Sure, brandy sounds super sophisticated and brings to mind suave gentlemen with cigars and snifters, but the right brandy cocktails make this delicious nectar accessible to anyone. So, if brandy has long felt like a mystery to you, allow yourself to indulge your curiosity. And if you've long counted brandy among one of your favorite liquors, we get it. But there are still a few recipes you have yet to discover. Either way, these brandy cocktails will open doors to flavors that'll knock your socks off.
Brandy and Orange Juice Spritzer
Brandy and orange is a classic flavor combo — don't let the screwdriver convince it's the only OJ drink! But this is just as easy to make as a screwdriver.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the orange juice, brandy, and cocktail bitters.
- Add the ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Add the club soda and stir.
- Garnish with the orange wedge.
Did you know that if you order an old-fashioned in Wisconsin, it'll most likely be made with brandy?
Grapefruit Armagnac Spritz
The classic French cocktail, French 75, is traditionally made with French Champagne, gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. This is a riff on that cocktail featuring brandy and grapefruit juice instead. While you can use any brandy you like, this is especially delightful with Armagnac.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- 1½ ounces Armagnac
- Ice
- 2 ounces prosecco, chilled
- Grapefruit wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the simple syrup, grapefruit juice, and Armagnac.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a Champagne flute.
- Top with the Champagne.
- Garnish with the grapefruit wedge.
Raspberry Pisco Smash
Pisco — a South American brandy — is a delicious addition to cocktails, including this fruity, minty smash. Whenever you get the chance to use fresh ingredients in cocktails, you know you're in for a treat.
Ingredients
- 5 mint leaves
- 10 raspberries
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1½ ounces pisco
- Ice
- 4 ounces club soda
- Mint sprig and lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves, raspberries, and simple syrup.
- Add the lime juice, pisco, and ice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a collins glass filled with ice.
- Add the club soda. Stir.
- Garnish with the mint sprig and lime.
Calvados Sidecar
Make this easy twist on a classic using Calvados (French apple brandy) in place of Cognac. By using Calvados, the drink instantly adds familiar apple flavors that'll sweep you off your feet in unexpected ways.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- 1½ ounces Calvados or apple brandy
- Ice
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lemon juice, Grand Marnier, and Calvados.
- Add the ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
Brandy de Jerez Highball
Looking for a simple highball? Try this one, made with Spanish Brandy de Jerez. Feel free to substitute any other type of brandy if you want.
Ingredients
- Ice
- 2 ounces Brandy de Jerez
- 4 ounces ginger ale
- 1 dash orange bitters
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Add the brandy, ginger ale, and orange bitters. Stir.
Caffè Corretto
Looking for a rich, hot coffee cocktail? Try caffè corretto, a delicious hot cocktail made with grappa (an Italian pomace grape brandy). Perfect for when you're looking for a coffee cocktail but aren't quite sure that you want to commit to a full cup or even a martini.
Ingredients
- 1 sugar cube
- 1½ ounces freshly brewed espresso
- 1½ ounces grappa
Instructions
- In a small mug or espresso cup, muddle the sugar cube.
- Add the espresso and grappa. Stir.
- Serve hot.
Pear Brandy and Amaretto Sour
The delicate flavor of pear brandy combined with the nutty goodness of amaretto makes a delicious sweet and sour cocktail that's a nutty twist on the amaretto sour. Prepare to fall in love.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce amaretto liqueur
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1½ ounces pear brandy
- Ice
- Splash of club soda, lemon-lime soda, or ginger ale
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lemon juice, amaretto liqueur, simple syrup, and pear brandy.
- Add the ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Top with the soda and stir.
- Garnish with a cherry.
Brandied Cider
This is such a simple cocktail. Use any brandy type or flavor that pleases you and any hard cider flavor. Think of this as a sophisticated twist on the pumpkin beer with caramel vodka.
Ingredients
- Ice
- 8 ounces hard cider
- 1½ ounces brandy
Instructions
- Fill a pint glass with ice.
- Add the cider and brandy. Stir.
Brandy Rebujito
The rebujito is a Spanish wine punch made with sherry and lemonade. This version adds the extra kick of brandy for a boozier drink. This makes approximately 8 servings.
Ingredients
- 1 750 mL bottle dry sherry
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 cups simple syrup
- 3 cups water
- ½ cup Brandy de Jerez
- Ice
- Lemons for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine the sherry, lemon juice, simple syrup, water, and brandy.
- Add the ice and stir.
- Pour into glasses and garnish with lemon slices.
Brandy Horchata
This simple and sweet cocktail is the perfect way to finish a meal. Or — on the other hand — it makes for an excellent treat when you want something rich and sweet.
Ingredients
- Ice
- 1½ ounces RumChata
- 1½ ounces brandy
- Freshly grated nutmeg for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a rocks glass with ice.
- Add the RumChata and brandy. Stir.
- Garnish with the nutmeg.
Brandy Alexander
The most iconic of all the brandy drinks, the brandy Alexander brings together chocolate, cream, and sultry brandy flavors into a martini that'll soothe the soul and be the perfect nightcap.
Brandy Mixers
You can also make your own brandy-based cocktails. Some good mixers for brandy include the following:
- Heavy cream, milk, or other dairy
- Coffee
- Coffee-flavored liqueur such as Kahlúa
- Ginger ale or ginger beer
- Tea
- Lemonade
- Orange juice
- Sweet and sour mix
- Club soda or soda water
- Cola
- Cream soda
- Lemon-lime soda
- Amaretto
- Cider or apple juice
- Orange liqueur
- Champagne, prosecco, or sparkling wine
Types of Brandy for Cocktails
So what is brandy? It's a hard liquor that is distilled from wine. Wine is a beverage made from fermented fruit juice, usually grapes, but sometimes other fruits. Different brandies have different flavors depending on the fruit used and the style of brandy the distiller makes. Types of brandy the cocktails above include:
- Armagnac - French brandy made from grapes
- Brandy de Jerez - Spanish brandy made from grapes and aged in sherry casks in a solera system
- Calvados - an apple brandy from France
- Cognac - French brandy made from grapes
- Pisco - Peruvian grape brandy
- Pomace brandy - intense brandy made from the pressed skin and seeds of grapes (grappa is the most well-known version)
- Fruit brandy - brandy made from various fruits other than grapes with flavors of those fruits present (such as apple, cherry, or pear brandy). For example, you can use apricot-flavored brandy to make tasty apricot cocktails.
Tasty Drinks With Brandy
Brandy is a versatile liquor you can use in many cocktails, or you can enjoy brandy all on its own. When you add this liquid gold to your cocktails, both modern and classic, brandy adds warm, complex flavors that make them simply irresistible.
