Brandy Daisy

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 05/13/21
The Classic Brandy Daisy Cocktail
TheCrimsonMonkey/iStock/Getty Images
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
146 Calories
0g Fat
3g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 146
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 10mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 3mg 16%
Calcium 12mg 1%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 27mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

A single cocktail name, but so many ways to make it! This happens often in the world of bartending and is definitely the case for the brandy daisy. It's a classic cocktail that dates to the mid to late 1800s and this recipe follows the oldest known version from "Professor" Jerry Thomas.

The "daisy" is not a single drink. Instead, it's a name for an entire family of drinks. The formula typically includes a base spirit, simple syrup (or traditionally gomme syrup and alternatively orgeat syrup), curaçao liqueur, lemon juice, and soda water. They're essentially fizzy sour drinks.

In Thomas' brandy daisy, a couple of dashes of rum are added to the mix and it's likely that he used a full-flavored Jamaican rum. It's an interesting twist that's rather pleasant and makes this drink worth trying. If you're a fan of the sidecar, shake up a brandy daisy because the two drinks are very similar.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the brandy, rum, curaçao, lemon juice, and simple syrup.

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

  5. Top with soda water.

  6. Serve and enjoy.

How Strong Is a Brandy Daisy?

Similar to most classics served in the martini style, the brandy daisy is a rather potent drink. Its alcohol content should fall in the 22 percent ABV (44 proof) range.

Recipe Variations

There are variations on the brandy daisy itself and a variety of daisy drinks made with other liquors. Explore all of them to see which you enjoy most.

  • Today, the brandy daisy often features Yellow Chartreuse and is either simple or very complex. One of the easiest (and most delightful) recipes simply shakes 1 1/2 ounces of brandy with 3/4 ounce each of Yellow Chartreuse and lemon juice. It's topped with a splash of soda.
  • Sometimes the daisies are served tall over fresh ice in a collins glass then enough soda is added to fill the glass.
  • The gin daisy often uses a sweeter gin, such as Old Tom or genever. The classic version mixes 2 ounces of gin, and 3/4 ounce each of lemon juice and orange liqueur (sometimes maraschino), and tops off a collins glass with soda. The modern version of this is fruitier, using 1/4 ounce each of grenadine and simple syrup rather than an orange liqueur.
  • The classic rum daisy pours a full 2 ounces of rum, 1/2 ounce of curaçao, 1 teaspoon of simple syrup, and the juice of half a lemon. A modern version skips the curaçao and opts for 1 teaspoon each of simple syrup and grenadine. Neither of these generally include soda, though it's not a bad addition.
  • All of the classic elements are found in the average whiskey daisy recipe as well. These tend to prefer Grand Marnier for the orange liqueur, though some skip the liqueur entirely and use orgeat syrup instead.
  • There is even a tequila daisy but you probably know it as the margarita (translates from Spanish to "daisy"). It skips the soda and uses lime.

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