Dirty Mother: A Fun Name for the Brandy Separator Drink

Written by
Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham is a cocktail expert, professional bartender, and cookbook author with over 10 years of experience in the food-writing world.
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Colleen Graham
Updated 07/02/19
Dirty Mother Cocktail
The Dirty Mother is just as satisfying as the Black Russian. This easy drink simply uses brandy instead of vodka. Photo Courtesy: S&C Design Studios
  • Total: 3 mins
  • Prep: 3 mins
  • Cook: 0 mins
  • Serving: 1 serving

If you replace the vodka of a Black Russian with brandy you have this drink called a Dirty Mother (sometimes called a Brandy Separator). Then, if you were to fill that glass with cream you would have a Dirty White Mother (recipe below).

All of these drinks are connected and very easy to remember. This brandy version is just as good, if not better ​than the vodka drink and it is a great cold weather cocktail.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Build the ingredients in an old-fashioned glass with ice cubes.

  2. Stir well.

Dirty White Mother Cocktail Recipe

The Dirty White Mother is simply a Dirty Mother with cream floating on top. The cream acts as a perfect complement to the brandy and Kahlua (or other coffee liqueur). It marries the two distinct flavors together for a soothing and cozy dessert drink.

To make this drink, mix 1 1/2 ounce brandy and 1/2 ounce coffee liqueur in an old-fashioned glass over ice. Float cream on top to fill.

How Strong Are the Dirty Mother Cocktails?

The Dirty Mother cocktails are not the tamest of drink because liquor makes up most of the volume. Even a small amount of cream makes very little difference. However, they are smooth drinks and certainly not the strongest you can make.


If we use Kahlua and an 80-proof brandy, we can estimate these mixed drinks to have an alcohol content of about:

  • Dirty Mother: 27 percent ABV (54 proof)
  • Dirty White Mother: 25 percent ABV (50 proof)

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