Brandy Cocktails
51 drinks with this bottle, from the easy ones up.
What goes with Brandy?
Ginger ale is the easy start, because its spice matches brandy's warm fruit, and that's the Horse's Neck. Lemon and orange liqueur turn it into a Sidecar, and cream and crème de cacao make a Brandy Alexander. In Wisconsin they muddle orange, cherry and bitters, add brandy and top it with 7-Up.
What does it taste like?
Warm dried fruit, vanilla and oak, like fruitcake with a kick. Young bottles are sweeter and sharper, and older ones are smoother and woodier.
Which bottle should I buy?
Korbel, E&J and Christian Brothers are the usual everyday mixing bottles. Cognac is the famous fancy version, and Spanish brandy de Jerez is the richer pick.
Goes well with
A spirit distilled from wine or other fermented fruit, usually grapes, and often aged in oak. It's made all over the world, and most bottles are around 40% ABV. Cognac is a straight upgrade, and bourbon or aged rum works when you want a similar warm, oaky base.
Questions
What do you mix brandy with?
Ginger ale is the easiest, and cola works too. For cocktails, go for lemon juice and orange liqueur, or cream and crème de cacao.
Is brandy the same as cognac?
All cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac. Cognac has to come from the Cognac region of France and follow strict rules, while brandy can be made anywhere.
Is brandy made from grapes?
Usually, yes. Plain brandy means grapes, and other fruit brandies are named after the fruit, like apple brandy. Watch out for cherry and apricot brandy, which are usually sweet liqueurs rather than true brandy.
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