Coffee Cocktail

A 19th-century after-dinner classic whose name is a riddle: there is no coffee in it. Tawny port and Cognac are shaken hard with a whole egg and a touch of sugar, then strained and dusted with nutmeg — the egg lends a silky body and a deep, coffee-dark color that earned the drink its misleading title. First recorded by Jerry Thomas in the 1887 edition of his bar guide, it is a fortified-wine flip in everything but name: rich, dessert-like, and warming.

DigestifClassicLow ABVAfter DinnerContains Egg

Ingredients

  • 2 ozTawny Port
  • 1 ozCognac
  • 1 pieceWhole Egg
  • 0.5 ozSimple Syrup

Garnish: Grated Nutmeg

Preparation

shaken · Coupe · None

  1. 1.

    add

    Add the whole egg, simple syrup, tawny port, and Cognac to a shaker.

  2. 2.

    shake

    Add ice and shake very thoroughly to emulsify the egg and build a rich, frothy texture.

  3. 3.

    strain

    Double-strain into a chilled coupe, leaving the ice behind.

  4. 4.

    garnish

    Grate fresh nutmeg over the top before serving.

Flavor Profile

sweet
49%
fruity
35%
body
32%
viscosity
29%
spiced
24%
earthy
19%