Il Bombardino

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Cocktail History

The Il Bombardino is a winter cocktail that is said to have been created in the mid-1900s by a bartender at a ski resort in Lombardia, Italy. Although the recipe has evolved over the years, this version published in the book Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn & Winter by Jassy Davis is based on the most popular. It’s typically made in batches and served warm in small espresso cups, and it uses a homemade Dutch liqueur called Advocaat, brandy, whipped cream, and sometimes espresso.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Advocaat: This is a liqueur made in the Netherlands with egg, brandy, and sugar. We made ours at home using this recipe. For a mocktail version of this drink, try eggnog in place of the brandy liqueur.

Espresso: This is a concentrated type of coffee made from finely ground coffee beans and hot water. We used ground coffee from a local supplier.

Cognac: This is a type of brandy made in Cognac, France with distilled white wine. We used Courvoisier VSOP Cognac because it has a rich mouthfeel and a delightful brandy spice with notes of peach, almond, and cinnamon. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Escape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternative in place of the brandy.

Whipped Cream: This is heavy cream that has been whipped and beaten until it is light and fluffy. We used Reddi-Wip Original Dairy Whipped Topping because it offers easier application than making whipped cream at home using an iSi Cream Whipper. For a dairy-free version of this drink, try Reddi-Wip Non-Dairy Coconut Milk Whipped Topping in place of the whipped cream.

Cocoa Powder: This is cocoa bean that has been ground into a fine powder. We used Ghirardelli Majestic Premium Cocoa Powder.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Saucepan: This is used to warm the ingredients. We used the Cuisinart 3-Quart Stainless Steel Saucepan with Cover.

Spoon: This is used to stir the ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips Silicone Spoon.

Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. We used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.

Tasting Notes

We tried the Il Bombardino with coffee, and it features aromas of sweet cream and cocoa and has an incredibly thick mouthfeel that showcases the taste of sweetened coffee and spirituous brandy, mingled with a longer note of sugary coffee on the aftertaste. 

Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: Though similar to eggnog in makeup, this recipe couldn’t be more different, and we both enjoyed the Il Bombardino quite a bit. It would definitely bring a welcome warmth and energy back to the body after a long day on the slopes.

Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.

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Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.

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Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“This drink seemed to be a very close alternative to eggnog, except with a much more coffee-centric twist. The homemade Advocaat was a nice addition, but while not exactly difficult to make, I could see it being a barrier to those who are interested in making another less labor-intensive cocktail instead. That said, if you derive the same satisfaction from homemade ingredients that we do, this one surely ticks all of the same boxes as eggnog and makes for a satisfying final product.”

Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Thanks to the addition of the espresso, this might be the most coffee-forward cocktail I’ve really enjoyed, which is surprising because I don’t usually care for the taste. We’d never tried Advocaat before, and it seemed to do a great job of muting the espresso’s bitterness and hiding the brandy while adding a unique thick and rich mouthfeel. I would absolutely whip this up again for my coffee lover friends who want something to warm them up on a cold winter night.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn & Winter by Jassy Davis.

Sale
Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn and Winter
Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn and Winter
Hardcover Book; Davis, Jassy (Author); English (Publication Language); 144 Pages – 09/01/2020 (Publication Date) – HarperCollins (Publisher)
$10.89 Amazon Prime

AuthorWinter Warmers

Yields4 ServingsPrep Time10 mins

Ingredients
 7 oz Advocaat
 2 ¾ oz Espresso (Optional)
 1 ½ oz Cognac
 Whipped Cream
 Cocoa Powder

Method
1

Add Advocaat and brandy to a saucepan.

2

Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes while stirring until steaming.

3

Pour mixture into four espresso cups.

4

Top with espresso.

5

Stir for 3-5 seconds.

6

Garnish with whipped cream and cocoa powder.

Ingredients

Ingredients
 7 oz Advocaat
 2 ¾ oz Espresso (Optional)
 1 ½ oz Cognac
 Whipped Cream
 Cocoa Powder

Directions

Method
1

Add Advocaat and brandy to a saucepan.

2

Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes while stirring until steaming.

3

Pour mixture into four espresso cups.

4

Top with espresso.

5

Stir for 3-5 seconds.

6

Garnish with whipped cream and cocoa powder.

Il Bombardino

Make It a Mocktail: Use eggnog in place of the brandy liqueur and Escape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternative in place of the brandy to try a booze-free version of this drink.

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More Coffee Cocktails

If you like this coffee-flavored cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:

White Russian Cocktail Recipe

White Russian: A rum cocktail made with coffee liqueur, Luxardo Amaro Abano, amaretto liqueur, and half & half

Sabueso Old Fashioned

Sabueso Old Fashioned: A tequila and mezcal cocktail made with caramel coffee syrup, coffee and cocoa bitters, and an orange peel

Pumpkin Spiced Espresso Martini Cocktail Recipe

Pumpkin Spiced Espresso Martini: A vanilla vodka cocktail made with espresso, coffee liqueur, pumpkin spice syrup, and grated nutmeg

Cold Brew Brandy Alexander Cocktail Recipe

Cold Brew Brandy Alexander: A brandy cocktail made with cold-brew coffee liqueur, dark crème de cacao, heavy cream, and coffee beans

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