Friday, January 22, 2016

10 Classic Brandy Cocktails to Try

Updated May 06, 2015.
Brandy can be found in a number of classic cocktails, many of which have been lost to time and the pages of dusty bartending guides. However, a few of these have lasted through the years and remain favorites for many cocktail lovers and I have chosen ten of those to feature below. These drinks are a nice introduction to mixing with brandy and are often simple recipes that allow the spirit to shine, using the other ingredients to merely accent the taste of a good brandy.
Brandy Cocktail - Photo Courtesy: © Shannon Graham
Brandy Cocktail. Photo Courtesy: © Shannon Graham

1.  Brandy Cocktail

We will begin the list with none other than the Brandy Cocktail, which fits the definition of a cocktail perfectly. It mixes brandy with curacao, then finishes it offwith 2 dashes of both Angostura and Peychaud's Bitters.
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Brandy Daisy Cocktail - Photo Courtesy: © Shannon Graham
Brandy Daisy. Photo Courtesy: © Shannon Graham

2.  Brandy Daisy

The Brandy Daisy is very similar to the Brandy Cocktail and it represents a style of cocktail as well. The brandy version is one of the better 'daisy cocktails' and uses a mere dashes of rum, curacao, andsimple syrup with lemon and soda to bring everything together.
Metropolitan Cocktail - Photo Courtesy: © Shannon Graham
Metropolitan Cocktail. Photo Courtesy: © Shannon Graham

3.  Metropolitan

Just as gin has the Martini and whiskey has the Manhattan, brandy has the Metropolitan. This classic recipe mixes brandy with sweet vermouth and simple syrup for a simple, satisfying drink that is great before dinner.
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B&B Cocktail - Steve Allen / Stockbyte / Getty Images
B&B. Steve Allen / Stockbyte / Getty Images

4.  B&B

As many of these recipes show, simpler is often better and no cocktail proves this more than the B&B. You really do not need a recipe, either: it is equal parts of brandy and the herbal liqueur, Benedictine, served in a snifter. It is, as one reader puts it, a 'heavenly drink.'
Sidecar Cocktail - Eising / Photodisc / Getty Images
Sidecar. Eising / Photodisc / Getty Images

5.  Sidecar

The Sidecar is one of those drinks that has seen many makeovers over the years and it is one of those drinks that you can easily adapt to your personal taste. The recipe uses a brandy of choice (often Cognac or Armagnac), orange liqueur, and lemon juice.
Vieux Carre Cocktail - Last Resort / Photodisc / Getty Images
Vieux Carre. Last Resort / Photodisc / Getty Images

6.  Vieux Carre

New Orleans classic, the Vieux Carre is an interesting cocktail with layers of memorable flavors. Cognac is combines with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, and (again) both Angostura and Peychaud's Bitters. It is a culmination of the best ingredients to pair with a good brandy.
Champagne Cocktail - Omer Knaz / Photographer's Choice / Getty Images
Champagne Cocktail. Omer Knaz / Photographer's Choice / Getty Images

7.  Champagne Cocktail

When brandy and Champagne meet inside of a glass the result is pure elegance. Not only is this a timeless drink that will forever be used for celebrations, but the fountain of bubbles from the sugar cube makes for a stunning visual effect.
Classic Club Cocktail - Michael Blann / Stone / Getty Images
Club Cocktail. Michael Blann / Stone / Getty Images

8.  Club Cocktail

This is a brandy cocktail with a snappy side. The brandy and maraschino are sweet and sultry which contrasts nicely with the pineapple and Peychaud's Bitters and is a nice change from the often darker uses of the spirit.
Corpse Reviver #1 Cocktail - Photo Courtesy: © Shannon Graham
Corpse Reviver #1. Photo Courtesy: © Shannon Graham

9.  Corpse Reviver

This Corpse Reviver recipe is just one of the many drinks to have taken the name since the first notation in 1871 and it also has a gin counterpart. This is the most common classic recipe and uses both brandy and apple brandy along with sweet vermouth. It is a delightful drink with a delicate twist on the Metropolitan.
Classic Tom and Jerry Holiday Cocktail - James And James / Stockbyte / Getty Images
Tom and Jerry. James And James / Stockbyte / Getty Images

10.  Tom & Jerry

Though I have attempted to keep this list universal to the seasons, I cannot skip one of the best brandy drinks of all time, the Tom & Jerry. It is a traditional drink served around Christmas and is typically made of Cognac, dark rum, egg, simple syrup, and warm milk. If you have an aversion to this style of drink in general, I strongly suggest giving this one a try because it just may change your mind.

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