How to Use a Cognac Spoon

Cognac, considered to by many to be one of the most refined spirits in the world, makes a frequent appearance in warm beverages. Such a refined spirit demands a dramatic presentation, but simply adding the cognac into a coffee mug or a tea cup does little to inspire anticipation. An imaginative bartender can use a cognac spoon to add a little excitement. The spoon, which looks much like a tablespoon with steel arms that hook over the edge of a cup, holds cognac over the drink and when lit by a match, provides the "wow" factor a cognac drink deserves.

Things You'll Need

• Teacup
• Teakettle
• Lighter
• Cheesecloth, 2 layers
• Kitchen twine
• Mesh sieve
• 4 tsps. cognac
• 1 cup hot oolong black tea
• 5 cardamom seeds
• 5 cloves
• 1 stick cinnamon
• 1 tbsp. lemon peel, chopped
• 2 cups red wine
• 2 cups port
• ¼ lb. almonds, blanched
• ¼ lb. seeded raisins
• 2 sugar cubes

Instructions

Flaming Oolong Tea

1. Pour the black tea into a tea cup. Place the cognac spoon over the tea cup so that there is some space between the liquid in the cup and the bottom of the spoon.

2. Place one sugar cube on the cognac spoon. Pour 2 tsps. cognac over the sugar cube.

3. Light the sugar cube. Watch the flame burn off quickly and the sugar melt and caramelize.

4. Pour the sugar-and-cognac mixture into the tea.

Hot Christmas Glogg (Juleglogg)

1. For this Danish Christmas drink, put the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and lemon peel on the two layers of cheesecloth, stacked on top of each other.

2. Fold the sides of the cheesecloth up to form a small bag and tie with kitchen twine.

3. Pour the red wine and port wine in the kettle and put in the cheesecloth bag. Simmer for 20 minutes.

4. Put the almonds and the raisins in the wine and simmer for 10 more minutes

5. Remove the cheesecloth bag and strain the wine through the sieve.

6. Pour the wine into a warmed mug.

7. Place the cognac spoon over the mug and put a sugar cube on the spoon.

8. Pour cognac over the sugar and ignite.

9. Pour the caramelized sugar into the wine.

References

• Uniquely Tea: Flaming Oolong Tea
• Drinks from Denmark: Hot Christmas Glogg