A Bombardino is a hot advocaat cocktail popular as an après ski drink but equally delicious whenever a warming alcoholic drink is required. Served in espresso cups, it's quick and easy to make and looks enchanting.
This post is sponsored by Warninks. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I recently came across an exciting advocaat cocktail that is served warm and knew immediately that it was worth talking about.
It's often hard to find alternative advocaat cocktails to the Snowball. That well-loved classic does tend to dominate search results. So it's with pleasure that I'm bringing a rather different offering to the table today - the Warninks Bombardino.
What is this drink?
A classic Bombardino is an advocaat cocktail that is served hot. It originated in the Italian ski resort of Livigno in 1974 and remains a popular après-ski drink for adults to this day.
What is it made from?
This drink is made from advocaat and brandy and comes with a whipped cream topping. When first created, zabaglione was used to make it, but most modern recipes use advocaat in place of the zabaglione as it makes the drink much more easily accessible.
Why is it called a Bombardino?
The name translates from Italian as The Bomb. This is how the first person to taste it described it - because it is served hot and, with the inclusion of brandy, it's quite a punchy flavoured drink as well as being potent in terms of alcohol content. Just like a bomb, it's guaranteed to warm up the drinker, though in a much more pleasant way than an exploding bomb would!
What does it taste like?
Advocaat has a distinct custard-like consistency, appearance and taste and this flavour is imparted in the Bombardino. However, the inclusion of brandy really steps up the buzz of flavour from the alcohol, so it's definitely an advocaat cocktail that should be sipped and savoured in espresso cup-sized portions rather than large servings.
Why this après ski drink is worth making
Aside from being quick and easy to make, this advocaat cocktail has a few other features that turn it into a must-try drink:
- It's a hot cocktail - so it's a fantastic winter warmer
- It looks utterly charming, especially when a little ground cinnamon is sprinkled on top
- This drink really does impart a warm and cosy feeling when it's being sipped
Try the Warninks Bombardino in the depths of winter regardless of whether or not you are fresh off the ski slopes and you'll see why this drink is so popular.
Ingredients notes
There are so few ingredients in this advocaat drink that inferior products have nowhere to hide.
I only ever buy Warninks advocaat. It's very affordable and the quality is fantastic - I've always been left underwhelmed by other brands.
Likewise, pick a quality brandy you know you are happy to consume. Avoid any that are only really suitable for cooking with, as the difference in the smoothness of the drink will be noticeable.
As far as garnishes go, get creative. A touch of ground spice or a cinnamon stick poked into the glass adds a timeless sense of style. But a scattering of dark chocolate or cocoa powder wouldn't be out of place on top of this advocaat cocktail either.
Instructions
You won't believe how easily the Warninks Bombardino comes together:
- Heat the advocaat in a small pan until hot
- Take off the heat, add the brandy and stir
- Whip the cream to soft peaks
- Divide the alcohol between espresso cups, top with a spoonful of cream and garnish with spices
Expert tips
You'll be pleased to know that there's very little that can go wrong when preparing this simple advocaat drink. Regardless, here are a few tips to help you enjoy this drink at its best:
- Heat the advocaat gently and do not let it boil (it may curdle if it does)
- Keep the hot alcohol in the pan (but off the heat) while you whip the cream to avoid it cooling down too much before serving
- Warm the espresso cups before pouring the Bombardino into them. Again, this will help ensure the drink is served hot
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can. Some Bombardino recipes do, in fact, use equal quantities of both. However, using a little less brandy really does allow the flavour of the advocaat to shine through whilst still providing the 'heat effect' of the drink to work its magic.
I've gone for 2 parts advocaat to 1 part brandy, but you can increase the brandy up to the 50:50 ratio to suit your tastes.
There's nothing to stop this advocaat drink from being served cold, it's just so much more delicious and warming when served hot though.
I'm afraid not. Eggnog is a different drink to advocaat and is not a suitable substitute.
Once opened advocaat should be stored in the fridge where it will last well for around 6 months. That gives ample time to use it in this and plenty of other advocaat cocktails.
Variations
The Warninks Bombardino is quite a flexible drink since the brandy can be swapped for alternative spirits. Try the following variations:
- Bombardino Pirata - replace the brandy with dark rum
- Scozzese - add a Scottish slant to the base recipe by switching the brandy for whisky
- Calimero - this one is for all coffee lovers - add a shot of espresso into the mix for a slightly larger and less potent drink
All three of these hot advocaat drinks are just as deeply comforting as the original Bombardino.
Other ways to drink Advocaat
- Neat - serve it in a small glass and enjoy this golden rich and creamy liqueur just as it is
- On the rocks - a touch of ice really suits this drink
- Snowball - such a classic cocktail but always popular
- Hot chocolate - another way to enjoy a warm advocaat drink
- Fluffy duck - made with rum (or gin) this is a popular choice
- Christmas Velvet Alexander - a festive spin on another classic cocktail
You could try serving these drinks alongside my Snowball Truffles or my mince pies with advocaat butter.
Have you made this Warninks Bombardino advocaat cocktail? If you have please give it a rating or leave a comment - I love to hear how you get along with my creations.
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Warninks Bombardino
Ingredients
- 80 ml Warninks advocaat
- 40 ml Brandy
- 50 ml Double cream heavy cream
Instructions
- Heat the advocaat in a small pan until hot
- Take off the heat, add the brandy and stir
- Whip the cream to soft peaks
- Pour the alcohol into espresso cups, top each one with a spoonful of cream and garnish with ground spices such as connamon or nutmeg
Notes
- Heat the advocaat gently and do not let it boil (it may curdle if it does)
- Keep the hot alcohol in the pan (but off the heat) while you whip the cream to avoid it cooling down too much before serving
- Warm the espresso cups before pouring the Bombardino into them. Again, this will help ensure the drink is served hot
- Bombardino Pirata - replace the brandy with dark rum
- Scozzese - add a Scottish slant to the base recipe by switching the brandy for whisky
- Calimero - this one is for all coffee lovers - add a shot of espresso into the mix for a slightly larger and less potent drink
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