24 Essential Classic Brandy Cocktails You Should Know

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Elevate your cocktail game with brandy classics featuring curaçao, cognac, and even sparkling wine

By Colleen Graham

Colleen Graham Writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks. Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process Updated on 06/17/25 Close

Between the Sheets Cocktail — The Spruce Eats / Claire Cohen

Brandy is the star liquor in several classic cocktails. While some have been lost to time and the pages of dusty bartending guides, the best brandy drinks remain favorites among cocktail lovers today.

These drink recipes are a nice introduction to mixing with brandy. The collection showcases the spirit's versatility, from brightly flavored sour drinks to cozy sips for winter. With a few exceptions, they are also among the simplest cocktail recipes—accenting brandy with common bar ingredients—and anyone can mix them up in minutes.

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Watch Now: The Classic Sidecar Cocktail Recipe

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Brandy Cocktail

The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

The brandy cocktail is an ideal way to dress up a good brandy, and it meets the definition of a cocktail perfectly. This recipe combines brandy with curaçao and finishes it off with both Angostura and Peychaud's Bitters. It's a subtle, elegant, and delightful drink.
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Brandy Daisy

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The brandy daisy is a standout among "daisy" cocktails. It requires just a few dashes of rum, along with curaçao, simple syrup, lemon, and soda. This delicate cocktail has a well-balanced flavor, making it ideal for your finer brandies and cognacs.
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Metropolitan

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Just as gin has the martini and whiskey has the Manhattan, brandy has the Metropolitan. This classic recipe combines brandy with sweet vermouth and simple syrup, creating a modest, satisfying drink that is perfect before dinner.
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B&B

The Spruce Eats

As many brandy recipes demonstrate, simpler is often better, and no cocktail proves this more than the B&B. It is equal parts of brandy and the herbal liqueur, Bénédictine, served in a snifter. The heavenly drink is sure to show off the finest brandies in style.
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Vieux Carre

The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

A New Orleans classic, the Vieux Carré is a fascinating cocktail with layers of flavor. Cognac and rye whiskey join forces with sweet vermouth, Bénédictine and Angostura, and Peychaud's bitters. Its complexity makes it a memorable cocktail.
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Brandy Alexander

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

The brandy Alexander is a creamy delight and possibly one of the oldest dessert cocktails. Requiring just three ingredients—brandy, crème de cacao, and cream—it mixes up quickly, and its taste is unbelievably satisfying for those with a sweet tooth.
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Sidecar

The Spruce Eats

The sidecar has undergone many makeovers over the years, and it's a cocktail you can easily adapt to your taste. The recipe uses your brandy of choice (often cognac or Armagnac), orange liqueur, and lemon juice. It's a fantastic brandy sour, especially if you tweak the drink's balance for each brandy you use.
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Between the Sheets

The Spruce Eats / Claire Cohen

Fans of the sidecar family of drinks will thoroughly enjoy this sour cocktail. Between the Sheets is nearly identical, with its mix of brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice, but it includes light rum for a fun twist. The best part might be that the three liquors are poured equally, making the recipe easy to remember.
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Embassy Cocktail

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Another interpretation of the sidecar, the Embassy cocktail also pairs brandy, rum, and orange liqueur. The twist in this recipe is the switch to lime juice and a dash of bitters. Mixing up these drinks side by side is enjoyable for a tasting session.
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Champagne Cocktail

The Spruce Eats

When brandy and Champagne combine, the outcome is pure elegance. The Champagne cocktail is a classic drink, perfect for special occasions. Additionally, the effervescent bubbles from the sugar cube create a captivating visual effect.
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Brandy Cobbler

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The classic cobbler cocktail is simple, requiring brandy (or whiskey), simple syrup, and club soda. Like a dessert cobbler, the fruit makes this drink unique. You can choose standard lemons and oranges, but this cocktail shines with any seasonal fruit you find, offering endless possibilities.
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Brandy Smash

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Originating from the early 1800s, the Brandy Smash has been pleasing drinkers for nearly 200 years, so you know it's good. This recipe is a bit like a mint julep, but it takes a slightly different approach in the steps and, naturally, chooses brandy over bourbon.
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Saratoga Cocktail

A classic, the Saratoga mixes both brandy and whiskey with sweet vermouth for a great alternative to the Manhattan.
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The Saratoga cocktail is where the metropolitan and Manhattan meet. The recipe pairs sweet vermouth and bitters with both brandy and whiskey (rye is recommended). The combination is both invigorating and soothing and could quickly become anyone's new favorite.
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Japanese Cocktail

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Appearing in the first printed bartending guide, the Japanese cocktail embodies all that makes these drinks timeless. Cognac, the brandy of choice, is enhanced with fresh lime juice and bitters. The secret ingredient to its charm is orgeat syrup.
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Brandy Milk Punch

Brandy Milk Punch.
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In the 1700s, milk punch was a popular beverage for gatherings. This 1862 recipe makes a single drink and is an excellent nightcap or cold-weather sipper. To make it, shake brandy, syrup, and milk. You can add an egg and vanilla extract if desired, then finish with a dusting of nutmeg.
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Brandy Eggnog

The Spruce Eats / Katarina Zunic

Eggnog is an iconic drink of the Christmas season. While countless variations exist today, brandy was one of the original spirits used to spike this festive punch. In a traditional eggnog recipe, brandy is mixed with eggs, milk, and common kitchen ingredients. Be sure to plan ahead and let it rest overnight for the best flavor.
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Tom & Jerry

The Spruce Eats

The Tom & Jerry has long been a holiday tradition. It's typically made with brandy, dark rum, and warm milk, combined with a special spiced egg batter that can be prepared ahead of time. Even if you dislike eggnog, you might enjoy this recipe.
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Mulled Wine

The Spruce Eats

If eggy holiday drinks aren't your thing, mulled wine might be perfect for you. Flavored with mulling spices, this warm brandy and red wine punch boasts a long history. Although brandy is a relatively modern addition, mulled wine has reportedly been warming drinkers on cold nights since Roman times.