Shine bright with this simple Star Cocktail recipe! Crafted with Calvados, sweet Vermouth, Peychaud bitters and just a dash of gomme syrup, this heartwarming cocktail is ideal for winter.
Prep time:
1 minute
Mixing time:
1 minute
Servings:
1
Calories:
196
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Calvados or Apple Brandy
- 1½ oz Sweet Vermouth
- 1 bar spoon gomme syrup
- 3 dashes of Peychaud Bitters
- Maraschino or Amarena cherries - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Mixing Glass
- Bar spoon
- Cocktail Strainer
- Martini or Coupe Glass
- Measuring Jigger
- Cocktail Skewer (for garnishing, optional)
Instructions
- Prep Glass: Fill a Martini or Coupe glass with ice. Give it a quick stir and set it aside.
- Add Bitters: Pour 3 dashes of Peychaud Bitters into the mixing glass.
- Add Gum Syrup: Add 1 bar spoon gomme syrup.
- Add Vermouth: Measure and pour 1½ oz Sweet Vermouth into the mixing glass as well.
- Add Calvados: Finally, add 1½ oz Calvados or Apple Brandy to the mix.
- Add Ice and Stir: Fill the mixing glass with ice. Using a bar spoon or a long stirrer, stir well (for about 15-20 seconds). Give it a taste and stir a bit more if you feel like more dilution is necessary.
- Strain: Take your Martini glass or cocktail coupe and discard the ice inside. Using the cocktail strainer, strain the mixture into the chilled glass.
- Garnish: Garnish with a maraschino or amarena cherries (you can drop it directly into the drink or skewer one or two cherries and then gently place the cocktail skewer on the rim of the glass). Serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Apple Brandy: If you don't have apple brandy, you can use Calvados or any other apple-based spirit. For a different take on this cocktail, you can also use grape brandy such as Cognac or Armagnac; it won’t be as fruity as the original version, but will be equally delicious.
- Sweet Vermouth: Any kind of red vermouth can be used for this recipe. You could also try a fortified wine like port or sherry (Oloroso, Palo Cortado or Pedro Ximenez for example) for a different flavor profile.
- Gomme Syrup: Use rich sugar syrup as a substitute if you can’t find gomme syrup; it will sweeten your drink and bring a rich, smooth mouthfeel as well. To make your own rich sugar syrup, simply combine 2 parts powdered sugar and 1 part water in a pan. Stir to dissolve over low heat and allow to cool down to room temperature before using.
- Peychaud Bitters: You can use a dash of green absinthe as a substitute for Peychaud in this cocktail. Another option would be to use orange, lemon or regular Angostura bitters; feel free to experiment and determine your favorite alternative.
Making a Pitcher of Star Cocktail:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 12 oz of apple brandy, 12 oz of sweet Vermouth, 1 ½ oz of rich sugar syrup and 24 dashes of Peychaud bitters.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the apple brandy, sweet Vermouth, sugar syrup and bitters. Add ice and stir well. Give it a taste and stir a bit more if you feel like more dilution is necessary. Strain to remove the ice and transfer into a bottle.
- Serve: Pour the mixture into chilled Martini or coupe glasses, garnish with a candied cherry and serve immediately. Be sure to put the bottle back into the fridge or freezer between each serving: this cocktail should always be served as cold as possible. If you have any leftovers, you can keep the bottle in the fridge for up to a year.
Making it Vegan:
This cocktail is already vegan-friendly as it doesn't contain any animal products. Just check your ingredients' labels to ensure they're suitable for vegans (some brands of Vermouth, for example, may use animal products in their production process).What is a Star Cocktail?
A Star Cocktail is ad classic cocktail made of apple brandy, sweet Vermouth, gomme syrup, and Peychaud’s bitters. It is not particularly difficult to make; the process involves combining all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, stirring well, and straining into a chilled cocktail glass. As for many stirred cocktails, the key lies in achieving the right level of dilution and the perfect temperature.
What is a Star Cocktail made of – The ingredients
To whip up a Star Cocktail, ensure you have these ingredients:
- Peychaud’s Bitters: A type of aromatic bitters with a distinct anise and liquorice flavor, adding a spicy and slightly bitter edge to cocktails.
- Gomme Syrup: A sweetener made from sugar and gum arabic, providing a smooth texture and a richer mouthfeel compared to simple syrup.
- Sweet Vermouth: Adds sweetness and complexity to balance the strong apple brandy.
- Calvados: A French apple brandy from the Normandy region, known for its rich apple flavor and complex, oak-aged character.
- Maraschino or Amarena Cherries: Syrupy cherries used as a garnish, adding a sweet and slightly tart finish to the cocktail.
