Brandy deserves more credit than it gets. Tucked behind the whiskey and gin bottles at most home bars, it’s actually one of the most versatile spirits for mixing, bringing warm fruit notes, a touch of sweetness, and a silky finish that plays well with citrus, cream, and bitters alike.
For a classic that proves brandy’s range, the Sidecar is the cocktail to know first: it balances cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon into something bright, boozy, and perfectly tart. From there, this collection moves through creamy nightcaps, bracing sours, old New Orleans classics, and a few bright brunch-friendly sips, so there’s a brandy cocktail suited to just about any glass you want to fill.
Whether you’re stocking a home bar for the first time or looking to expand past the usual whiskey sours, these 19+ brandy cocktails cover celebration drinks, cozy winter warmers, and refreshing summer pours.
Quick picks:
- Best overall: Sidecar, a citrusy classic that never goes out of style
- Best for dessert lovers: Brandy Alexander, rich, creamy, and chocolate-dusted
- Best for a dinner party: Vieux Carré, a complex, stirred New Orleans original
- Best for brunch: Brandy Milk Punch, a smooth, nutmeg-kissed morning sipper
1. Sidecar
The Sidecar is the cocktail that made brandy cool again. It mixes cognac, orange liqueur, and fresh lemon juice, shaken until icy cold and poured into a sugar-rimmed glass. The balance between sweet and tart is what makes it sing.
Use a good cognac here since it’s the star of the drink. For a deeper look at cognac-based drinks, the our best cognac cocktails collection has more worth trying.
2. Brandy Alexander
The Brandy Alexander drinks like dessert in a glass. Brandy, dark crème de cacao, and heavy cream get shaken hard and strained into a chilled coupe, finished with a dusting of nutmeg.
It’s silky and rich, closer to a boozy milkshake than a traditional cocktail. Serve it after dinner instead of a slice of chocolate cake.
3. Vieux Carré
The Vieux Carré is a New Orleans classic built for slow sipping. It blends cognac, rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, and two kinds of bitters, all stirred together over ice.
The result is layered and herbal, with a backbone of spice. Fans of Cajun flavors and French Quarter history will enjoy pairing this with the dishes in our best cajun recipes.
4. Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned
This Midwest favorite swaps bourbon for brandy and leans sweeter than its bourbon cousin. Muddled sugar, bitters, a splash of soda, and brandy come together over ice with a cherry and orange slice.
Supper clubs across Wisconsin built a whole drinking culture around this one. It’s smoother and fruitier than a traditional old fashioned.
5. Cognac Sazerac
The Cognac Sazerac is the original version of New Orleans’ most famous cocktail, made before rye whiskey took over. Cognac gets stirred with sugar, Peychaud’s bitters, and a rinse of absinthe in a chilled glass.
No ice goes in the final pour, just a twist of lemon peel. It’s strong, anise-scented, and unapologetically old-school.
6. Stinger
The Stinger is a two-ingredient classic that proves simple can still be sophisticated. Brandy and white crème de menthe get shaken with ice and strained into a chilled glass.
It’s cool, minty, and strong, a drink that used to close out dinner parties before coffee was served. Keep the ratio brandy-heavy so the mint doesn’t overpower it.
7. Brandy Crusta
The Brandy Crusta is believed to be the ancestor of the Sidecar, and it’s dressed up to match. A sugared rim, a long curl of lemon peel lining the glass, and a mix of brandy, orange liqueur, maraschino, and bitters make this one a showstopper.
It takes a bit more effort to build, but the payoff is a cocktail that looks as good as it tastes.
8. Between the Sheets
Between the Sheets is a Prohibition-era cocktail that borrows from the Sidecar family tree. Brandy, white rum, orange liqueur, and lemon juice get shaken together into something bright and deceptively strong.
The rum adds a lighter, almost tropical note against the brandy’s depth. Serve it ice-cold in a coupe glass.
9. French Connection
The French Connection is about as simple as cocktails get, and that’s the appeal. Cognac and amaretto are poured over ice and stirred, nothing more.
The almond sweetness from the amaretto plays beautifully against the cognac’s fruitiness. It’s a slow sipper, perfect for a quiet evening. Those who like French spirit pairings should browse our best french cocktails for more ideas.
10. Horse’s Neck
The Horse’s Neck is a tall, fizzy brandy drink built for easy sipping. Brandy, ginger ale, and a few dashes of bitters get poured over ice, garnished with a long spiral of lemon peel that drapes over the rim.
It’s refreshing and lower-proof than most brandy cocktails on this list. Fans of ginger-forward drinks will also like 18 ginger beer cocktails.
11. Japanese Cocktail
The Japanese Cocktail has nothing to do with Japan, despite the name; it’s a Prohibition-era brandy drink built on orgeat syrup and bitters. Brandy, orgeat, and Angostura bitters get stirred with ice and strained into a chilled glass.
The almond-sweet orgeat gives it a nutty, marzipan-like flavor. It’s an underrated classic worth seeking out.
