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Try these popular brandy cocktails, from the creamy Brandy Alexander to sophisticated Sidecar! These brandy drinks feature mixing tips and techniques—all tried and tested by two cocktail experts!
Brandy drinks are some of the most classic cocktails of them all! If you’ve been curious about brandy cocktails but weren’t sure where to start, you’re in the right place. Alex and I have spent years perfecting these classic brandy drinks, from the creamy indulgence of a Brandy Alexander to the bright tanginess of a Sidecar, and I’m excited to share our go-to techniques for making each one shine.
Here are our top 15 brandy cocktails, 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).
Most popular brandy drinks and cocktails
Arguably the most popular brandy cocktail 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
Here’s a brandy drink that’s a quirky spin on a classic: the Brandy Old Fashioned! Leave it to Wisconsinites to make their own spin on the Old 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
Here's one of the most classic brandy cocktails of 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
Here's another creamy brandy drink: Milk Punch! It's one of the oldest cocktails there is, featuring brandy, bourbon, milk and sugar. It’s a popular brunch drink in New Orleans and 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
Here’s a classic cocktail that will blow you away with its sweet tart flavor and sophisticated vibe: the Brandy 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
Here’s a bright and tangy brandy cocktail 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 cocktail that goes down easy.
Ingredients: Brandy, white rum, Cointreau or triple sec, lemon juice
Looking for a sophisticated spin on the Manhattan? Try the Brandy 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 cocktail, in our opinion.
Ingredients: Brandy or Cognac, sweet red vermouth, Angostura bitters
Here's a brandy cocktail 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
Next up, a brandy drink with some history: the boozy Sazerac! It's a low ball cocktail 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 cocktails there is.
Ingredients: Cognac, rye whiskey, Peychaud’s bitters, sugar, absinthe
Another great New Orleans brandy drink? The Vieux Carre! (Say it VOO care-A.) This unique classic cocktail comes from New Orleans: the name means “French Quarter” in French. It’s strong and alcohol forward, made with not one but two types 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
It might be called the Japanese Cocktail, 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 with orgeat, a tasty almond cocktail 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
Looking for a warming drink with brandy? Try the Brandy Hot Toddy! This variation on the classic Hot Toddy is 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
Here’s a two ingredient cocktail that tastes greater then the sum of its parts: the Stinger! Talk about sophistication. This genius combination of Cognac and crème de menthe is a classic cocktail with hundreds of years of history. But mysteriously, it reached its height of popularity in the 1970’s.
Ingredients: Cognac, creme de menthe
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 a classic Sidecar and a margarita!
Ingredients: Cognac (Hennessy or other), tequila reposado, lime juice, Cointreau
This spin on the Rum and Coke might 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.
A final unexpected brandy drink? The Pisco Sour! Pisco is a type of Peruvian brandy, and it makes for one heck of a cocktail. This sour cocktail from Peru is massively popular for a reason. It’s just that good. We’ve made all the sours: our famous Whiskey Sour and Amaretto Sour, the two-toned New 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
Understanding types of brandy
Brandy is a liquor made from distilling wine or other fruit, like apples or apricot. I’ve experimented with various brandy styles in cocktails and each brings unique characteristics:
- Cognac offers the most balanced flavor profile; it’s a French brandy with notes of vanilla, oak, and dried fruit. It works beautifully in classics like a Manhattan variation or Sidecar. A popular type of Cognac is Hennessy.
- Armagnac gives richer, more rustic flavors with notes of dark caramel and chocolate. I love using it in spirit-forward cocktails where its bold character can shine.
- Calvados is an apple or pear brandy made in France.
- Brandy de Jerez is Spanish brandy that tastes dry and smooth, with notes of caramel, almond and vanilla.
- American brandy tends to be lighter and less complex, making it work for mixed drinks where you want brandy flavor without overwhelming other ingredients.
- Pisco deserves special mention as a Peruvian brandy with a distinctly different flavor profile. I only use pisco in Pisco Sour cocktails, where its earthiness makes magic with lime and egg white.
15 Brandy Cocktails: Brandy Alexander & More Drinks!
Everyone loves a Brandy Alexander: creamy, sweet and boozy! Mix up this classy dessert drink recipe with brandy and Creme de Cacao.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 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 cocktail shaker. Add 2 handfuls of ice and shake until cold, about 15 seconds.
- Strain into a cocktail glass. Top with grated fresh nutmeg and serve.
Notes
*1 ½ ounces = 3 tablespoons
I’m an ex New Orleans native and an ex French teacher. The word “Vieux” means old. The. word. “Carre” means square. Hence, old square, presumablyo referring to Jackson Square in the French Quarter. The word “Vieux” is not pronounced “voo”. It is pronounced more like “vya”. The word “Carre” has an accent on the “e” that slants to the right indicating an “a” sound. The “r’s” are soft. It is thus a 2 syllable word. The “car” is extended like “carr”. The pronounced emphasis is on the “e”. It would sound sort of like “Carrray”.
As you probably know, it is a French custom to say “Sante”, which also has a
right slanted accent on the “e”. In fact, it rhymes with”Carre”. Sante means health. The full expression when toasting someone is “A votre Sante”. “Sante” is also said when someone sneezes, to wish the person good health.
When I try one of your recipes tonight I shall wish you “Sante”.
Cheers!!
Thanks for a great read and ideas always liked brandy had a bottle sat for a while.just opened it with ice and cola and was looking for something a little different to try with it just the job plenty of ideas cheers.
Thank you for reminding me how to make a brandy alexander. I’m getting up in my years, so it was too much alcohol for me. So I experimented tonight without the brandy. If you like my recipe, let other people know about it. I don’t need credit, just tell me if you liked it as much as I did.
My recipe is called “Heaven Can Wait.”
-One ounce Cream de Cacao
-1/2 ounce Amaretto
-One tablespoon of chocolate coffee syrup
-Two scoops of frozen whip cream.
Stir the mixture until the frozen whip cream is not frozen.
Seriously, heaven CAN wait!
My favorite Brandy drink I call a Brapple
One shot Brandy and two shots of apple juice.
A simple drink that softens sweetens the taste of the Brandy
Clear or cloudy!? :)
Very helpful, thank you!
Cant wait to try the alexander