherry brandy is added to the famous gin-vermouth cocktail to create this rose cocktail, sometimes known as the “French rose cocktail”. Adding a bit of fruity sweetness to the cocktail lends it a wonderful aperitif flavor.
This cocktail is known as the “rose cocktail” as might be expected. Some of the drinks that take the name can even be found in the earliest bartending guides that were written a century ago. In most of these classic rose cocktail recipes, brandy of some kind is the common factor which is exactly what makes this variation on the gin martini remarkable.
Tips
- If real cherry brandy is not your style, you can use maraschino liqueur instead. Rose cocktails made from this liqueur produce an excellent aroma of cherry flavor and a very dry profile.
- Guides to bartending show that the English Rose is more popular than the French Rose. Martinis with a twist consist of apricot brandy, lemon juice, and grenadine, as well as a hint of sweetness and sourness.
- As with any martini, gin of the highest quality will boost the flavor of your rose cocktail. In contrast to cherry brandy, dry gins will stand up very well so a good London dry gin, or something similar would make an excellent accompaniment.
