PR Coffee and Brandy Liqueur Essence 20 ml

PR Coffee and Brandy Liqueur Essence 20 ml

Coffee and brandy is the classic closing chord of a dinner: the cup on one side, the balloon glass on the other. This liqueur simply brings the two together. It is an old and well-loved idea – laced coffee in a dinner jacket – where the roasted depth of the coffee meets the dried fruit and warmth of grape spirit.

What sets Coffee and Brandy apart from an ordinary coffee liqueur is precisely the brandy. It adds a winey, fruity dimension and a glow in the chest that makes the liqueur a true after-dinner drink rather than a cocktail ingredient – although it does acquit itself splendidly in the odd cocktail too.

Colour & Appearance

The colour is a dark chestnut brown with coppery-red glints, a little lighter and warmer in tone than a straight coffee liqueur. The texture is softly oily and the liqueur coats the glass in broad, slow tears.

Nose

The nose offers freshly pulled espresso and raisins in the same breath. Then come vanilla, prunes and dried figs, a little toasted oak and a note of browned butter. It smells rather like a café that also happens to keep a well-stocked bar.

Palate

The first impression is soft coffee with a clear roast, but almost at once the brandy spreads out: raisins, dried apricot, vanilla and a round, winey warmth. The sweetness is moderate and recalls dark muscovado sugar rather than toffee. In the middle there is a small nutty note and a hint of orange peel, before the bitterness of the coffee returns and tightens things up. The whole is full, warm and harmonious – neither the coffee nor the brandy wins, they simply take turns.

Finish

The finish is long and warming. Espresso, raisins and toasted oak stay for a good while, and the warmth of the brandy spreads calmly – exactly what you want when dinner is over and nobody is in a hurry.

How to Use

The essence is mixed with vodka or neutral spirit plus sugar. 20 ml makes 750 ml of finished drink. Instructions are on the label.

Serving Suggestions

• As a digestif in a balloon glass or small liqueur glass, at room temperature.
• A splash straight into a cup of strong black coffee.
• Over one large ice cube with a twist of orange peel.
• With hot milk and grated dark chocolate on a cold evening.
• With chocolate cake, nut pastries or a piece of ripe hard cheese.

About the Essence

Coffee and Brandy belongs to the PR (Prestige) series and is the liqueur for anyone who likes to round off a meal at an unhurried pace. It has more warmth and fruit than the other coffee liqueurs in the range and therefore stands firmly on its own two feet in the glass.

It also makes a welcome gift: pour it into a handsome bottle, add a label and take it along to the next dinner party. The essence is also available in 25 litres for producers.