The renowned Brandy Sour is undoubtedly the national cocktail of Cyprus, and although it is consumed in other parts of the world, the Cypriot version is unique due to the use of Cypriot brandy and its interesting royal origin! 

According to history, the drink was invented in the early 1950s specifically for King Farouk of Egypt at one of the oldest hotels on the island in the Troodos mountains. The king had a particular fondness for Cypriot brandy, so the hotel staff created a drink using brandy that resembled an innocent iced tea, so it would not be obvious that the king was enjoying an alcoholic beverage! 



The cocktail is made with Cypriot brandy—which has a lower alcohol content than Cognac or Armagnac—lemons (fresh or squash), Angostura bitters, soda water (or lemonade), and ice. 

Nicosia has made significant strides in the past years in the field of signature cocktails, boasting bars now recognized among the world's top 50 according to The World’s 50 Best Bars.