THE BRANDY SOUR STORY

 THE BARMAN, THE ROYAL & THE BOTTLE OF BRANDY

Today, the Cyprus Brandy Sour enjoys its status as the island’s unofficial national cocktail. Its story, which began in a mountain retreat in Cyprus in the early 1930s, involves an innovative hotel barman, a royal guest and a bottle of Cyprus brandy. The Branday Sour, as such, was originally crafted as a discreet way to serve alcohol disguised as iced tea to KING FAROUK OF EGYPT, at the FOREST PARK HOTEL in the village of Platres.

A CUNNING PLAN

Although frowned upon at the time, KING FAROUK OF EGYPT, who was a regular royal patron of the FOREST PARK HOTEL, spent his days and many evenings drinking his beloved Cyprus brandy in the public bar at the hotel. Peer pressure, however, forced the king to hatch a plan of action with the hotel’s head barman to overcome the constant raised eyebrows.

A DRINK FOR ROYALTY

KING FAROUK OF EGYPT charged the head barman with creating a new brandy-based cocktail to look like iced tea. His main aim was to drink his favourite tipple incognito. Embraced by the royal challenge, the head barman endeavoured to create a new drink, which was defined by a unique blend of locally produced ingredients. This ultimately led to the creation of a typical Cypriot cocktail with an easy-to-remember recipe.

LOCAL INGREDIENTS

Using Cyprus brandy as its alcoholic base, the barman decided to add locally produced lemon squash to the mix. This gave the drink its distinctive, refreshing, sweet and sour twist at the time. He then added soda water and ice to neutralise the sharpness of lemon squash, and Angostura bitters, to further enhance the flavour. The drink was eagerly approved by the king, and with that, the ‘Brandy Sour’ was born.

EASY TO MAKE

Today, a typical Brandy Sour uses the same simple, subtle recipe and blend of local Cypriot ingredients. Usually served in a sugar-rimmed tall cocktail glass, the drink consists of two parts Cyprus brandy. One part lemon squash and one part soda water. The concoction is then usually poured over crushed ice. The drink is carefully stirred whilst a few drops of Angostura bitters are applied to give the drink its distinctive orange to red hue. A single slice of lemon and a maraschino cherry then act as a typical garnish for the drink.

THE COCKTAIL OF CHOICE

The new cocktail soon became a bestseller amongst other guests at the hotel, and it was promptly added to the top of the hotel’s cocktail menu. Guests of the hotel then began to ask for the drink at other establishments across the resort. This led to other bars, hotels and even restaurants regularly serving the drink. The ‘Brandy Sour’ revolution was firmly underway when it also became the drink of choice for most locals. The drink of choice quickly spread to other parts of the island.

CYPRUS’S UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL COCKTAIL

Today, the Brandy Sour makes up part of Cyprus’s unique identity, and it is generally the preferred cocktail of choice across the island. The light and breezy alcoholic drink, created to look like iced tea to appease royalty, firmly retains its title as Cyprus’s unofficial national cocktail.