The 20 Best Cognac & Brandy Cocktails to Pour Right Now

Sidecars, Champagne Cocktails, and French Elegance

Written by Curiada Editorial Staff

11 min read
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The 20 Best Cognac & Brandy Cocktails to Pour Right Now

Why These 20 Cognac & Brandy Cocktails?

Before whiskey and gin took over, cognac was the backbone of American cocktail culture. The Sidecar, the Brandy Crusta, the Champagne Cocktail — these are some of the oldest and most elegant drinks in the canon, and they're all built on grape brandy. Cognac fell out of fashion in the mid-20th century, but the spirit itself never stopped being standout: rich, fruity, warm, with a depth that comes from years in French oak.

This collection brings together 20 cognac and brandy cocktails that span the full history of the category. You'll find pre-Prohibition classics alongside modern builds, shaken sours next to stirred spirit-forward sippers, and a few sparkling cocktails that pair cognac with champagne (because the French knew what they were doing). The Fancy Brandy, the Parisian Sidecar, and the Peruvian Dream each approach brandy from a completely different angle.

If you've been sleeping on cognac as a cocktail ingredient, this guide is your alarm clock.

All 20 Recipes

A photo of the Fancy Brandy cocktail containing Hennessy V.S. Cognac, Giffard Triple Sec, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Angostura Aromatic Bitters, Chilled water (reduce if wet ice) in a Martini.
#1 medium Other Family

Fancy Brandy

Triple sec and bitters dress cognac in its sharpest suit.

A stirred, spirit-forward sipper that lets Hennessy V.S. do the talking, with just a dash of triple sec and aromatic bitters for polish.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to cocktail shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  5. Express lemon zest twist over drink and drop into glass
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Rum & Cognac Smash cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Hennessy V.S. Cognac, Freshly squeezed orange juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne) in a Old-Fashioned.
#2 medium Other Family

Rum & Cognac Smash

White rum meets cognac in a citrus-bright double-spirit smash.

Blending rum and cognac with fresh OJ creates a two-spirit punch that shows how well brandy plays with tropical partners.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake well with ice
  4. Fill old-fashioned glass with ice
  5. Strain mixture into ice-filled glass
  6. Garnish with orange slice
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Parisian Sidecar cocktail containing Hennessy V.S. Cognac, Mandarine Napoleon Liqueur, Freshly squeezed lemon juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Chilled water (reduce if wet ice) in a Martini.
#3 medium Daiquiri/Classic Sours & Riffs

Parisian Sidecar

Mandarine liqueur gives the classic sidecar a Parisian accent.

Swapping triple sec for Mandarine Napoleon adds a tangerine sweetness to the traditional cognac sour template. Pure Left Bank sophistication.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Prepare sugar rim on martini glass if desired
  2. Chill martini glass
  3. Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker
  4. Add ice to shaker
  5. Shake vigorously
  6. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  7. Express lemon zest twist over drink and drop into glass
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Peruvian Dream cocktail containing Angostura Aromatic Bitters, Barsol Acholado Pisco, Giffard Orgeat Syrup, Freshly squeezed lime juice in a Coupe.
#4 medium Daiquiri/Classic Sours & Riffs

Peruvian Dream

Pisco and orgeat collide in a silky almond-kissed sour.

Pisco stands alongside cognac in the brandy family, and this lime-orgeat sour spotlights its grape-distilled character with nutty depth.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to shaker
  2. Pour all ingredients into shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fine strain into chilled coupe glass
  5. Express lime zest twist over drink and drop into glass
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Cosmopolitan Delight cocktail containing Hennessy V.S. Cognac, Grand Marnier, Shiraz red wine, Giffard Orgeat Syrup, Freshly squeezed lemon juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne) in a Martini.
#5 advanced Other Family

Cosmopolitan Delight

Red wine and Grand Marnier turn cognac into a deep ruby stunner.

This advanced build layers Shiraz, Grand Marnier, and orgeat over Hennessy for a cognac cocktail with serious depth and a wine-dark finish.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to cocktail shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  5. Express oils from orange zest over drink by flaming
  6. Garnish with flamed orange zest twist
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Santa Marta Daiquiri cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Chilled water, Etter Kirsch AOP Zug Eau de Vie in a Coupe.
#6 medium Daiquiri/Classic Sours & Riffs

Santa Marta Daiquiri

Kirsch eau de vie adds a cherry whisper to this rum daiquiri.

