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These brandy co*cktails are full of delightfully boozy flavor! Choose from all the great brandy drinks, from Alexander to Sidecar.
Got brandy? Brandy drinks are some of the most classic co*cktails of all! This historic liquor features in everything from the tangy Sidecar to the boozy Sazerac. While vodka and gin are more popular today, there’s always a place for brandy at the table.
Here are all the best brandy co*cktails to try, from creamy and sweet to boozy and dry. Each of these drinks uses various types of brandy: some you can choose your own, or others specify Cognac (French style) or Pisco (Peruvian style). Read more about types of brandy below…or let’s get mixing!
And now…the top brandy drinks and co*cktails to try!
Brandy Alexander
Arguably the most popular brandy co*cktail is the Brandy Alexander! It's a creamy, boozy delight, invented back in 1916. This simple drink is equal parts creamy, intriguing, and delicious. Mix brandy with cocoa liqueur (creme de cacao) and cream: it's like a classier White Russian.
Ingredients: Brandy, creme de cacao, heavy cream
Brandy Old Fashioned
Here’s a brandy drink that’s a quirky spin on a classic: theBrandy Old Fashioned! Leave it to Wisconsinites to make their own spin on theOld Fashioned: so popular that it became the State drink. Order it in a bar and it comes with lots of variations: Sweet, Sour, Press and Soda. When it comes to the garnishes…well, those are a little funky too (pickled Brussels sprouts?).
Ingredients: Brandy, sugar, Angostura bitters, lemon lime soda
Classic Sidecar
Here's one of the most classic brandy co*cktailsof all time: Sidecar! This drink is perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, with just the right edge from the boozy brandy. It’s a complex, layered drink: warm, crisp, dry, rich, and full at the same time.While it's typically made with Cognac, you can make it with any type of brandy.
Ingredients: Cognac or other brandy, Cointreau, lemon juice
Milk Punch
Here's another creamy brandy drink: Milk Punch! It's one of the oldest co*cktails there is, featuring brandy, bourbon, milk and sugar. It’s a popular brunch drink inNew Orleansand in the American South. You'll love the creamy, cool milk against the spice of the brandy and the nuance of vanilla extract.
Ingredients: Whole milk, brandy, bourbon, simple syrup, vanilla
Brandy Crusta
Here’s a classic co*cktail that will blow you away with its sweet tart flavor and sophisticated vibe: theBrandy Crusta! This timeless drink dates back to the 1860’s, but it’s every bit fun to drink today, with a big beautiful sugar crust and oversized lemon peel garnish. The flavor is perfectly balanced, with orange and cherry liqueur that balance fresh lemon and sultry brandy.
Ingredients: Brandy or Cognac. Cointreau or triple sec, Maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup, Angostura bitters
Between the Sheets
Here’s a bright and tangy brandy co*cktail that’s a little sassy: the Between the Sheets! A spin on the classic Sidecar, it features rum and brandy together: something that in Prohibition times was thought to be a little naughty. The rum adds nuance to this citrusy drink, and it’s a great sour co*cktail that goes down easy.
Ingredients: Brandy, white rum, Cointreau or triple sec, lemon juice
Brandy Manhattan
Looking for a sophisticated spin on the Manhattan? Try theBrandy Manhattan! If you’ve got a bottle of Cognac or brandy, this is the drink for you. Brandy is sweeter than whiskey, with fruity, floral and citrus notes. So brandy makes for a sweeter, more complex and even more exciting Manhattan co*cktail, in our opinion.
Ingredients: Brandy or Cognac, sweet red vermouth, Angostura bitters
French Connection
Here's a brandy co*cktail that takes just 1 minute to stir together: the French Connection! This slow-sipper features Cognac and amaretto in a perfect pairing. Serve it over ice and you’ve got a sophisticated drink that’s far greater than the sum of its parts. The amaretto gives it an almond essence that matches the strength of the brandy.
Ingredients: Cognac, amaretto
Sazerac
Next up, a brandy drink with some history: the boozy Sazerac! It's a low ball co*cktail made with Cognac or rye whiskey, and absinthe, invented in New Orleans in the mid-1800’s. The previously outlawed absinthe is now back in good graces (since 2007, at least), so it's a reason to try this famous slow sipper. It’s the official drink of New Orleans and one of the oldest co*cktails there is.
