10 Simple Brandy Cocktails That Taste Sublime

Brandy cocktails are delicious and satisfying. Drinks with brandy are varied and interesting because there are different types and flavors of brandy, which gives you plenty of options to make a unique brandy cocktail.

1. Brandy and Orange Juice Spritzer

Brandy and orange is a classic flavor combination, so this is a super easy cocktail to make.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1½ ounces brandy (any flavor works, but this is especially good with Armagnac or Cognac)
• 2 dashes Peychaud's bitters
• Ice
• 2 ounces soda water
• Orange wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the orange juice, brandy, and cocktail bitters.
2. Add the ice and shake to chill.
3. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
4. Add the club soda and stir.
5. Garnish with the orange wedge.

2. Grapefruit Armagnac Spritz

The classic French cocktail, French 75, is traditionally made with French Champagne, Cognac or gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. This is a riff on that cocktail featuring brandy and grapefruit juice. While you can use any brandy you like, this is especially delightful with Armagnac.

Ingredients

• ¾ ounce simple syrup
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
• 1½ ounces Armagnac
• Ice
• 2 ounces Champagne, chilled
• Grapefruit wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the simple syrup, grapefruit juice, and Armagnac.
2. Add ice and shake to chill.
3. Strain into a Champagne flute.
4. Top with the Champagne.
5. Garnish with the grapefruit wedge.

3. Raspberry Pisco Smash

Pisco is a delicious addition to cocktails, including this fruity, minty smash.

Ingredients

• 5 mint leaves
• 10 raspberries
• ¾ ounce simple syrup
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1½ ounces pisco
• Ice
• 4 ounces club soda
• Mint sprig and lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves, raspberries, and simple syrup.
2. Add the lime juice, pisco, and ice.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into a collins glass filled with ice.
5. Add the club soda. Stir.
6. Garnish with the mint sprig and lime.

4. Calvados Sidecar

Make this easy twist on a classic using Calvados in place of Cognac. It will add interesting and delicious apple flavors to a yummy classic cocktail.

Ingredients

• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¾ ounce Grand Marnier or another orange liqueur
• 1½ ounces Calvados or apple brandy
• Ice

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass.
2. In a cocktail shaker, combine the lemon juice, Grand Marnier, and Calvados.
3. Add the ice and shake to chill.
4. Strain into the chilled martini glass.

5. Brandy de Jerez Highball

Looking for a simple highball? Try this one, made with Brandy de Jerez. Feel free to substitute any other type of brandy as well.

Ingredients

• Ice
• 2 ounces Brandy de Jerez
• 4 ounces ginger ale
• 1 dash orange bitters

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add the brandy, ginger ale, and orange bitters. Stir.

6. Caffè Corretto

Looking for a rich, hot coffee cocktail? Try Caffè Corretto, a delicious hot cocktail made with grappa.

Ingredients

• 1 sugar cube
• 1½ ounces freshly brewed espresso
• 1½ ounces grappa

Instructions

1. In a small mug or espresso cup, muddle the sugar cube.
2. Add the espresso and grappa. Stir.
3. Serve hot.

7. Pear Brandy and Amaretto Sour

The delicate flavor of pear brandy combined with the nutty goodness of Amaretto makes a delicious sweet and sour cocktail in this twist on the amaretto sour.

Ingredients

• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¾ ounce amaretto liqueur
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• 1½ ounces pear brandy
• Ice
• Splash of club soda, lemon lime soda, or ginger ale
• Cherry for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the lemon juice, amaretto liqueur, simple syrup, and pear brandy.
2. Add the ice and shake to chill.
3. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
4. Top with the soda and stir.
5. Garnish with a cherry.

8. Brandied Cider

This is such a simple cocktail. Use any brandy type or flavor that pleases you and any hard cider flavor. You may just come up with a new winning combination.

Ingredients

• Ice
• 8 ounces hard cider
• 1½ ounces brandy

Instructions

1. Fill a pint glass with ice.
2. Add the cider and brandy. Stir.

9. Brandy Rebujito

The Rebujito is a Spanish wine punch made with Sherry and lemonade. This version adds the extra kick of brandy. It serves 8.

Ingredients

• 1 750 mL bottle dry Sherry
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 cups simple syrup
• 3 cups water
• ½ cup Brandy de Jerez
• Ice
• Lemons for garnish

Instructions

1. In a large pitcher, combine the Sherry, lemon juice, simple syrup, water, and brandy.
2. Add the ice and stir.
3. Pour into glasses and garnish with lemon slices.

10. Brandy Horchata

This simple and sweet cocktail is the perfect way to finish a meal.

Ingredients

• Ice
• 1½ ounces RumChata
• 1½ ounces brandy (any type or flavor)
• Freshly grated nutmeg for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a rocks glass with ice.
2. Add the RumChata and brandy. Stir.
3. Garnish with the nutmeg.

What Can Be Mixed With Brandy?

You can also make your own brandy based cocktails. Some good mixers for brandy include the following:

• Heavy cream, milk, or other dairy
• Coffee
• Coffee-flavored liqueur such as Kahlúa
• Ginger ale or ginger beer
• Tea
• Lemonade
• Orange juice
• Sweet and sour mix
• Club soda or soda water
• Cola
• Cream soda
• Lemon-lime soda
• Amaretto
• Cider or apple juice
• Orange liqueur
• Champagne, prosecco, or sparkling wine

Types of Brandy for Cocktails

Brandy is a hard liquor that is distilled from wine, and wine is is a beverage made from fermented fruit juice (usually grapes, but sometimes other fruits). Therefore, different brandies have different flavors depending on the fruit use and the style of brandy. Types of brandy used in the following cocktails include:

• Armagnac - French brandy made from grapes
• Brandy de Jerez - Spanish brandy made from grapes and aged in Sherry casks in a solera system
• Calvados - an apple brandy from France
• Cognac - French brandy made from grapes
• Pisco - Peruvian grape brandy
• Pomace brandy - intense brandy made from the pressed skin and seeds of grapes (grappa is the most well-known version)
• Fruit brandy - brandy made from various fruits other than grapes with flavors of those fruits present (such as apple, cherry, or pear brandy). For example, you can use apricot-flavored brandy to make tasty apricot cocktails.

Tasty Drinks With Brandy

Brandy is a versatile liquor you can use in many cocktails, or you can enjoy brandy straight. It adds warm, complex flavor to mixed drinks that makes them truly irresistible.