Skip to content
Spirlix
Log in Sign up
All cocktails Coffee

Log in to see whether your bar can pour this

Coffee

Classic/vintage

4.2 35 ratings

Ingredients

2 oz Tawny port
1 oz Cognac (brandy)
1/2 oz Sugar syrup 'rich' (2:1)
1 fresh Egg (white and yolk)

How to make

Serve in a wine glass

Prepare

  1. 1 Select and pre-chill a WINE GLASS.
  2. 2 Prepare garnish of grated nutmeg.

Method

  1. 3 SHAKE all ingredients with ice and strain back into shaker.
  2. 4 DRY SHAKE (without ice).
  3. 5 FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. 6 Dust with freshly grated nutmeg.

History

According to the 1887 edition of the Professor's book, the name of this drink is a misnomer because "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."

This recipe originates from the 1887 Jerry Thomas' Bar-tenders Guide, published after the death of Jerry "The Professor" Thomas on 15th December 1885. Coffee Cocktail. (Prepare in a large bar-glass.) Ingredients: 1 tea-spoonful powdered white sugar. 1 fresh egg. 1 large wine-glass of port wine. 1 pony of brandy. 2 or 3 lumps of ice. Instructions: Crack the egg into the glass. Add the sugar, followed by the port wine and brandy, and then the ice. Shake vigorously until well-mixed, then strain into a medium bar goblet. Finish by grating a small amount of nutmeg over the top before serving. Despite its name, this cocktail does not contain coffee or bitters. Its appellation is likely derived from its visual resemblance to coffee once it has been properly prepared.