I ran across an early recipe for the Brandy Crusta in Leo Engels, American and Other Drinks, which was published in 1878. The recipe provided by Engels is rather hard to follow because it bases its construction upon a recipe called the Fancy Cocktail, which in turn bases its construction upon a recipe called the Gin Cocktail. Weaving my way through the recipes I have brought forward what I believe is the Leo Engels version of the Brandy Crusta.

Brandy Crusta (Leo Engels)

1 wine glass of Brandy (about 2 oz)
1 tsp lemon juice
2 dashes of Orange Curacao
3 dashes of plain syrup
2 or 3 dashes of Boker’s bitters (sub Fee’s Cocktail bitters)
1/3 cup ice
Lemon slice
Lemon spiral (paring from half a lemon)
lump of ice

Rim a wine glass with a lemon slice
Dip the glass in powdered sugar
Pare 1/2 a lemon and place the paring inside the wine glass
Mix the ingredients in a tumbler and strain into the wine glass
Add a small lump of ice

Enjoy Responsibly!

Note: If  you are interested in more cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed drink recipes!

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Note: The Brandy Crusta is a classic cocktail traced back to Joseph Santini (circa 1840) who was a celebrated bartender and caterer in New Orleans (see Leo Engels, American and other Drinks, 1878). This classic recipe has of course evolved over time, and I have seen many modern variations all over the internet. The recipe I have shared below was based upon the 1878 variation of the Brandy Crusta developed by Leo Engels who almost certainly used Santini’s 1840 Brandy Crusta recipe as his inspiration.