The touch of Kirsch cherry brandy connects this lime-forward rum daiquiri to the cognac family tree, adding a subtle stone-fruit layer.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add first 3 ingredients to cocktail shaker with ice
  2. Shake well
  3. Fine strain into chilled coupe glass
  4. Float spoon of kirsch eau de vie on surface of drink
  5. Garnish with lime wedge on rim
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Pisco Bell Ringer cocktail containing Giffard Abricot Du Roussillon, Barsol Acholado Pisco, Freshly squeezed lemon juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Angostura Orange Bitters, Peychaud's Bitters in a Coupe.
#7 advanced Other Family

Pisco Bell Ringer

Apricot liqueur and pisco ring out bright, fruity, bitter notes.

Pisco's grape-brandy backbone pairs with apricot liqueur and a double-bitters finish for a sour that belongs in any cognac lover's rotation.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Chill coupe glass
  2. Rinse chilled glass with apricot brandy by swirling to coat inside and shaking out excess
  3. Add remaining ingredients to shaker with ice
  4. Shake well
  5. Fine strain into apricot-rinsed coupe glass
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Strega Sidecar cocktail containing Strega Liquore, Hennessy V.S. Cognac, Freshly squeezed orange juice, Freshly squeezed lemon juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Egg yolk in a Coupe.
#8 advanced Fizzes & Flips (Egg/Cream Sours & Drinks)

Strega Sidecar

Egg yolk and herbal Strega make this sidecar rich and velvety.

Adding an egg yolk and Italian Strega liqueur to a cognac sidecar base creates a custard-like flip that's unlike any other recipe here.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Chill coupe glass
  2. Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker
  3. Add ice to shaker
  4. Shake vigorously
  5. Strain into chilled coupe glass
  6. Dust with freshly grated nutmeg
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Fish House Punch cocktail containing Hennessy V.S. Cognac, Flor de Caña 4 Year Old Añejo Oro Rum, Rothman & Winter Orchard Peach Liqueur, Freshly squeezed lemon juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Chilled water in a Collins.
#9 advanced Highballs & Collinses

Fish House Punch

Cognac, rum, peach liqueur, and black tea in a legendary punch.

One of America's oldest cocktail recipes, this cognac-and-rum punch with peach liqueur and brewed tea rewards the effort of its multi-ingredient build.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake well with ice
  4. Fill Collins glass with ice
  5. Strain mixture into ice-filled Collins glass
  6. Garnish with lemon slice
  7. Dust with grated nutmeg
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Harvard Cooler cocktail containing Roger Groult 3 Year Reserve Pays D'Auge Calvados, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Club soda in a Collins.
#10 medium Highballs & Collinses

Harvard Cooler

Calvados, lime, and soda make an easy apple-brandy highball.

Calvados is apple brandy at its finest, and this simple lime-and-soda cooler is a refreshing way to explore cognac's orchard-grown cousin.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to shaker
  2. Add first three ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake well with ice
  4. Fill Collins glass with ice
  5. Strain mixture into ice-filled Collins glass
  6. Top with soda water
  7. Stir gently
  8. Garnish with lime wedge
  9. Serve with straws
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Dark & Stormy Sidecar cocktail containing Hennessy V.S. Cognac, Goslings Black Seal Dark Rum, Giffard Triple Sec, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Freshly squeezed orange juice, Freshly brewed cold black English breakfast tea, Coca-Cola in a Collins.
#11 advanced Highballs & Collinses

Dark & Stormy Sidecar

Dark rum, cognac, cola, and tea collide in a bold long drink.

This mashup fuses a Dark & Stormy with a sidecar, layering Hennessy and Goslings dark rum over tea and cola for a full-throttle cognac highball.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to shaker
  2. Add first six ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake well with ice
  4. Fill Collins glass with crushed ice
  5. Strain mixture into glass
  6. Top with cola
  7. Garnish with lime wedge
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Jack Collins cocktail containing Roger Groult 3 Year Reserve Pays D'Auge Calvados, Freshly squeezed lemon juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Club soda in a Collins.
#12 medium Highballs & Collinses

Jack Collins

A Calvados Collins that's crisp, tart, and orchard-fresh.

