Brandy’s Defining Features
Brandy’s Flavor Profile
- A sweet, slightly alcoholic burn
- Vanilla, butterscotch, apple, orange, even floral qualities and spices
Label Designations:
V.S.
V.S.O.P
X.O
- Very Special: aged for 4.5 years (3 star)
- Very superior old pale: minimum of 4.5-6 years aged (5 star)
- Extra old: minimum of 6 years up to 20 (reserve or luxury–can include Napoleon)
Label Designation:
Napoleon
Hors D’Age
Champagne Cognac
- Minimum of 6 years old, high quality, a style Napoleon was said to have prized
- Beyond age
- Cognac made from grapes specifically from the zones of Petite Champagne and Grand Champagne
Fedora
Sweet and Fruity
1 Tbsp confectioners sugar 1 tsp of water 1 oz Cognac-style brandy 1/2 oz amber rum 1/2 oz rye whiskey 1 oz orange liqueur Garnish: Lemon wheel
- Combine sugar and water, add spirits and liqueur, add ice, shake
- Strain into rocks glass filled with crushed ice
Japanese Cocktail
Sweet and Fruity
2 oz Cognac-style brandy
2 dashes of aromatic bitters
1/2 Orgeat Syrup
Garnish: Lemon twist
- Add ingredients, fill with ice, stir
- Strain into martini glass, rim and spritz with essential oil of lemon twist
Lawn Tennis Cooler
Sweet and Fruity
2 tsp sugar 1.5 oz lemon juice 1.5 oz Cognac-style brandy 1 egg Ginger beer Garnish: Cinnamon or nutmeg
- Combine the sugar and lemon juice
- Add brandy and egg and whip ingredients
- Fill with ice and shake again to chill
- Strain into collins glass w/cubed or spear ice. Top with ginger beer and gently stir.
- Dust with grated cinnamon or nutmeg
Stinger
Sweet and Fruity
- 5 oz Cognac-style brandy
- 5 oz Crème de Menthe Liqueur
- Combine brandy and Crème, fill with ice, shake.
- Strain into martini glass
Brandy Milk Punch
Sweet and Fruity
1.5 oz Brandy 1 oz Simple 2 oz Half-and-Half Dash of Pure vanilla extract (opt) Garnish: Nutmeg
- Combine all ingredients, fill with ice, and shake
- Strain into rocks glass w/cube ice and dust with nutmeg
Snowball
Sweet and Fruity
1 oz Advocaat
3 oz lemonade
Garnish: Lime wedge
- Combine and stir, garnish with lime wedge
Between the Sheets
Tangy & Citrusy
3/4 oz Cognac-style brandy
3/4 oz Dry gin
3/4 oz orange Liqueur
3/4 oz lemon juice
- Combine all ingredients, fill with ice, and shake
- Strain into martini glass
Brandy Daisy
Tangy & Citrusy
1.5 oz Cognac-style brandy 3/4 oz Lemon juice 3/4 oz Orange liqueur 1/4 tsp Grenadine Club soda
- Combine brandy, juice, liqueur, and grenadine, fill with ice, and shake
- Fill rocks glass 1/3 full of ice, strain drink into glass and top with club soda
Embassy
Tangy & Citrusy
1 oz Cognac-Style brandy 1 oz Amber Rum 1 oz Orange liqueur 1/2 oz Lime juice 1 tsp Simple Syrup
- Combine all ingredients, fill with ice, and shake
- Strain into a martini glass
Horse’s Neck
Tangy & Citrusy
1 lemon
2 oz Cognac-style brandy
3 dashes aromatic bitters
Ginger beer
- Peel lemon in single long strip (removing as little of the pith as possible) and place in collins glass
- Add ice, brandy, and bitters
- Top with ginger beer
Knickerbocker Club
Tangy & Citrusy
1.5 oz Cognac-style brandy 3/4 oz Lemon juice 1 tsp Raw sugar simple syrup 2 dashes aromatic bitters Club soda
- Place 3-4 ice cubes in a collins glass.
- Add brandy, juice, simple, and bitters
- Top with club soda and stir gently
Sidecar
Tangy & Citrusy
Superfine sugar Lemon wedge 2 oz Cognac-style brandy 1 oz Orange liqueur 3/4 oz Lemon Juice Garnish Lemon Wheel
- Use lemon and sugar to apply a sugar rim to martini glass
- Combine brandy, liqueur, and juice
- Strain into prepared glass and garnish with a lemon wheel
Soother
Tangy & Citrusy
1 oz Cognac-style brandy 1 oz Amber Rum 1/2 oz orange liqueur 1 tsp Apple Juice 1/2 oz Lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon Simple syrup
- Combine all ingredients
- Fill with ice and shake
- Strain into a martini glass
Brandy Punch
Strong
2 oz Cognac-style brandy 1/4 tsp amber rum 1/2 tsp lemon juice 1/4 tsp Raspberry Syrup/Grenadine 2 dashes aromatic bitters 1/2 oz Simple Syrup Garnish: Skewered seasonal fresh fruit
- Combine all ingredients
Happy Accident
Strong
1 oz Cognac-stye brandy 1 oz Dry vermouth 1 oz Dry gin 1/4 tsp Orange liqueur 1/4 tsp Grenadine Garnish: Lemon twist & brandied cherries
- Combine all liquid ingredients, fill with ice, and shake
- Strain into a martini glass and garnish with twist and cherries
Metropolitan
Strong
2 oz Cognac-style brandy 1 oz Sweet Vermouth 1/2 tsp Orange liqueur Dash aromatice bitters Garnish: Lemon twist & brandied cherries
- Combine all liquid ingredients, fill with ice, and shake
- Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with twist and cherries
Saratoga
Strong
1 oz Cognac-style brandy 1 oz Rye whiskey 1 oz Sweet Vermouth 2 dashes aromatic bitters Garnish: 1/2 Lemon wheel
- Combine all liquid ingredients, fill with ice, and stir
- Strain into chilled martini glass and garnish with wheel.
French 125
1.5 oz Cognac-style brandy
3/4 oz Lemon juice
2 tsp Simple syrup
Champagne/sparkling wine
- Combine brandy, juice, and syrup, fill with ice, and shake
- Strain into a flute and top with chilled Champagne
