Are you interested in making some brandy cocktails at home? Read on for 15 brandy cocktail recipes!
Brandy is a spirit that has been around since the Middle Ages, and it’s one of the oldest spirits available today.
It was originally made from wine or other fermented beverages like beer and cider.
Today, brandy is made by distilling wine or other alcoholic beverages with added sugar to produce an alcohol content between 40% and 60%.
The resulting product is then aged in oak barrels for several years before being bottled.
The best-known type of brandy is Cognac, which comes from the region of Cognac in France. Other types include Armagnac, Calvados, and Pastis.
These are all distilled products, but they vary in color, flavor, and age-ability. Some brands can be quite young, while others may have up to 30 years of aging time.
Brandy is most often used as a mixer, although it also makes great sipping liquor.
You might use brandy in your favorite martini recipe, or add it to your favorite bourbon drink. There are so many different ways to enjoy this versatile spirit!
So, whenever you’re ready, just read on to learn about 15 of the most delicious and strong brandy cocktails that you can make from home:
Table of Contents
1. Brandied Peach Cocktail
The first type of brandy cocktail that you can make is the Brandied Peach Cocktail. This delicious cocktail is infused with brandy and peach liqueur.
Ingredients
• 1 ½ oz. brandy
• ¾ oz. peach liqueur
• 2 dashes orange bitters
Directions
Shake ingredients vigorously over ice and strain into chilled glass. Garnish with mint sprig.
2. Apple Brandy Sour
If you want something more sophisticated than a simple brandy cocktail, try the Apple Brandy Sour. This sour cocktail combines apple juice with brandy and lemon juice.
Ingredients
• 3 oz. apple juice
• ¼ cup brandy
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• Dash of Angostura bitters
Directions
Combine ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour into a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with an apple slice.
3. Brandy Alexander
The Brandy Alexander is another classic brandy cocktail. It’s named after the Duke of Edinburgh, who supposedly invented the drink.
Ingredients
• 4 oz. brandy
• 1 ½ oz. crème de cacao
• 1 ½ oz cream
Directions
In a saucepan, heat brandy and milk until hot. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips. Pour the mixture into a blender and blend until smooth.
Add remaining ingredients and blend again. Serve immediately in small glasses.
4. Brandy Collins
The Brandy Collins is a refreshing cocktail that pairs perfectly with summertime barbecues.
Ingredients
• 2 oz. brandy
• 2 oz. lime juice
• 2 oz. cranberry juice
• Ice cubes
Directions
Pour ingredients over ice in a highball glass. Stir gently and serve. Feel free to garnish with lime or lemon curls if so desired!
5. The Manhattan
The Manhattan is a classic cocktail that mixes whiskey with sweet vermouth and angostura bitters.
Ingredients
• ¾ oz brandy
• ¾ oz sweet vermouth
• ¾ oz dry vermouth
• ¼ tsp. Angostura bitters
Directions
Stir ingredients over ice in a mixing glass and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
6. Metropolitan
The Metropolitan is a cocktail that traditionally uses whiskey but in this variant, we are going to be using brandy!
Ingredients
• ¼ oz. brandy
• ¼ oz maraschino cherry syrup
• ¼ oz triple sec
• ¼ oz light rum
• ¼ oz dark rum
• ¼ ounce amaretto
• ¼ oz grenadine
Directions
Add ingredients to a shaker filled with ice and shake hard. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry.
7. Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail that originated in the 1800s…hence the name!
Ingredients
• ½ oz. rye whiskey
• ½ oz. sugar syrup (equal parts water and sugar)
• ¼ oz fresh-squeezed orange juice
• Orange peel twist for garnishing
Directions
Muddle orange peel in the bottom of old-fashioned glass. Add other ingredients and fill with crushed ice. Stir and garnish with an orange peel twist.
8. B&B
The B & B is one of our personal favorites. It’s a combination of gin and brandy.