The Collins format of lemon, sugar, and soda is a crowd-pleaser, and building it on Calvados apple brandy ties it neatly to the cognac family.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to shaker
  2. Add first three ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake well with ice
  4. Fill Collins glass with ice
  5. Strain mixture into ice-filled Collins glass
  6. Top with soda
  7. Stir gently
  8. Garnish with lemon slice
  9. Serve with straws
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Pisco Punch cocktail containing Barsol Acholado Pisco, Freshly squeezed lemon juice, Fresh pressed pineapple juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Club soda in a Collins.
#13 medium Highballs & Collinses

Pisco Punch

Pineapple juice and pisco create San Francisco's most famous punch.

This legendary San Francisco recipe proves pisco's grape-brandy roots earn it a place among cognac cocktails, especially with that pineapple brightness.

Ingredients

  • 0.50 fl oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1.00 fl oz Fresh pressed pineapple juice
  • 0.50 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
  • 2.50 fl oz 1615 Pisco Puro Quebranta
  • Top up with Club soda

Directions

  1. Add ice to shaker
  2. Add first four ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake well with ice
  4. Fill Collins glass with crushed ice
  5. Strain mixture into glass
  6. Top with soda
  7. Garnish with pineapple wedge
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Cognac Lychee Fizz cocktail containing Hennessy V.S. Cognac, Giffard Lichi-Li Liqueur, Freshly squeezed lemon juice, Club soda, LEJAY LAGOUTE Crème de Cassis in a Highball.
#14 medium Highballs & Collinses

Cognac Lychee Fizz

Lychee liqueur and cassis give cognac a fruity, fizzy lift.

Pairing Hennessy with lychee liqueur and a cassis float creates a fizz that's both tropical and French — a natural cognac crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to shaker
  2. Add first three ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake well with ice
  4. Fill highball glass with ice
  5. Strain mixture into ice-filled highball glass
  6. Top with soda water
  7. Drizzle crème de cassis on surface of drink
  8. Garnish with lemon zest twist
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Sangaree cocktail containing Hayman's Old Tom Gin, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Graham's 10 Year Old Aged Tawny Port in a Flute.
#15 easy Martini & Riffs

Sangaree

Old Tom gin layered over tawny port in a stirred classic.

Port wine is grape brandy's fortified neighbor, and this simple stir of Old Tom gin and 10-year tawny shows off the brandy-adjacent side of the guide.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add gin and sugar to cocktail shaker with ice
  2. Shake well
  3. Strain into chilled flute glass
  4. Slowly pour port wine which will sink through the drink and mix leaving a clear layer on top
  5. Dust with freshly grated nutmeg
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Cognac Royale Sidecar cocktail containing Hennessy V.S. Cognac, Bénédictine D.O.M. Liqueur, Giffard Triple Sec, Perrier Jouet Grand Brut Champagne in a Martini.
#16 medium Champagne Cocktails & Spritzes

Cognac Royale Sidecar

Champagne tops a sidecar built on cognac, Benedictine, and triple sec.

Adding Champagne to a cognac-Benedictine-triple sec sidecar turns a strong sipper into a sparkling celebration worth popping a bottle for.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to shaker
  2. Add first 3 ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake well with ice
  4. Fill martini glass with ice
  5. Strain mixture into ice-filled martini glass
  6. Top with champagne
  7. Garnish with orange zest twist
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Champagne Cocktail cocktail containing Liber & Co. Classic Gum Syrup, Angostura Aromatic Bitters, Hennessy V.S. Cognac, Perrier Jouet Grand Brut Champagne in a Flute.
#17 medium Champagne Cocktails & Spritzes

Champagne Cocktail

A sugar-soaked cube, bitters, cognac, and Champagne — timeless high-end.

