12 Great Brandy 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 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. 

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