Ingredients
The drink
- 100 mldry still white wine
- 100 mldry sparkling wine
- both well chilled
Wines used
- a dry Belgian or French white
- or a light unoaked white
- Belgian methode traditionnelle sparkling
- or any dry sparkling wine
To serve
- a wine glass or a flute
- no ice
- no garnish
Directions
- Use a dry and crisp white wine. It should not be oaked or heavy.
- Warm wine flattens the whole drink. Chill both for at least three hours.
- Chill the glass as well if you can. A flute keeps the bubbles longer.
- Pour the still wine into it first.
- Pour the sparkling gently down the side. Do not stir the glass round at all.
- Let the foam settle between pours if needed.
- Pour it in two stages if it does. Both liquids are simply served cold. Make each one of them to order.
Technique
- Half en half means half and half in Dutch and the name is the entire recipe: half dry still white wine and half dry sparkling wine.
- Several unrelated drinks share the name, including the Dutch half om half herbal liqueur, American half-and-half dairy cream and the British beer mix; the Brussels version is wine only.
- This is entirely wine by volume with no mixer weakening it, so it is roughly as strong as a glass of wine, and the carbonation both speeds the drinking and speeds absorption.
Substitutions
- Any dry brut sparkling wine works, including Cremant, Cava or Champagne.
- A light unoaked dry white stands in for the still half.
Variations
- Some cafes use Belgian sparkling wine and others use Champagne.
- It is served in a flute or a wine glass depending on the house.
- Cheese cubes and olives are the usual snacks alongside.
History
A Brussels café order poured in the old cafés of the city centre, ordered by the half in each glass.
Frequently asked questions
What is Half en half?
Half en half is a cocktail from Belgium: still white wine topped with sparkling wine, a Brussels apéritif. A Brussels café order poured in the old cafés of the city centre, ordered by the half in each glass.
How long does Half en half take to make?
Half en half takes 2 minutes of preparation and none of cooking. The recipe makes serves 1. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Half en half?
Yes, within limits. Any dry brut sparkling wine works, including Cremant, Cava or Champagne. A light unoaked dry white stands in for the still half.
What is the most important thing to get right in Half en half?
Warm wine flattens the whole drink. Chill both for at least three hours.
