Brandy Cocktails: A Marketing Bonanza

There’s simply nothing blasé about brandy or Cognac. When mixed, they contribute an alluring bouquet and exuberant, fruit-induced flavor. Add a modifier or two and you’ve got the making of something truly spectacular. The following classic recipes are guaranteed to please and provide a creative blueprint for beverage success, plus we’ve added a couple contemporary cocktails to get your imaginations flowing.

Stinger Cocktail

2 ½ ounces Cognac or brandy
½ ounce white créme de menthe

Pour ingredients into an iced mixing glass. Shake vigorously for a minimum of 10 seconds and strain contents into a chilled cocktail glass.

Sidecar

2 ounces Cognac or brandy
1 ½ ounces Cointreau
¾ ounce fresh lemon juice

Pour ingredients into an iced mixing glass. Shake vigorously for a minimum of 10 seconds and strain contents into a chilled cocktail glass partially rimmed with sugar. Garnish with a long orange twist spiral.

Brandy Sour

2 ounces Cognac or brandy
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
¾ ounce simple syrup

Pour ingredients into an iced mixing glass. Shake vigorously and strain contents into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry.

Brandy Manhattan

1 ounce sweet vermouth
2-3 dashes Angostura Aromatic Bitters
2 ounces Cognac or brandy

Pour ingredients into an iced mixing glass. Stir gently and strain contents into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Brandy Alexander

1 ounce Cognac or brandy
1 ounce crème de cacao
Splash half and half cream, optional
2 scoops vanilla ice cream

Pour ingredients into an empty blender canister. Thoroughly blend ingredients and pour into a chilled house specialty glass. Garnish with a dusting of grated nutmeg.

French Connection

2 ounces Cognac
1 ounce Grand Marnier

Pour the ingredients in the order listed directly into a heated brandy snifter, swirl gently and serve.

Caffé Corretto

2 ounces Cognac
3 ounces freshly brewed espresso
Layer frothed milk (optional)

Pour the Cognac and espresso into a pre-heated coffee cup, stir gently and serve with a lemon twist on the side. As an option, spoon on a layer of frothed milk and garnish with shaved chocolate.

Brandy Old Fashioned

2 ½ ounces brandy
½ ounce simple syrup
1 orange slice
1 maraschino cherry
2 fresh raspberries (optional)
2-3 dashes Angostura Aromatic Bitters
Sparkling water

Place the orange slice, cherry, simple syrup and bitters into an empty 12-ounce rocks glass. Muddle contents and add ice. Pour in the brandy and add a splash or two of sparkling water. As a creative option, add fresh raspberries to the muddled mix.

French 125

1 ½ ounces Cognac
¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
¾ ounce simple syrup
4 ounces chilled brut Champagne

Pour Cognac, lemon juice and simple syrup into an iced mixing glass. Shake vigorously and strain contents into a chilled Champagne flute. Fill with chilled brut Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist spiral.

Café Royale

2 ounces Cognac or brandy
½ ounce simple syrup
Fill with hot coffee
Layer frothed milk (optional)

Pour the ingredients into a pre-heated coffee cup, stir gently and serve.

The Smooth Fedora
Courtesy of Remy Martin.

1 ounce 1738 Accord Royal
1 ounce Mount Gay Eclipse
1 ½ ounces half & half
½ ounces honey syrup
1 dash of nutmeg

Shake with ice and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with grated nutmeg.

Conjure Blueberry Smash
Courtesy of Conjure Cognac.

1 ½ ounces Conjure Cognac
½ ounce ginger liqueur
¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
½ ounce simple syrup
6-7 fresh blueberries
8-10 mint sprigs

Tear mint sprigs into small pieces and place in a mixing glass with the blueberries, lightly muddle. Combine liquid ingredients, fill mixing glass with ice and shake. Double strain over fresh ice into Highball glass. Garnish with a mint sprig.