12. Champs-Élysées
The Champs-Élysées is named for the famous Paris avenue, and it drinks just as elegant. Cognac, yellow Chartreuse, lemon juice, and a dash of bitters get shaken together into a bright, herbal sour.
The Chartreuse brings an earthy, almost medicinal sweetness that balances the citrus. It’s a bartender’s favorite for good reason.
13. Brandy Sour
The Brandy Sour keeps things straightforward: brandy, lemon juice, and simple syrup, shaken and poured over ice. An egg white adds a frothy, silky texture if you want to go the extra step.
It’s tart, smooth, and endlessly adjustable depending on how sweet or strong you like it. A cherry garnish finishes it off nicely.
14. Brandy Milk Punch
Brandy Milk Punch is a New Orleans brunch staple that drinks like a spiked vanilla milkshake. Brandy, whole milk, simple syrup, and vanilla extract get shaken together and poured over ice, topped with a dusting of nutmeg.
It’s creamy and gentle, built for lazy mornings. Pair it with other brunch favorites from 31 refreshing brunch cocktails.
15. Corpse Reviver No. 1
Corpse Reviver No. 1 is a brandy-based hangover cure with serious old-world charm. Cognac, Calvados, and sweet vermouth get stirred together and strained into a chilled glass, no citrus needed.
It’s warm, apple-tinged, and a little medicinal in the best way. This one is less famous than its gin-based sibling but just as worth trying.
16. Jack Rose
The Jack Rose gets its rosy color from grenadine and its tang from fresh lime. Applejack or apple brandy, lime juice, and grenadine get shaken hard and strained into a coupe.
It’s tart, fruity, and a little nostalgic, a Prohibition favorite that deserves more attention today. Use real grenadine, not the neon corn-syrup version, for the best flavor.
17. Metropolitan
The Metropolitan swaps vodka for brandy in a Cosmopolitan-style build. Brandy, simple syrup, lime juice, and a splash of bitters get shaken together into a tart, ruby-colored cocktail.
It’s a little less sweet than its vodka cousin and carries more depth from the brandy. Serve it in a chilled coupe with a lime twist.
18. Harvard Cocktail
The Harvard Cocktail is a stirred classic built on brandy, sweet vermouth, and a dash of bitters, sometimes topped with a splash of soda. It drinks similar to a Manhattan but softer and fruitier.
It’s an easy one to batch for a small gathering. Stir it well and strain into a chilled glass for the best texture.
19. Pisco Sour
The Pisco Sour brings South American flair to this brandy lineup, since pisco is a type of grape brandy from Peru and Chile. Pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white get shaken hard until frothy, then topped with a few dashes of bitters.
The foam on top is the signature touch. It’s tart, smooth, and a little showy in the best way.
Choosing the Right Brandy for Cocktails
The brandy you choose changes the whole character of a drink. Cognac brings elegance and fruit-forward depth, making it the right pick for sipping cocktails like the Sidecar or Sazerac.
VSOP cognac works well as an all-purpose mixing brandy since it’s aged enough to have smooth, rounded flavor without a steep price tag. Save older XO bottles for drinks served neat or on the rocks.
Applejack and apple brandy bring a crisper, fruitier edge, which is why they show up in drinks like the Jack Rose. Pisco stands apart entirely, with a grassy, floral quality that suits sours better than stirred drinks.
Here’s a quick look at how the brandy types in this list compare:
| Cocktail | Brandy Type | Flavor Profile | Best Served |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidecar | Cognac | Citrusy, sweet-tart | Up, sugar rim |
| Brandy Alexander | Cognac | Creamy, chocolatey | Up, chilled coupe |
| Vieux Carré | Cognac | Herbal, spiced | On the rocks |
| Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned | Brandy | Sweet, fruity | On the rocks |
| Jack Rose | Applejack | Tart, fruity | Up, chilled coupe |
| Pisco Sour | Pisco | Grassy, frothy | Up, chilled glass |
Budget bottles work fine for mixed drinks with strong secondary flavors, like the Horse’s Neck or Metropolitan. Save the better bottles for drinks where brandy stands mostly alone.
Tips for Mixing Brandy Cocktails
Fresh citrus makes a bigger difference in brandy cocktails than in almost any other spirit category. Bottled lemon or lime juice tastes flat next to brandy’s fruit and oak notes, so squeeze it fresh each time.
Chill your glassware before serving stirred drinks like the Harvard Cocktail or Champs-Élysées. A warm glass dulls the crisp, cold sip that makes these cocktails work.
Egg white drinks, like the Pisco Sour or Brandy Sour, need a dry shake first (no ice) to build the foam, followed by a second shake with ice to chill everything down. Skipping the dry shake leaves you with a thin, watery top instead of that silky froth.
Keep a bottle of good orange liqueur and one aromatic bitters on hand, since they show up across most of this list. Angostura and Peychaud’s bitters are both worth stocking separately, since they bring different spice notes to drinks like the Sazerac and Vieux Carré.
Measure your pours instead of eyeballing them, especially with stronger ingredients like Chartreuse or crème de menthe. A half-ounce too much can throw off the whole balance of a drink like the Stinger or Champs-Élysées.
