On this St. Patrick’s Day Eve, we offer a liquid tribute to the centuries-old bond between the peoples of Ireland and France. There is a history of commerce between the two nations dating back to the 12th century and beyond. Even before 1796, when France sent an expedition to support an Irish rebellion against the English crown, there was a brigade of Irish Catholic exiles fighting for French King Louis XV. One of its officers, a Richard Hennessy of County Cork, settled in the Charente region of France in 1765 and founded the Hennessy Cognac dynasty. If you ever wondered why a French spirit has an Irish name, now you know.

It bothers me not a whit that the genesis of the Franco-Irish bond was a common disdain for my own ancestral homeland, Mother England. (For the record, my Ancestry DNA test found that I’m more British than most of today’s population of Great Britain—and I’m not exaggerating. Just keep your jokes about inbreeding to yourselves.) Besides, there is Cognac, and shouldn’t that bring us all together as one?

Of course, there’s no Cognac in this cocktail. I’m sorry; there’ll be plenty coming along that include it.

The Brotherhood cocktail marries Irish whiskey with two of France’s other great exports—Benedictine D.O.M. and Grand Marnier (or Pierre Ferrand’s Dry Curaçao will also serve). The recipe as presented on various sites says simply, “blended Irish whiskey,” but I prefer using the most Irish of Irish whiskeys, Single Pot Still. Its flavor is more prominent in the drink than the politeness of an Irish blend. I used Kilbeggan’s Single Pot Still, which of course is available at Pinnacle Wine & Liquor and most likely at your own favorite retailer.

Slaintè!

BROTHERHOOD
1½ oz Irish whiskey
¾ oz Benedictine D.O.M.
¾ oz Grand Marnier
¾ oz Fresh lemon juice

Shake all the ingredients until well chilled, then strain the mix into a chilled coupe. Twist a swath of lemon peel over the top of the drink and drop it into the glass.