One of my favorite things about brunch is that it isn’t just a meal; it’s a concept. That is why you can “brunch up” something, like a drink or a dish not typically associated with the morning, but you never hear someone suggesting you “lunch up” a recipe. That distinction is where the beauty and creativity of brunch lies—in finding ways to apply elements of brunch to unrelated recipes and creating something new and exciting in the process.
So when I stumbled upon a video for a Hennessy Brunch Martini (scrolling through the internet searching for divine brunch enlightenment, of course), I suspected I hit gold. While many of us enjoy cognac, I think we can all agree that Hennessy is not all too associated with brunch. But this recipe turns that theory on its head by adding orange marmalade into the mix—not an ingredient I typically (or ever) throw into cocktails on my own fruition. But I love Hennessy, and I love brunch-ativity (i.e. brunch creativity), so I decided to give it a go.
The Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Hennessy V.S
- .5 oz lime juice
- Spoonful of orange Marmalade
- Garnish: Orange Twist
- Glass: Martini or Coupe
The Directions:
- According to Hennessy’s website, you’re supposed to “[a]dd all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until chilled, strain into a martini glass or coupe and garnish with an orange twist.”
The Verdict:
Let me reiterate my utter disinterest in marmalade before finding this recipe. It was, after all, the overall bizarreness of using it in a drink, particularly one that requires so little effort and apparatuses, that intrigued me. So my hopes were not high. That being said, I felt guilty for all my initial doubts the moment that drink hit my lips. It was a-m-a-z-i-n-g! The orange flavor of the marmalade paired perfectly with the Hennessy, cutting the usual harshness of the drink to a palatable level for a 10 a.m. gathering, while still managing to highlight the subtler citrus flavors of the cognac.
If you’re not a big Hennessy fan, you’ll still enjoy this drink. But if you are a partaker of cognac—this is going to blow your mind. Not only was it delicious, every sip screamed brunch (and I know brunch). 10/10—try this at home. For a drink you never imagined, it is surprisingly simple to make and totally worth the effort.
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