Recipe for Brulot Charentais

The recipe for Brulot Charentais is several centuries old.

Historically, after a good meal, wine makers used to pour Cognac in their coffee and set it alight. This had the effect of reducing the alcohol content of the drink, whilst retaining the flavour of the cognac.

For your own Brulot Charentais:

1. Place the cup in the saucer (it is preferable to put the saucer on a plate or tray).

2. Fill the coffee cup with cold coffee, up to two centimetres below the top of the cup, then slowly pour 1 cl of Cognac Brulot Charentais onto the coffee (best to use the back of a tea/coffee spoon, so it floats and can catch light); a drinks measure (eg whisky/gin) is useful to get the quantities right.

3. Pour 3 cls of Cognac Brulot Charentais into the saucer, then place around it 2 sugar cubes

4. Light the sugar cubes with a match; the Cognac will slowly ignite, heating the coffee and combining with the sugar to form a Cognac liqueur. It is important to let the Cognac burn and extinguish naturally; if not, too much alcohol will remain in the mixture, and the special 'alchemy'between the coffee and the Cognac will be lost

5. When the flame has extinguished, wait for a little while for the handle to cool down, place the cup on the coaster. Empty all, or part of the contents of the saucer into the cup (depending on personal taste and sweetness required)

Your Brulot Charentais is now ready to taste!