Ingredients
The drink
- 50 mlSouth African brandy
- 150 mlcola, well chilled
- ice cubes
Sometimes added
- a wedge of lemon
- a slice of orange
Equipment
- a tall glass or a tumbler
- a jug of ice
Directions
- Adjust it to suit whoever is drinking it. Use a tall glass or a heavy tumbler.
- Fill it right up with ice cubes. That keeps the drink cold without watering it down fast.
- Chill the glass first in hot weather if you can. Pouring it takes only a moment. Pour the brandy over the ice first.
- Pour the cola gently down the side of the glass. Do not stir it hard or it goes flat.
- Keep water on the table alongside it. Making it by the jug is done for a crowd.
- Pour a bottle of brandy into a large jug. Add three times as much chilled cola. Fill it up with plenty of ice.
- Stir it once gently and serve it at once.
Technique
- Klipdrift is a brandy brand whose name became the everyday word for the drink in South Africa.
- Brandy has been distilled at the Cape since the seventeenth century and remains widely drunk.
Substitutions
- Any brandy works, though an expensive potstill brandy is wasted under cola.
- Cola of any brand is used, and the sugar-free versions are common.
Variations
- Some drinkers add a wedge of lemon or a slice of orange.
- A stronger pour of two measures is common at braais.
- Brandy with ginger ale or with lemonade is drunk in the same way.
History
South Africa drinks more brandy per head than most countries, and Klipdrift with Coke became the standard order at every braai.
Frequently asked questions
What is Brandy and Coke?
Brandy and Coke is a cocktail from South Africa: brandy lengthened with cola and ice, the default braai drink. South Africa drinks more brandy per head than most countries, and Klipdrift with Coke became the standard order at every braai.
How long does Brandy and Coke take to make?
Brandy and Coke takes 3 minutes of preparation and none of cooking. The recipe makes 1 drink. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Brandy and Coke?
Yes, within limits. Any brandy works, though an expensive potstill brandy is wasted under cola. Cola of any brand is used, and the sugar-free versions are common.
What is the most important thing to get right in Brandy and Coke?
Pour the cola gently down the side of the glass. Do not stir it hard or it goes flat.
