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Here are the best Hennessy cocktails to try with this centuries old brand of Cognac! It shines in classics from the Sidecar to the Sazerac.
Got Hennessy and want to mix up a drink? There’s a great collection of classic cocktails to make with this brand of Cognac. The Hennessy company was founded over 250 years ago in France, and it now it produces 40% of the world’s Cognac, making it the largest producer on the globe. If you’re ready to move beyond drinking Hennessy neat, here’s where to start!
As a cocktail expert who’s written over 300 cocktail recipes, here are my favorite Hennessy cocktails that highlight the best of its bold flavor! Try a Hennessy Sazerac, the boozy official cocktail of New Orleans, or go for the sweet tart classic Cognac cocktail, the Sidecar. Of course, you can’t go wrong with a simple mix of Hennessy and Coke!
10 Must-Try Hennessy Cocktails
Here’s one of the very best Hennessy cocktails, and possibly one of the best classic cocktails of all time. The Sidecar! What’s so great about the Sidecar? This drink is perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, with just the right edge from the boozy Hennessy. It’s a complex, layered drink: warm, crisp, dry, rich, and full at the same time.
Love Hennessy and want something to do with it? Try the Hennessy Margarita! Pairing this classy Cognac 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! Both classic drinks feature citrus, Cognac and Cointreau: which makes for a flavor-packed, nuanced sip.
Next up in our Hennessy cocktails, a boozy classic cocktail that’s one of the greats: the Sazerac! If you love spirit-forward drinks like the Old Fashioned, this one’s for you. Along with the oak, vanilla and caramel notes of Hennessy, absinthe gives a black licorice finish to each sip! This outlawed liquor is now back in good graces (since 2007, at least), and it’s good reason to try this famous slow sipper. It’s the official drink of New Orleans and one of the oldest cocktails there is.
Here’s a two ingredient Hennessy cocktail that tastes greater then the sum of its parts: the Stinger! This genius combination of Cognac and crème de menthe is a classic cocktail invented in 1890. Today, it’s one of the lesser known classics: but we think it needs a revival.
Got 1 minute? Then you’ve got time to mix up the French Connection: an amaretto and Hennessy cocktail! Arguably the easiest cocktail on the planet, this slow-sipper features Hennessy 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 Cognac.
Here’s a classic cocktail that will blow you away with its sweet tart flavor and sophisticated vibe: the 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 Cognac.
Want a quick and dirty Hennessy cocktail? Try Hennessy and Coke! This spin on the Rum and Coke might be considered low brow by some…but add this Cognac and it’s a top notch drink! The oak, vanilla and caramel notes of the Hennessy are a perfect fit with the sweetness of bubbly cola. Here we’ve added a few tips to take this cocktail to the sophisticated level. Here’s how to make the best Hennessy and Coke to impress all your friends.
Here’s a bright and tangy drink that’s a little sassy: the Between the Sheets cocktail! A spin on the classic Sidecar, it features rum and Hennessy Cognac 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. Of course, if you’ve never had a Sidecar: go make one of those first. Then you’ll appreciate this drink in all its glory.
Last up in our must-try Hennessy cocktails: the Vieux Carre! If you love a Manhattan or Old Fashioned, it’s safe to say you’ll love this drink too. 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. The complex flavor is ideal for Cognac lovers who love to relax with a slow sipper in hand.
This creamy, boozy delight is easier than you think! The Alexander is equal parts creamy, intriguing, and delicious: a mix of Hennessy with cocoa liqueur and heavy cream. It’s almost like a more sophisticated version of the White Russian.
Decoding the Letters on Hennessy Bottles
Cognac is a type of French brandy, a liquor made from distilling wine. There are several grades of Hennessy Cognac that designate how long it’s been aged:
- VS or 3 stars (2 years)
- VSOP (4 years)
- Napoléon (6 years)
- XO (10 years)
Watch out, bottles of XO can be upwards of $200! No need to go that high-end, of course. You can use a mid-priced VS or VSOP Cognac for all of the Hennessy cocktails above.
More Cocktail Recipes
Looking for more drinks outside of these Hennessy cocktails? We’ve got 300+ cocktails for every occasion:
- Classics: Try Sour Cocktails, Classic Cocktails, or Great Cocktail Recipes.
- The Big 5: Try our best cocktails with Gin, Vodka, Whiskey or Bourbon, Tequila or Rum (White Rum or Dark Rum).
- By Season: Try our Fall Cocktails, Winter Drinks, Thanksgiving Cocktails, Holiday Drinks, or Summer Cocktails.
- Specialty: Make drinks with Mezcal, Fernet Branca, Aperol, Hennessy, Midori, Orgeat, and Maraschino Liqueur.
- By Ingredient: Try our cocktails with Peach, Strawberry, Wine, Cranberry, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Pineapple, Campari, Vermouth, Coffee, or Orange Juice.
I’m so innocent. I did not know that you can make cocktails with Hennessey….Dah. My daughter told me that she preferred Hennessey as her choice of drink and I almost passed out. Thinking my daughter was becoming a “Hot Lil-mama” instead of my Sweet Lil-darling who didn’t like Mimosas because she didn’t like Champagne. When she told me that she gets a French 75, I had to look it up to find out the ingredients and to my surprise, to me, it’s a Lady’s drink. Doesn’t make it alright that she has a cocktail when she’s out with her boyfriend but that she understands the concept of indulging, too much is too much. Thank goodness she’s not like her mom, Remi Martin straight up with a little fire on the snifter :-).