A few weeks ago we were celebrating our second Very Special Night with Martell. There was glamour (the setting was the stylish Marx Room at Quo Vadis in Soho ), there was entertainment (with oh-so chic live music from what we now like to think of our house band Daj Dook) and there was history – we were celebrating 300 years of Martell Cognac, the oldest of the major cognac houses after all.
At the heart of it all, there were cocktails – five of them, see recipes below, each carefully chosen to showcase the distinct flavour profiles of Martell VS and VSOP. They also played an important role in telling the impressive history of Martell Cognac – from its beginnings in 1715, toasted with a bright, celebratory Martell Champagne cocktail, through to a deeper, more contemplative French Connection in honour of Martell Cordon Bleu being served to Concorde passengers travelling from Paris to New York in 1977.
To keep the celebrations going we have 10 bottles of Martell Cognac to give away, just in time for Christmas. To be in with a chance of winning one, drop us a line with ‘Martell 300’ in the subject header, telling us which of the five cocktails below you’d like to make and why.
Entrants must be aged 18 or over and reside in the UK. Closing dates for entries is 16th December and winners will be notified by 18th December.
For more recipes and details of Martell Very Special Nights see martell.com.
Champagne Cocktail
The ultimate classic cocktail to toast the year Martell was created by Jean Martell in 1715.
25ml Martell VS
3 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
1 sugar cube
Brut Champagne (or sparkling wine)
Method:
Place sugar cube in the bottom of a Champagne flute and coat with bitters. Pour Martell cognac into the glass and top with Champagne or sparkling wine.
Martell Fish House Punch
To celebrate the first mixed drinks with cognac as a base.
35ml Martell VS
25ml Havana Club 3 Year Old
15ml Briottet Crème de Peche
20ml fresh lemon juice
5ml sugar syrup
10ml chilled water
Method:
Stir and strain ingredients over cubed ice. Pour into a Rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with an orange slice.
Martell Very Special Sling
To celebrate the first exports of Martell to Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Korea in 1858.
50ml Martell VS
20ml fresh lemon juice
15ml Cherry Heering
5ml maraschino liqueur
5ml 2:1 sugar syrup
Soda water
Method:
Build ingredients in a Highball or Rocks glass with cubed ice. Stir. Garnish with a lemon slice and a cherry.
French Connection
To celebrate Martell Cordon Bleu served to Concorde passengers travelling from Paris to New York in 1977.
50ml Martell VSOP
25ml Amaretto liqueur
Method:
Stir ingredients over ice and strain into an ice-filled Rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Sidecar des Charentes
To celebrate L’OR de Jean Martell, the ultimate Martell expression, launched in 2009.
40ml Martell VSOP
25ml triple sec
20ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
15ml Pineau des Charentes
Method:
Shake and double strain ingredients into a Coupette. Garnish with lemon zest.
