From Fanny Fern's "Ruth Hill," originally published 1855:
"... the speaker and her companion entered the famous saloon of La Temps,
where might be seen any sunny day, between the hours of twelve and three, the
disgusting spectacle of scores of ladies devouring, ad infinitum,
brandy-drops, Roman punch, Charlotte Russe, pies, cakes, and ices; and sipping
'parfaitamour,'..."
I know that Roman Punch is a rum-champagne punch, and I know what pairfait
amour is. Google tells me that a "Charlotte Russe" is a desert made of
bavarian creme and ladyfingers. But what is a brandy-drop?