Cognac cocktails are as luxurious as smoking a Cuban cigar while wearing an embroidered silk robe and reclining in a gold-riveted, winged leather chair. But that doesn’t mean they’re unapproachable. While the spirit’s price and highbrow status can be daunting, there are affordable bottles of cognac out there and using them in cocktails is a great way to get to know the richly flavored brandy. Here, 10 great Cognac cocktails that showcase the spirit’s incredible versatility to make at home or order at the bar.
John Lennon’s favorite cocktail, which he famously referred to as his “milkshake,” features Cognac (not any brandy as its name would imply) crème de cacao and heavy cream. Sweet, rich and indulgent, it is the pinnacle of dessert cocktails.
The Essentials
Cognac
dark crème de cacao
heavy cream
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Not Japanese in the slightest, this antiquated tipple is made with Cognac, orgeat—a spiced almond syrup—and Angostura bitters.
The Essentials
Cognac
orgeat
Angostura Bitters
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The least appreciated cocktail in the Corpse Reviver family, this pseudo-Manhattan is as boozy as it is regal. At the base there’s Cognac and Calvados (a refined, aged French apple brandy) with a touch of sweet vermouth for depth and bitterness.
The Essentials
Cognac
Calvados
Sweet Vermouth
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Deceptively strong, this nod to the classic ‘70s film is a nutty, Cognac-forward digestif perfect for film buffs and sweet tooths alike.
The Essentials
cognac
amaretto
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This variation on the Brandy Crusta features Cognac at the base with fresh lemon juice and Cointreau. It’s the perfect sour for any Francophile.
The Essentials
Cognac
Cointreau
Lemon Juice
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Created in 1732 at one of America’s first gentlemen’s clubs, this punch includes enough booze to kill a horse (or at least lull him into a happy stupor). This bucket-sized party starter features not one, not two, but three spirits at its base, including a hefty pour of Cognac.
The Essentials
dark rum
Cognac
peach brandy
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A heady mixture of Yuengling Lager, white wine and Cognac, this effervescent tipple is a modern interpretation of a classic beer-based punch from Jerry Thomas’s infamous tome.
The Essentials
Lager
Cinnamon-Orange Syrup
Cognac or Brandy
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Created in 1938 at the Monteleone Hotel in New Orleans, this Southern gem is, in our humble opinion, one of the most underrated Cognac cocktails ever. Rich, layered and complex, it mixes Cognac with spicy rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, herbal Bénédictine and both Angostura and Peychaud's aromatic bitters.
The Essentials
Rye
Cognac
Sweet Vermouth
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Inspired by the David Wondrich book Punch, this whiskey- and Cognac-based punch is dangerously delicious. Made with three full bottles of booze, this party-sized sipper gets a rich, bitter edge from an Italian amaro and cold-brewed black iced tea.
The Essentials
Rye Whiskey
Montenegro Amaro
Black Tea, Iced
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From Brian Means of San Francisco’s Dirty Habit, this frothy Cognac cocktail is shaken with egg whites, herbaceous Jägermeister and toasted sesame-infused coconut creme for a dessert cocktail that is as unique as it is delectable.
The Essentials
Cognac
Jägermeister
Coconut Cream
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