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WhatDrink

Cocktails

Combo

Combo is a cocktail made with Dry Vermouth, Brandy, Triple Sec, and Powdered Sugar. The listed recipe is shaken and served in a Old-Fashioned Glass.

Reviewed by How we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction
Cocktailalcoholic18.4% ABV5 ingredients

At a Glance

447 kcalCalories
18.4%ABV
50.3gSugar
54.4gCarbs
2.16Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Moderateshaken drink

Why: 5 ingredients, shaken drink, requires shaker

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

How to Make It

  1. Shake with ice and strain into old-fashioned glass over ice cubes.Shaken

How to Serve

Glass
Old-Fashioned Glass
Temperature
Chilled
Ice
Cubed ice
Method
Shaken
Served Chilled

Serving tips

Serving tips

Serve Combo cold and taste the bitterness before adjusting sweetness. A citrus peel or clean garnish can lift the aroma without making it sweeter. It is commonly matched with charcuterie, olives, salty snacks style pairings.

Taste

What does Combo taste like?

Combo has a drier, more aromatic profile. Bitter, herbal or botanical notes give it structure and make it feel less sugary.

Primary flavours

SweetCitrusHerbal

Supporting notes

BotanicalDryFruitOak

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong
BodyLight – Full
SweetnessDry – Sweet
AcidityFlat – Crisp
FruitinessEarthy – Fruity
BoldnessDelicate – Bold
  • Noticeably sweet
  • Bold and complex

What do these dimensions mean?

Practical notes

When to choose it

How to decide if Combo is right for you

Combo suits drinkers who like drier, more aromatic cocktails. Choose it when you want structure, bitterness or herbal lift instead of a sweet fruit profile. The listed serve is about 18.4% ABV, so strength is part of the decision.

Skip if

Skip Combo if...

Skip Combo if you prefer soft, sweet or fruit-led drinks. Bitter and herbal cocktails can feel dry or intense if you are expecting easy sweetness.

When to serve

  • AperitifSuggested from its dry and botanical notes.
  • Happy HourSuggested from its dry notes, pairing with charcuterie and olives.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

CharcuterieOlivesSalty Snacks

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-FreeVegetarian

May be limited

Vegan

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar
Find vegan-compatible cocktails

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Dry Vermouth2.0 oz

Dry SherryWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Use the same amount, then taste; the result will be less herbal and more savoury.
What changes
Dry sherry can replace dry vermouth when a drier, more saline and less herbal variation is acceptable.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible
Lillet BlancKnown variation
How much to use
Start with the recipe amount and taste; reduce it if the drink becomes too soft or sweet.
What changes
Lillet Blanc can stand in for dry vermouth in a Martini-style drink, but it produces a softer and slightly sweeter variation.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible
Sweet VermouthNot a neutral swap
How much to use
Use only if a sweeter vermouth profile is acceptable.
What changes
Sweet vermouth is not a neutral substitute for dry vermouth; it makes the drink sweeter and rounder.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Brandy1.0 oz

CognacWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Use the same amount; taste before changing citrus or sweetener.
What changes
Cognac can replace generic brandy in a cocktail at the same measure; expect a more specific Cognac profile rather than a neutral brandy.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Triple Sec2.0 oz

CointreauGood swap
How much to use
Use the same amount; adjust sweetness only if needed.
What changes
Cointreau is usually a strong substitute for triple sec and often gives a drier, more intense orange note.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible
Blue CuracaoWorks, but changes the drink
How much to use
Use the same amount; expect a visible color change.
What changes
Blue curaçao can replace triple sec when the orange note is acceptable and the blue color is wanted.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible
Orange CuracaoWorks, but changes the drink
How much to use
Use the same amount, then adjust sweetness if needed.
What changes
Orange curaçao can replace triple sec, but it may make the drink richer or sweeter.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Powdered Sugar2.0 oz

Superfine SugarWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Dissolve well; sweetness may need a small adjustment.
What changes
Superfine sugar can replace powdered sugar in many shaken drinks.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Bitters1 dash

Angostura BittersKnown variation
How much to use
Start with the recipe’s dash count and taste before adding more.
What changes
When a recipe says only “bitters,” Angostura is a common aromatic default, except in drinks built around another named bitters style.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a Combo at home?
Yes. The Combo uses 5 ingredients, making it straightforward to prepare at home. You will need a Old-Fashioned Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.