Amaretto Cherry Hot Brandy Cocktail

^{This post has been sponsored by Mark T. Wendell. All opinions expressed are my own. The following message is intended for those 21+. All opinions expressed are my own. Please enjoy responsibly.}

Today's Amaretto Cherry Hot Brandy Cocktail is a warm concoction of sweet cherries and amaretto with a splash of spicy brandy. To complete this autumnal drink, we're serving it with a dollop of freshly whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. This is sure to be your new favorite cold weather beverage!

A Day of Thanks

There's a saying, “Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.”

It seems summer is at last behind us. After a warm early fall here in the North Eastern Coast, the trees now stand bare, the chill in the evening air has settled while bonfires and hearths fill the air with their musty scent of burning wood.

I welcome the seasonal change with open arms- cozy evenings in with heartier dishes, weekend baking, and of course, holiday planning.

We've been rolling out our Thanksgiving menu here on Living the Gourmet for those who celebrate, which I always look forward to as a prelude to the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

This holiday calls for warm spices and earthier dishes like pumpkin pie and roasted squash. It also calls for hot drinks like Spiced Cider and Mulled Wine. Today, I thought I would add something new to the cocktail menu.

Our Amaretto Cherry Hot Brandy is the definition of spiked tea. Probably not the first thing that comes to mind for a hot cocktail, but I was inspired by Mark T. Wendell's Amaretto Cherry Black Tea.

Many of you know by now how much I love Mark T. Wendell's gourmet selection of loose leaf teas. I feature their blends quite often and sometimes I even tie their teas into my recipes such as these Tisane Tea Cookies and Strawberry Guava Scones. They offer a variety of teas and seasonal blends to enjoy throughout the year.

Long have I been a fan of their Amaretto Cherry Black Tea. It's bursting with sour cherry pieces and cherry essence that plays perfectly into the sweet red and pink cornflower petals. Not to mention, the aroma of this tea is everything- cozy and autumnal.

Something about this blend was calling me to add a splash of brandy. Think of it as a distant relative to the Hot Toddy. The spicy, caramel notes of brandy paired with the hot amaretto cherry tea was an instant match made in heaven. For finishing touches, I topped it off with a dollop of cream and a pinch of cinnamon.

Ingredient Checklist

• Amaretto Cherry Black Tea - I love the flavors of this tea paired with the brandy. Everything about it is perfectly seasonal. Right now, our friends at Mark T. Wendell are running an exciting holiday sale so you can stock up on your favorite blends to brew or to gift! And if you're new to MTW, this is the perfect opportunity to browse their extensive collection and try them for yourself! Use code 'LivingtheGourmet' to get $8 off your order of $80+ and if you spend over $110 you get free shipping!
  • Substitutions: If you're wondering what other MTW blends could I use for today's recipe, we recommend their Autumn Cranberry Flavored Black tea, Marzipan Walnut Rose Black Tea, Vanilla Bourbon Rooibos Herbal, or their Pumpkin Spice Black Tea.
• Brandy - For today's recipe, I used Teryan Extra Old Armenian Brandy. It's a rich full-bodied brandy and that's what I prefer for today's cocktail.
  • Substitutions: If you're looking for full bodied brandies we recommend Copper & Kings American Craft Brandy, Delord Bas Armagnac 25 Year Old, and Torres 30 Jaime I. Brandy Reserva de la Famiglia.
  • Notes: A common question we get is what is the difference between brandy and Cognac? Cognac is a type of brandy made in the Cognac region of France. Another question I have received is, what's the difference between brandy and whiskey? Brandy is distilled from fermented fruits (mainly grapes but also apples, cherries, or pears) while whiskey is distilled from fermented grains (such as barley, corn, rye, and wheat).
• Orgeat - This almond syrup is commonly used in cocktails usually tropical drinks but it works nicely in today's cocktail. Orgeat is a thicker syrup so that its richness adds to the body of this winter drink.
  • Substitutions: If you don't have Orgeat, don't worry. You can make a simple syrup infused with almond extract instead. I have included the recipe to this simple syrup in the recipe card below.
  • Notes: And if you don't have almond extract for the simple syrup, yes you can definitely use vanilla as well. Vanilla plays into the notes of the brandy just as pleasantly.
• Whipped Cream - All hot winter drinks need whipped cream. Is that the rule? Only in my book. I think a dollop of fresh cream makes this drink feel like a real treat to sip on.
• Cinnamon - A dash of warm cinnamon is the bow on top. It brings everything together and truly makes it taste like the holidays in a cup.

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And that is our recipe for Amaretto Cherry Hot Brandy Cocktail. If you enjoyed this recipe, or have any questions or suggestions, be sure to let us know in the comments below. We always love hearing from you!

Cheers!

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