Ingredients: Cognac, rye whiskey, Peychaud’s bitters, sugar, absinthe
Vieux Carre
Another great New Orleans brandy drink? The Vieux Carre! (Say it VOO care-A.) This unique classic co*cktail comes from New Orleans: the name means “French Quarter” in French. It’s strong and alcohol forward, made with not one buttwotypes of bitters and Cognac brandy. The complex flavor is ideal for whiskey lovers who love to relax with a slow sipper in hand.
Ingredients: Rye whiskey, Cognac, Sweet red vermouth, Benedictine, Peychaud bitters, Angostura bitters
The Japanese co*cktail
It might be called theJapanese co*cktail, but this drink isn’t related to Japanese cuisine. It doesn’t even have Japanese whiskey! But this American classic from the 1860's is worth a try. Grab your favorite brandy or Cognac then sweeten it withorgeat, a tasty almond co*cktail syrup. Add a few shakes of bitters and it comes out nutty with a hint of citrus and an herbal finish from the bitters.
Ingredients: Brandy or Cognac, orgeat syrup, lemon juice (optional), bitters
Brandy Hot Toddy
Looking for a warming drink with brandy? Try theBrandy Hot Toddy! This variation on the classicHot Toddyis uniquely delicious, featuring the fruity, sweet taste of brandy with apple and cinnamon. Adding hot water opens up the flavor of the liquor so you can appreciate the complexity in each sip.
Ingredients: Brandy, hot water, honey, lemon
Stinger
Here’s a two ingredient co*cktail that tastes greater then the sum of its parts: theStinger! Talk about sophistication. This genius combination of Cognac andcrème de mentheis aclassic co*cktailwith hundreds of years of history. But mysteriously, it reached its height of popularity in the 1970’s.
Ingredients: Cognac, creme de menthe
Cognac Margarita
Love Cognac and want something unique to do with it? Try a Cognac Margarita! Pairing any Cognac (especially Hennessy) with aged tequila, lime and orange liqueur makes a seriously sophisticated drink. In fact, it tastes like a combination of aclassic Sidecarand a margarita!
Ingredients: Cognac (Hennessy or other), tequila reposado, lime juice, Cointreau
Cognac and co*ke
This spin on theRum and co*kemight be considered low brow by some…but add Hennessy (or another Cognac) and it’s a top notch drink! The oak, vanilla and caramel notes of the Cognac are a perfect fit with the sweetness of bubbly cola.
Pisco Sour
A final unexpected brandy drink? The Pisco Sour! Pisco is a type of Peruvian brandy, and it makes for one heck of a co*cktail. This sour co*cktail from Peru is massively popular for a reason. It’sjust that good. We’ve made all the sours: our famousWhiskey SourandAmaretto Sour, the two-tonedNew York Sour, and many more. But there’s really nothing like a pisco sour. The way the pisco melds with the lime makes it bright, mellow, and distinctly magical.
Ingredients: Pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, egg white
Types of brandy
Brandy is a liquor made from distilling wine or other fruit, like apples or apricot. There are several major types of brandy that feature in the drinks below, including:
- Cognac, a French brandy that tastes spicy, fruity, and bitter, with notes of vanilla and oak. A popular type of Cognac is Hennessy.
- Armagnac, a more full-flavored, richer French brandy, with notes of dark caramel, chocolate and burnt orange
- Calvados, an apple or pear brandy made in France
- Brandy de Jerez, Spanish brandy that tastes dry and smooth, with notes of caramel, almond and vanilla
- American brandy, any type of brandy made in the US
- Pisco, a Peruvian brandy made of fermented grapes with a funky, earthy flavor. (It’s very different, so only use it in the Pisco Sour!)
15 Brandy co*cktails: Brandy Alexander & More Drinks!
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5 from 2 reviews
- Author: Sonja Overhiser
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
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Description
Everyone loves a Brandy Alexander: creamy, sweet and boozy! Mix up this classy dessert drink recipe with brandy and Creme de Cacao.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ ounces* Cognac (or other brandy)
- 1 ½ ounces white Creme de Cacao
- 1 ½ ounces heavy cream or half and half
- For the garnish: grated fresh nutmeg
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to a co*cktail shaker. Add 2 handfuls of ice and shake until cold, about 15 seconds.
- Strain into a co*cktail glass. Top with grated fresh nutmeg and serve.
Notes
*1 ½ ounces = 3 tablespoons
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: co*cktails
- Diet: Vegetarian
Published on / Last updated on
Categorized In:
- Recipe Ideas
About the authors
Sonja & Alex
Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes and the joy of cooking! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.
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