Japanese
Brandy, orgeat and bitters create an almond-associated, spirit-led drink; the name does not signify Japanese whisky.
DrinkBoy published specification · 1 reference serve.
Glassware
Technique
Ice
Garnish
Preparation effort
Ingredients & measurements
| Ingredient | mL | US fl oz | Source measure / qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| brandy | 59.15 | 2 | 2 ounces brandy |
| orgeat | 14.79 | 0.5 | 1/2 ounce orgeat |
| 2 dashes Angostura Bitters | — | — | 2 dashes Angostura Bitters |
Converted equivalents are rounded for display; use one measurement system consistently. Dashes, spoonfuls, fruit counts and unspecified top-ups remain source measures. A blank equivalent does not mean zero.
How to make it
Stir the measured ingredients over ice until cold, then strain into a chilled glass.
Glass: Cocktail glass. Ice: None in serving glass. Garnish: Lemon twist.
Flavor & balance
- Boozy (Spirit-Forward) (dominant): Little nonalcoholic lengthening leaves the spirit or fortified ingredients prominent after chilling and dilution.
- Sweet (supporting): Sweeteners, fruit or sweetened modifiers round the attack and add weight; product sugar varies.
- Bitter (supporting): Cocktail bitters or coffee contribute a bitter accent; a small dose need not dominate.
Assess sweetness, bitterness and tactile drying separately. These flavor expectations are based on recipe structure, not measured tasting scores. Actual products, ice and dilution will change the result.
Preparation & batching
Service complexity: low. Batchability: premix with dilution trial.
- Measure and label the chosen product specification; chill appropriate glassware.
- Prepare or select the named syrup; record its concentration and follow its storage instructions.
Finish chilling, dilution and garnish at service. Trial the actual serving method before approving a batch. Workload is an editorial assessment; no labor timing or storage validation is claimed.
Ingredient checks: Tree nuts: verify orgeat or hazelnut product composition and cross-contact. These checks are not a complete allergen declaration for every brand or garnish.
Spirit & ingredient choices
Recipe notes & variations
The name does not indicate Japanese whisky: this recipe is brandy, orgeat and bitters.
For a Black Flannel variation, change one component at a time and record the selected product, proof, sweetener concentration and dilution. Compare it with this reference before naming or publishing the variation.
Sources & further reading
- Robert Hess / DrinkBoy — checked 2026-09-18. Recipe identity and published ingredient specification; editorial sensory and workload assessments are not source tasting results.