The Brandy Bar + Cocktails

Recent Posts

Wed, June 15th 7-9:00 PM – Songwriters’ Session begins!

By

ANNOUNCING THE FIRST

IN A SERIES OF

SONGWRITERS’ SESSIONS

 

 

Please join us on

Wednesday June 15th

7:00 – 9:00 PM

For an evening of original songs in the natural acoustics and listening room atmosphere of the handsome and historic Brandy Bar + Cocktails located in the Historic Depot District 504 Seventh Avenue East, Hendersonville, NC 28792 – 828.513.1336

 

 

 

OPENING NIGHT FEATURING

 

Mare Carmody  grew up a Virginia gal but has lived in Tennessee, Arkansas and North Carolina, absorbing music, and musical experiences along the way. To this day she enjoys getting song ideas from real life and conversations and can’t wait to hear what other songwriters have to say.

 

John Longbottom  grew older in England, then somehow arrived in Virginia spending the next 50 years playing in bands and as a solo act. Nothing famous, just another working musician among countless others. Now retired he looks forward to sharing his songs with Mare, Charlie, and other songwriters.

 

Charlie Wilkinson  grew up playing folk music in central Virginia, and although it’s a bit of a  portage from the James to the Mississippi, he has recently been enjoying playing Chicago style blues – roots music – with Mr. Jimmy Anderson.  He’s happy to be getting back to his own roots with Mare and John and this project.

For more information, please contact Songwriters’ Sessions at:

WNCsongwritersessions@gmail.com

Wed 6/8 – 4-9 PM – $5 sangria special and Thurs 6/9 4-9 PM – War Themed cocktails

By

Wed. 6/8 – 4-9:00 PM $5 sangria special – Pinot Grigio, CB Frost brandy, fresh pears & apples, fresh fruit juices. Out white sangrias are a favorite of our members – not too sweet nor too dry – just right!!

Thurs 6/9 – 4-9:00 PM War Themed Cocktails – The expressions “Happy Hour Club,” “Happy Hour Social Club,” and similar names, have been in use as the names of social clubs since at least the early 1880s. By June 1913, the crew of the USS Arkansas had started referring to their social gatherings as “Happy Hours.” Their “Happy Hours” included entertainment, boxing and wrestling matches, music, dancing, and movies. In 1914 at the end of World War I, the practice of holding “Happy Hours” had spread throughout the entire Navy.

   Ending World War 1 on June 1, 1914, the Secretary of the Navy issued General Order 99 prohibiting the use or introduction of alcohol on any ship or station. It was a good course for the Navy, but the name “Happy Hour” wasn’t the only alcohol-related item inspired by the military. Happy Hour requires drinks, and here are a few well-known drinks inspired by armed forces the world over.

Gin & Tonic – Douglas Fir, fresh squeezed lime juice, tonic water. This legendary drink was introduced to the army of the British East India Company at the height of the British Empire. Malaria, a constant problem with officers and troops in India, was treated at the time with quinine, which tastes bitter and terrible. So the officers started mixing theirs with sugar, lime, and gin to make the stuff drinkable. Today’s tonic water is much sweeter, contains less quinine, and is much less bitter as a result.

Cuba Libre – Brandy, rum, coca cola-Cuba Libre’ was the battle cry for the Cuba Liberation Army during the war of independence from Spain at the turn of the 20th century. Coca-Cola first came to Cuba in the bags of U.S. troops who invaded the island as part of the Spanish-American War in 1898. In 1900, the cola started being exported to Cuba. According to Charles A. Coulombe, a bartender in Havana named Fausto Rodriguez first served the drink to a U.S. troop named “Barrio” who frequented his bar. Yes, this is a rum & coke, but it’s so much more.

Gunfire – Hot tea, brandy=A less known drink, this concoction was served to the lower ranking members of the British Army in the 1890’s to give them a bump of courage before a morning attack. More recently, British troops in the Korean War would give it out to U.S. military policemen after recovery missions. Some UK troops still consume Gunfire on special occasions, especially Christmas when officers serve it to their troops. 

Sidecar – Courvoisier, Cointreau, fresh squeezed lemon juice.-Legend has it the Sidecar was created when a WWI Army Captain couldn’t beat a cold. At his favorite bar in Paris, the bartender made this libation and named it after the motorcycle sidecar in which he was usually chauffeured.

French 75 – Martel, fresh squeezed lemon juice, topped with Champagne. World War I fighter pilot Raoul Lufbery was of French and American descent, flying with the Lafayette Escadrille, American aviators who wanted to fight against Germany, even though the United States had not yet entered the war. For French pilots, champagne was the drink of choice. For Lufbery’s American side, that wasn’t  enough – so he spiked his champagne with cognac, a mix he said made him feel like he was hit by a French 75mm howitzer.

Armagnac and Calvados flight – 1/2 price

REMINDER – The “Songwriters’ Sessions” will begin June 15th from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. We will be posting further information shortly.  And third jewel in the Triple Crown at Belmont begins previews at 5:00 and race to start at 7:00 PM – come and watch with us!

Wed 6/1 – 4-9 – $5 Sangria specials and Thurs 6/2 – 4-9 PM – Magnolia cocktails

By

Wed 6/1 – $5 sangria specials – Chianti, brandy, ripe figs, blue berries, fresh fruit juices. We are getting quite a name for our unique sangrias – they are not too sweet and specially designed each Wednesday. Let us know what you think or give us some ideas!!

 

Thurs 6/2 – Magnolia cocktails —Wow… The Magnolias are in full bloom with their dark green leathery leaves and cream colored flowers with that distinctly clean citrus smell. Although this Magnolia Grandiflora is not native to Appalachia, (native to the bottomlands & moist wooded areas in the central & southeastern coastal plains) they are hardy and grow well here. Fossil records suggest that the genus has existed from the Cretaceous period (145-66 million years ago), making the Magnolia the first flowering plant. Before this time only conifers and cycads graced the earth- which themselves came after historic distribution, prior to the last age, would have been across most of mainland Europe and the rest of the northern hemisphere, though since the last ice age its native range has predominantly been Asia and eastern America.

There are 130 species of the genus magnolia, but only 8 of the species are native to the United States. Six of these species can be found in the southern highlands southwest of Virginia, NC, and into the piedmont area of north Georgia.  Of the six species, four grow locally, two have been introduced, and one is rather rare, so the only magnolia trees that we are likely to see tramping around the woods are the Fraser magnolia(Magnolia fraseri), the cucumber tree (M. acuminata), and the umbrella magnolia (M. tripetala). All three of these common native species lie within the Appalachian belt and have deciduous leaves, blooming in late April – May, and into June. The leaves are deciduous, simple and alternate, oval to oblong, 12inches plus long and 6-10 inches wide. Unlike the Magnolia Grandiflora, the flowers are not showy but are typically small, yellow-green, and borne high in the tree. The name refers to the unripe fruit that is green and shaped like a cucumber and matures to a dark red color, 4-8 inches long and 3-4 inches broad with the individual carpels splitting open to release the bright red seeds.

The Magnolia – Douglas fir, lemon juice, lavender syrup; Magnolia Blossom – Douglas fir brandy, lemon juice, heavy cream, grenadine; Magnolia Sunrise – CB Frost, cranberry juice, orange juice; Grand Magnolia Mimosa – Mango brandy, Cointreau, orange juice, Champagne topper; Cucumber tree- CB Frost, Douglas fir, simple syrup, cucumbers, lime juice; Fruit/infused flight ½ price