The original Champagne Cocktail is one of the oldest cognac drinks on record. Gum syrup, bitters, and bubbly — nothing more needed.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Coat sugar cube with bitters and drop into flute glass
  2. Pour chilled cognac over soaked cube
  3. Top with champagne
  4. Express oils from orange zest twist over drink and discard twist
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Cognac Tawny Fizz cocktail containing Hennessy V.S. Cognac, Graham's 10 Year Old Aged Tawny Port, Freshly squeezed orange juice, Perrier Jouet Grand Brut Champagne in a Flute.
#18 medium Champagne Cocktails & Spritzes

Cognac Tawny Fizz

Tawny port and orange juice bridge cognac to Champagne bubbles.

Blending Hennessy with 10-year tawny port and fresh OJ before topping with Champagne makes a brunch-ready cognac fizz with real depth.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add first three ingredients to shaker with ice
  2. Shake well
  3. Fine strain into chilled flute glass
  4. Top with champagne
  5. Garnish with orange slice
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Normandy Fizz cocktail containing Roger Groult 3 Year Reserve Pays D'Auge Calvados, Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth, Freshly squeezed lemon juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Perrier Jouet Grand Brut Champagne in a Collins.
#19 medium Champagne Cocktails & Spritzes

Normandy Fizz

Calvados and fresh apple juice sparkle under a Champagne crown.

Apple brandy, pressed apple juice, and Champagne create a Normandy-rooted fizz that highlights the orchard side of the brandy world.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to shaker
  2. Add first 4 ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake well with ice
  4. Fine strain into ice-filled old-fashioned glass
  5. Top with champagne
  6. Garnish with mint sprig
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Smoky Orchard Old-Fashioned cocktail containing Roger Groult 3 Year Reserve Pays D'Auge Calvados, Ardbeg 10 Year Islay Single Malt Scotch, Barrow's Intense Ginger Liqueur, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Peychaud's Bitters in a Old-Fashioned.
#20 medium Old Fashioned & Riffs

Smoky Orchard Old-Fashioned

Calvados, Islay scotch, and ginger liqueur in one smoky glass.

Mixing Calvados apple brandy with peaty Ardbeg scotch and ginger liqueur builds a bold old-fashioned that pushes cognac-family drinks into smoky territory.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to mixing glass
  2. Add all ingredients to mixing glass
  3. Stir well with bar spoon
  4. Fill old-fashioned glass with fresh ice
  5. Strain mixture into ice-filled old-fashioned glass
  6. Garnish with cinnamon stick
View Full Recipe →

VS, VSOP, or XO for Cocktails?

VS (Very Special) cognac has spent at least two years in oak — it's the youngest, most affordable option, and honestly the best choice for most cocktails. The fruity, slightly fiery character stands up well in shaken drinks with citrus and sweetener.

VSOP (four years minimum in barrel) is the sweet spot for stirred, spirit-forward drinks where the cognac does most of the talking. The extra aging smooths out the rough edges and adds vanilla, dried fruit, and spice notes that make an Old Fashioned or Sidecar genuinely special. Save the XO for sipping neat — its subtleties get buried in a shaker.

Browse our full Cognac collection to find the perfect bottle.
Shop All Cognac

Shop the Spirits in This Guide

Spirit Categories: Brandy & Cognac · Liqueurs · Bitters · Rum · Sparkling Wine · Syrups

Shop by Style: Cognac · Fruit Liqueurs · Herbal & Spiced Bitters · Apple Brandy · Champagne · Light Rum · Pisco · Herbal & Spice Liqueurs

Get Specific: VS Cognac · Orange Liqueur · Aromatic Bitters · Calvados · Grand Brut Champagne · Light Rum · Pisco Puro · Almond Syrup · Other Herbal & Spice Liqueur · Tawny Port

Our Picks for Cognac Cocktails

We wanted to honor cognac's deep cocktail heritage while showing it's not a museum piece. This selection includes some of the oldest recipes in our library alongside genuinely modern creations. The base spirits range from VS to VSOP, and the techniques cover shaking, stirring, and building — there's a cognac cocktail here for every mood and skill level.

Shop the Cognac Collection

Hennessy V.S., calvados, pisco — every brandy-family spirit in this guide ships to your door. Time to pour something French.

Shop Cognac Browse The Complete Curiada Cocktail Library

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