Widow's Kiss is a powerful stirred apple brandy cocktail with Yellow Chartreuse, Benedictine, and Angostura bitters. It is herbal, honeyed, spiced, and deeply aromatic.
Stir apple brandy, Yellow Chartreuse, Benedictine, and Angostura bitters with ice until chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Serve up in a chilled coupe glass. The drink should look golden amber and clear, with herbal liqueurs giving density and aroma without needing garnish.
Pair it with roast pork, apple tart, blue cheese, spiced nuts, duck, or honey desserts. Apple brandy, Yellow Chartreuse, Benedictine, and bitters give the drink strong autumnal and after-dinner range.
Widow's Kiss is a late nineteenth-century classic associated with the ornate stirred cocktail tradition. Its identity comes from combining apple brandy with two powerful herbal liqueurs and bitters.
Best for after-dinner drinking, classic cocktail menus, autumn service, and guests who enjoy intense herbal stirred drinks.
Apple brandy brings fruit and oak, Yellow Chartreuse adds sweet herbs and spice, Benedictine contributes honeyed depth, and Angostura bitters gives warm spice.
Herbal, intense, golden, spiced, and contemplative.
Use a structured apple brandy so the herbal liqueurs do not dominate. The drink should remain aromatic and balanced rather than becoming a sweet herbal cordial.
30%
⚠️ Alcoholic beverage: not suitable for minors, pregnant individuals, or designated drivers. Please enjoy responsibly.
Start from the ingredient that shapes this recipe before moving into broader style, method or glassware lists.
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Cocktails in the Aromatic category prepared with the stirred method.
Cocktails in the Aromatic category served in a coupe glass.
Cocktails prepared with the stirred method and served in a coupe glass.
Cocktails that combine a aromatic profile, the stirred method, and service in a coupe glass.
Widow's Kiss sits around 30% ABV. Use these routes to compare drinks with a similar drinking weight, then narrow them by style, method or glass.
Cocktails in the Aromatic category with 25–32% ABV.
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