The Best Mikado Cocktail Recipe

If you’re looking for a cocktail that brings a mix of sweet, tart, and earthy flavors, the Mikado is worth trying. This intriguing drink features brandy blended with a few carefully chosen liqueurs.

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Tasting Notes

The Mikado is a fascinating cocktail that balances sweet, tart, and earthy flavors. Its main spirit is brandy, which gives it a rich and smooth base.

But when you take a sip, you’ll notice hints of almond and cherry, thanks to the added liqueurs like Patron Citronge and crème de noyaux.

The tartness from the orange liqueur provides a refreshing touch, while a splash of angostura bitters adds depth with its spicy notes. It’s as if each sip reveals a new flavor and keeps you coming back for more.

Key Ingredients (and Substitutions)

Brandy

Brandy is the main ingredient, and using a good quality brandy, such as Cognac, makes a difference. You want something that balances quality and flavor without breaking the bank. You can’t go wrong with Hennessy VS, Rémy Martin VSOP or Courvoisier VS.

Orange Liqueur

Patron Citronge adds a very clean, bright, and slightly bitter citrus flavor. You can substitute a different orange liqueur.

Almond Liqueur

Crème de noyaux or amaretto brings in the almond and cherry flavors that are central to this cocktail.

Grenadine

Grenadine is a sweet red syrup made from pomegranate juice. It sweetens the drink and adds a lovely red hue. It’s worth getting a quality bottle rather than the bright red syrup for ice creams, or you can make your own grenadine.

Angostura Bitters

A dash of angostura bitters adds an earthy and spicy note, balancing out the sweetness of the other ingredients.

Serving Suggestions

The Mikado is best served chilled. You can either enjoy it straight up in a chilled cocktail glass or over ice in a lowball glass. Chilling the drink helps bring out the flavors of the brandy and liqueurs.

It looks beautiful garnished with a cherry and/or orange twist. Both complements the drink’s flavors while adding a nice aroma.

Food Pairings

This drink goes very well with rich desserts like crème brûlée or tiramisu, as well as almond-based pastries. You can also serve it alongside a cheese plate with aged cheeses like Parmesan or cheddar, toasted nuts, and dried fruits like cherries or apricots.

 

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