filmograph

2 oz Brandy
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Cola Syrup (*)

Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
(*) A 4-fold reduction of Coca Cola (presumably cane sugar Coke).

Since it was Oscar Night when we were at Stoddard's, they had a special 6 drink Oscars-themed drink menu. The one that seemed most appealing was the Filmograph that appeared in the Savoy Cocktail Book. Filmograph was the name of a company that made motion picture equipment during the silent era as well as a film entertainment newspaper during that time period. While the original calls for Kola Tonic (a South African syrup) and Sirop de Citron (a French-styled lemon syrup), the bartenders at Stoddard's took some liberties that were suggested in Ted Haigh's Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails and elsewhere. Instead of the hard to source Kola Tonic, they opted for a four-fold reduction of Coca Cola, and instead of lemon syrup, they went with lemon juice so that the drink did not end up syrupy sweet. One of the bartenders explained that the drink was not only chosen for the name but for the Coke flavors to pair well with the popcorn they were giving out for the Oscar viewing party.
The Filmograph began with a lemon aroma from the twist and an herbal note from the cola syrup. The sip offered up lemon and Coke's caramel flavors, and the swallow presented the brandy and bitter Coke elements that finished with a tart citrus note. I was impressed at how well the Coke notes worked with the brandy; this was not that surprising when I recalled that Alain Royer mentioned during a Cognac blending seminar that most VS and VSOP Cognac in France is mixed with Coca Cola.