Brass Monkey (cocktail)
Encyclopedia
Brass Monkey is a name given to a number of different cocktail
recipes. As with many lesser-known cocktails that are named after colloquial expressions, there are some wildly differing recipes that share the same name.
It can refer to a cocktail
consisting of equal parts beer
and orange juice
, or to a mixture of gin, triple sec, tequila, orange juice, sour mix and grapefruit juice, or to a mixture of rum, vodka and orange juice (with or without Galliano).
An alternative version of the brass monkey is a 40-ounce bottle of malt liquor that has been consumed to the top of the label and then filled with orange juice.
There was a premixed cocktail called "Brass Monkey" produced by the Heublein Company in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. It was fairly inexpensive and provided a portable alternative to regular mixed drinks. Heublein was based in Stamford, Connecticut
, and had production facilities in the Hartford, Connecticut
area. Brass Monkey was available in bottles from half pint up to 750 mL. At the time that Brass Monkey was released, liquor stores carried mostly beer, wine, and hard alcohol; there were very few premixed alternatives. The drink was named by Steve Doniger, an advertising executive, after an alleged World War II
spy
, named H. E. Rasske. Sales and popularity of Heublein's "Brass Monkey" increased in the 1980s after the release of the Beastie Boys
song
with the same title as the beverage.
In 1982, the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company acquired Heublein Inc. for $1.4 billion dollars. RJR Nabisco
sold the division to Grand Metropolitan
in 1987. Grand Metropolitan merged with Guinness
to form Diageo in 1997.
After several years of absence from the market the Brass Monkey premixed cocktail has recently been re-released as The Club" Brass Monkey. Produced by The Club Distilling Company of Stamford Ct. Brass Monkey is currently sold in liquor stores along with other premixed alcoholic beverages under the name The Club Cocktails owned by Diageo
.
The drink was the inspiration to the popular old school hip-hop tune "Brass Monkey (song)
", released by the Beastie Boys
in 1987.
Cocktail
A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...
recipes. As with many lesser-known cocktails that are named after colloquial expressions, there are some wildly differing recipes that share the same name.
It can refer to a cocktail
Cocktail
A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...
consisting of equal parts beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
and orange juice
Orange juice
Orange juice is a popular beverage made from oranges. It is made by extraction from the fresh fruit, by desiccation and subsequent reconstitution of dried juice, or by concentration of the juice and the subsequent addition of water to the concentrate...
, or to a mixture of gin, triple sec, tequila, orange juice, sour mix and grapefruit juice, or to a mixture of rum, vodka and orange juice (with or without Galliano).
An alternative version of the brass monkey is a 40-ounce bottle of malt liquor that has been consumed to the top of the label and then filled with orange juice.
There was a premixed cocktail called "Brass Monkey" produced by the Heublein Company in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. It was fairly inexpensive and provided a portable alternative to regular mixed drinks. Heublein was based in Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, and had production facilities in the Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
area. Brass Monkey was available in bottles from half pint up to 750 mL. At the time that Brass Monkey was released, liquor stores carried mostly beer, wine, and hard alcohol; there were very few premixed alternatives. The drink was named by Steve Doniger, an advertising executive, after an alleged World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
, named H. E. Rasske. Sales and popularity of Heublein's "Brass Monkey" increased in the 1980s after the release of the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
song
Brass Monkey (song)
"Brass Monkey" is a song by the New York hip hop group Beastie Boys. It was a single released from their first album Licensed to Ill. It is also on the Beastie Boys' compilation album Solid Gold Hits. It samples "Bring It Here" by Wild Sugar. The song features the Roland TR-808 drum machine...
with the same title as the beverage.
In 1982, the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company acquired Heublein Inc. for $1.4 billion dollars. RJR Nabisco
RJR Nabisco
RJR Nabisco, Inc., was an American conglomerate formed in 1985 by the merger of Nabisco Brands and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. RJR Nabisco was purchased in 1988 by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co...
sold the division to Grand Metropolitan
Grand Metropolitan
Grand Metropolitan plc is a former United Kingdom-based company operating hotels, holiday centres, entertainment centres, public houses and casinos...
in 1987. Grand Metropolitan merged with Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
to form Diageo in 1997.
After several years of absence from the market the Brass Monkey premixed cocktail has recently been re-released as The Club" Brass Monkey. Produced by The Club Distilling Company of Stamford Ct. Brass Monkey is currently sold in liquor stores along with other premixed alcoholic beverages under the name The Club Cocktails owned by Diageo
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
.
The drink was the inspiration to the popular old school hip-hop tune "Brass Monkey (song)
Brass Monkey (song)
"Brass Monkey" is a song by the New York hip hop group Beastie Boys. It was a single released from their first album Licensed to Ill. It is also on the Beastie Boys' compilation album Solid Gold Hits. It samples "Bring It Here" by Wild Sugar. The song features the Roland TR-808 drum machine...
", released by the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
in 1987.