Anybody who enjoys a cognac or two is missing out if they haven’t tried it mixed up and muddled with other stylish flavours. Cognac cocktails offer an elegant, sweet flavour and the natural fruitiness of cognac means it adds a new dimension to many classic cocktails and may impress you even if you aren’t a fan of the drink on its own. Below are five cognac cocktail recipes which won’t disappoint.
Cognac Sour
A true classic bringing together the sweetness of VSOP cognac with a sharper, sourer flavour. Combine your 40-50ml of VSOP cognac with 15ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 15ml of sweet cane sugar syrup (or other neutral sugar syrup) and 5-6 ice cubes. Shake up in your cocktail shakes and strange into a rocks glass with an ice cube or two to serve, and even a little lemon zest if you fancy it.
Sazerac
Another classic which is filled with tempting flavour notes and a truly original taste. Prepare by adding 1 teaspoon of Pernod to the inside of a glass, just coating it, and then shake up 50ml of your chosen cognac with 3-4 dashes of Peychaud bitters in your cocktail shaker with ice, before straining into your prepared glass. Add a twist of lemon peel to the top.
Cognac Summit
A modern cocktail which is said to date back to just 2008 and has a lighter, zestier flavour than some of the classic offerings. Begin by adding lime zest and 3-4 thin slices of ginger to a tumbler then pour in 20-25ml of VSOP cognac. Using a muddler press the lime and ginger to release their flavour and then add ice and stir it all up. Once stirred add a further 20-25ml of VOP cognac and then top with up to 60ml of traditional cloudy lemonade and cucumber peel to garnish.
Stinger
Another old-style classic the Stinger is menthol fresh and sweet. Combine together 20ml of VS Cognac with 10ml of white crème de menthe and then add in ice before stirring up and garnishing with a simple sprig of mint. The fruity and minty notes work wonderful together.
Sidecar
Possibly the best known cognac cocktail there is and one that hasn’t lost its popularity despite being nearly 100 years old, the Sidecar is fresh, sweet and sour all at the same time. Begin by adding ice cubes to your cocktail shaker, add in 20ml of VSOP cognac and then add 10ml of Triple Sec and 10ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Shake it all up and strain into a glass using a strainer, pop an ice cube or two into your glass and garnish with orange peel.
Check out the full range of Cognac in The Drinks Cabinet, just don’t end up like the woman in this story from the South China Morning Post: “Chinese woman chugs US$200 bottle of cognac at baggage check after security officers refuse to let her take it on plane.”. Inevitably, she got too drunk to fly.
