The brandy category keeps getting better and better, just as bartenders continue to devise new ways of mixing the spirit into cocktails. There’s never a bad time for brandy, but winter is an especially perfect time to incorporate it into your glass.
Banana Alexander
The Banana Alexander at Holeman and Finch in Atlanta is a fun tropical riff on the classic Brandy Alexander recipe.
Black Rider
Named after a Tom Waits album, a full-bodied brandy and a strong, smoky mezcal make this drink sing.
Brandy Alexander
A holiday classic via Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge.
Brandy Crusta
The Brandy Crusta was originally made with Cognac but can also be made with brandy, bourbon or rye whiskey.
Classic Brandy Milk Punch
The Brandy Milk Punch recipe has long been a holiday staple in Louisiana, thanks to the New Orleans restaurants run by the Brennan’s.
Dark as Night
Cognac, chinato and walnut liqueur combine into a smooth, luxurious cocktail.
Deauville Sidecar
Calvados amplifies the fruity side of aged brandy in this twist on the classic Sidecar cocktail.
Improved Japanese Cocktail
This riff on a 19th-century classic gets a boost with the addition of lemon juice and Peychaud’s bitters.
Lady Washington
A blend of citrus and elderflower contrasts the warming flavors of brandy and honey in this sparkling cocktail.
Loud Speaker
California brandy’s richness is countered by gin’s spark in this adaptation of a classic cocktail.
Ozymandias
A cousin to the Vieux Carré, this rich Ozymandias cocktail demonstrates brandy’s cozy relationship with rye whiskey.
Saint Cecilia’s Society Punch
Brandy, rum and black tea syrup create a wintry trio of flavors.
Sidra Ponche
Daniel Parker Guidry drew inspiration for this simple sidra cocktail from a 1920s recipe.
Tall Boxes
The muddled Old Fashioned is often maligned, but Jim Meehan’s brandy-based version, Tall Boxes, may change your mind.
The Newark
A riff on the Brooklyn cocktail from PDT.
Waldorf Gloom-Lifter
Raspberry and pomegranate bring an undercurrent of berries to a duo of aged spirits in the Waldorf Gloom-Lifter cocktail.
