Chicago Cocktail recipe
Brandy, orange liqueur, and bitters meet sparkling wine in a dry, citrus-led city classic.
Method: Shake ·
Glass: Coupe glass ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Sidecar Family
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz Brandy
- 1/2 oz Orange Curaçao
- 1 dash Angostura Bitters
- 1 tsp Simple Syrup
- 1 oz Dry Sparkling Wine
How to make a Chicago Cocktail
- Chill a coupe glass.
- Add brandy, curaçao, bitters, and syrup to a shaker with ice.
- Shake briefly and strain into the chilled coupe.
- Top with sparkling wine.
- Express an orange twist over the surface.
Garnish
Orange twist.
Pro tip
Keep the sparkling wine pour small. This is a brandy cocktail first, not a glass of wine with a splash of spirit.
History of the Chicago Cocktail
Recipes under the Chicago Cocktail name appeared in the late nineteenth century. The exact origin is hazy, but the drink's brandy-and-bubbles profile fits the grand hotel bar tradition of the era.
Flavour profile
Citrus, Bubbly, Warm, Spice
Variations
- Chicago 75 — Use gin instead of brandy for a drier, more botanical drink.
- Apple Chicago — Use Calvados in place of brandy.
- Chicago Royale — Skip the syrup and use a slightly sweeter sparkling wine.
Practise making the Chicago Cocktail in the free Virtual Bar game.