This recipe is excerpted from The I Love Trader Joe’s® Cocktail Book by Greg McBoat.
Earl Grey Tea Smoked Brandy Alexander
An Alexander drink is often cloyingly sweet and can be one note. By using the smoke from Earl Grey tea, you can accentuate this dessert cocktail with notes of fire and bergamot (the tea contains oils from Italian bergamot oranges). The smoke effect is beautiful in a snifter glass and adds complexity to the drink.
1 ounce brandy
1 ounce crème de cacao
1 ounce heavy cream
1 Trader Joe’s Organic Earl Grey Tea bag
fresh whole nutmeg
YIELD: 1 drink
1. Fill a cocktail shaker three-quarters full of ice, and add the brandy, crème de cacao, and heavy cream. Shake for 15 to 25 seconds.
2. Strain into a snifter glass and grate fresh nutmeg over the top.
3. Using a smoking gun that can smoke using tea, cut open the Earl Grey tea bags and empty the tea into the smoker. Use as directed to fill the snifter with a light tea smoke. If you don’t have a smoker, you can add 2 drops of liquid smoke to the tea.
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