Ingredients
• 5 oz. gin
• ¾ oz Brandy
• ¾ oz maraschino liqueur
• ¼ oz grenadine
• Lemon wedge for garnishing
Directions
Fill a shaker half full of ice. Add all ingredients except lemon wedge. Shake well and pour contents into a large tumbler or martini glass. Squeeze lemon wedge over top and discard.
9. Vieux Carre
The Vieux Carre is a French-style brandy cocktail that was originally created by the famous bartender Jerry Thomas.
Ingredients
• 1 ½ oz brandy
• 1 oz light rum
• ¾ oz triple sec
• ¼ oz Cointreau
• Lime wedge for garnishing
Direction
Shake the first four ingredients vigorously in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously again. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a lime wedge.
10. Brandy Sour
The Brandy Sour is a cocktail that combines brandy and sour mix. Let’s check out how you can make your own below:
Ingredients
• 3 oz brandy
• ½ cup sour mix
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• Sugar
Directions
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and then shake. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a lemon slice.
11. Brandy Alexander
The Brandy Alexander is an American cocktail that originates from New Orleans.
Ingredients
• 4 oz brandy
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar
• ½ oz cream
• Dash of nutmeg
Directions
In a bowl, combine ingredients, stir until smooth. Serve over ice in a champagne flute. Garnish with nutmeg.
12. Sidecar
Truly iconic, the Sidecar is a punchy cocktail that originated in Paris in the 1920s.
Ingredients
1½ oz cognac
¾ oz Cointreau
3 dashes orange bitters
2 dashes of simple syrup
Lemon juice
Ice
Directions
Pour cognac, Cointreau, bitters, and simple syrup into a highball glass. Top with ice and squeeze lemon juice on top. Serve immediately – this brandy drink is best enjoyed chilled.
13. Brandy Daisy
The Brandy Daisy is a variation of the sidecar with a zesty, floral twist!
Ingredients
• 2 oz Cognac
• 2 oz Champagne
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• Ice
Directions
To prepare your own delicious and powerful Brandy Daisy, mix the first three ingredients in a highball glass. Fill with ice and add bitters and Champagne.
If you would like, you can garnish with a daisy – although that part is optional!
14. Between The Sheets
The Between the Sheets is a cocktail that originated at Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy. Read on to learn how you can make it from the comfort of your very own home:
Ingredients
• ¾ oz brandy
• ¾ oz sweet vermouth
• ¾ oz dry vermouth
• ¼ oz Pernod
• Bitters
• Lemon peel
Directions
Add ingredients to a mixing glass with cracked ice. Cover with plastic wrap and shake vigorously. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish.
15. Embassy Cocktail
Last but certainly not least, the Embassy is a cocktail made with vodka, crème de menthe, and cherry juice.
Ingredients
• ½ oz vodka
• ¾ oz cream
• ¾ oz cherry juice
• Cherry for garnishing
Directions
Mix cherries in the bottom of a shaker. Add remaining ingredients and fill with ice. Shake, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with a cherry.
Safe Drinking Tips
No matter what type of strong brandy cocktail you are planning on making, it’s important that you make sure to stay safe while you are enjoying them!
Here are some tips to help you enjoy your favorite cocktails safely:
Stay Hydrated
It may seem obvious, but drinking enough water will help you to stay hydrated while you are enjoying the various brandy cocktails that we have listed above.
Pace Yourself
If you are going to be having more than one drink, try not to go overboard. This can lead to you becoming drunk. Instead, you should be sure to drink slowly and make sure that you are eating and drinking water in-between your brandy cocktails.
Don’t Drive
If you plan on drinking alcohol, make sure that you have a ride home or get a taxi.
Don’t Drink On An Empty Stomach
You should always eat something before you drink so that you don’t end up feeling sick.
Final Thoughts
There we have it! We hope that this guide has given you some inspiration about the various brandy cocktails out there that you can make from the comfort of your very own home!
The best part about these 15 cocktails is that they can be served as either a prelude to dinner or as an after-dinner drink. They will definitely make your next party memorable!
Thank you for reading.
