Best Cognac Cocktails: 8 Classic Recipes for the Holiday Season

Which Cognac Should You Use in Cocktails?

Choose a V.S or V.S.O.P. These younger grades are blended with mixing in mind: they are bright, fruity and lively enough to stand up to citrus, vermouth and liqueurs. An X.O is aged at least ten years and is better enjoyed on its own, where you can taste its depth. If you are new to the grades, our guide to V.S vs V.S.O.P vs X.O explains the difference, and our cognac vs brandy guide covers how cognac differs from other brandies.

• For citrus-led drinks (Sidecar, French 75): Courvoisier V.S (from $34.99) or Hennessy V.S (from $39.99).
• For spirit-forward drinks (Old Fashioned, Vieux Carré): Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilege (from $59.99), Remy Martin V.S.O.P (from $54.99) or Martell V.S.O.P Aged in Red Barrels (from $59.99).

The 8 Best Cognac Cocktails

Measurements are in ounces, for one drink. Shake or stir with plenty of good ice.

1. Sidecar

Ingredients: 2 oz cognac, ¾ oz orange liqueur, ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
Method: Shake with ice, then strain into a chilled coupe. Add a sugar rim and an orange twist if you like.

The Sidecar is the benchmark cognac cocktail, believed to date from around the end of the First World War. A Hennessy Sidecar works best with a V.S.O.P such as Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilege, which adds a little extra spice and depth.

2. Vieux Carré

Ingredients: ¾ oz cognac, ¾ oz rye whiskey, ¾ oz sweet vermouth, 1 bar spoon Benedictine, 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters, 2 dashes Angostura bitters
Method: Stir with ice for 20 to 30 seconds, then strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon peel.

A New Orleans classic from the 1930s that blends cognac with rye. For the rye, try Rittenhouse Rye BiB.

3. Brandy Alexander

Ingredients: 1 oz cognac, 1 oz dark crème de cacao, 1 oz heavy cream
Method: Shake hard with ice and strain into a chilled coupe. Finish with freshly grated nutmeg.

Rich, creamy and ideal as a dessert drink. A V.S.O.P cognac gives it more structure than a V.S.

4. French 75 (cognac version)

Ingredients: 1 oz cognac, ½ oz lemon juice, ½ oz simple syrup, about 3 oz Champagne or dry sparkling wine
Method: Shake the first three ingredients with ice, strain into a flute and top with sparkling wine.

The French 75 is made with either gin or cognac. The cognac version is softer and rounder, and it is a natural choice for New Year’s Eve.

5. Cognac Old Fashioned

Ingredients: 2 oz V.S.O.P cognac, 1 sugar cube or ¼ oz simple syrup, 2 dashes Angostura bitters, orange peel
Method: Stir the sugar and bitters with a splash of water, add the cognac and ice, and stir until cold. Express an orange peel over the top.

If you already enjoy the whiskey version, see our guide to the best whiskey for an Old Fashioned and try cognac as a change.

6. Stinger

Ingredients: 2 oz cognac, ¾ oz white crème de menthe
Method: Stir with ice and strain into a chilled glass, or serve over crushed ice.

A short, cool, after-dinner drink that pairs cognac with mint. It is a good palate cleanser after a heavy holiday meal.

7. Cognac Hot Toddy

Ingredients: 1½ oz cognac, 1 tablespoon honey, ½ oz lemon juice, 4 oz hot water
Method: Stir the honey and lemon into the hot water, add the cognac, and garnish with a lemon wheel and a cinnamon stick.

The warmest drink on the list, and the easiest to make for a crowd.

8. Cognac Highball

Ingredients: 1½ oz cognac, 4 oz ginger beer or ginger ale, a squeeze of lime
Method: Build over ice in a tall glass and stir once.

The simplest way to enjoy cognac at a party. Iced tea is another popular mixer, and a V.S works well here.

How to Batch Cognac Cocktails for a Holiday Party

Cocktails taste best when mixed to order, but you can prepare most of the work in advance.

• Do the maths first. A 750 ml bottle holds about 25 ounces, which is enough for roughly 12 drinks at 2 ounces of cognac each.
• Pre-mix the base. For shaken drinks like the Sidecar, combine the cognac, liqueur and fresh juice in a jug, scaled to your guest count, and keep it in the fridge. Shake each serving with ice.
• Stirred drinks batch best. A Vieux Carré or Old Fashioned can be mixed in a bottle with a little water added for dilution, then poured over ice.
• Pick three drinks, not eight. A citrus drink, a spirit-forward drink and a warm or dessert drink cover every taste.

Glassware and Garnish

Which Cognac Cocktail Is Right for You?

• You like something bright and tart: the Sidecar or French 75.
• You like spirit-forward, stirred drinks: the Vieux Carré or Cognac Old Fashioned.
• You want a dessert drink: the Brandy Alexander or Stinger.
• It is cold outside: the Cognac Hot Toddy.
• You are serving a crowd: the Cognac Highball, because it takes seconds to build.

Tips for Better Cognac Cocktails

• Use fresh citrus. Bottled juice flattens a Sidecar or French 75.
• Chill the glass. Ten minutes in the freezer makes a noticeable difference.
• Use good ice. Large, clear cubes melt slowly and keep drinks from getting watery.
• Balance sweetness. Taste after mixing and adjust the sugar or liqueur by a quarter ounce at a time.
• Batch for parties. Multiply the recipe and mix the base ahead of time, then shake or stir to order.

Please drink responsibly. You must be 21 or older to purchase from Caskworth.

Pairing Cognac Cocktails With Holiday Food

• Sidecar and French 75: bright and citrusy, so they suit canapés, smoked salmon, oysters and soft cheeses.
• Vieux Carré and Old Fashioned: stronger and richer, and a good match for roast meats, aged cheddar and nuts.
• Brandy Alexander and Stinger: served after the meal, with dark chocolate, pecan pie or fruit cake.
• Hot Toddy: best with spiced biscuits or on its own as a nightcap.

When to Sip Cognac Instead

If you prefer to taste cognac without mixers, save the cocktails for V.S and V.S.O.P and choose an X.O for a neat pour, such as Delamain Pale & Dry X.O (from $149.99), Courvoisier X.O (from $179.99) or Hennessy X.O (from $199.99). Serve it at room temperature in a tulip glass, and add a drop of water if you want to open it up. For gift ideas, our guide to the best whiskey gift sets and our executive gift guide include cognac picks.

Swapping Cognac Into Whiskey Cocktails

If you already make cocktails with whiskey, cognac is an easy swap that shows how different the spirits taste. Replace bourbon with a V.S.O.P cognac in an Old Fashioned, or try half cognac and half rye in a Manhattan for a drink that sits between the two worlds, much like the Vieux Carré. Cognac is lighter and fruitier than bourbon, so use a little less sugar than the whiskey version. For help choosing the whiskey side, see our guides to bourbon vs rye vs Scotch and cognac vs brandy.

Where to Go Next

If you enjoy cognac cocktails, you may also like exploring individual houses. Our guides to Hennessy, Courvoisier, Rémy Martin and Martell cover the full range, and our best cognac to buy in 2026 ranks the options.