The Best Cocktails to Make with Cognac

Cognac’s versatility is underappreciated, and we think it makes one of the best cocktail stars out there. It adds incredible depth of flavour and a welcome splash of oomph to your mixes, a belief that was only cemented by the unforgettable cocktails made and enjoyed in The Three Drinkers in Cognac

The Cognac cocktails might not be as famous as some of the other spirits, but we’re trying to change that so let’s start with some delicious cocktails made in the show!

French Twist

Towards the end of Episode One, Beckie Sullivan shows us how to pull together this wonderful French Twist cocktail, with richness yet lightness, and sweetness yet tang – all in perfect harmony. Aidy, Helena and Eddy compete to make the best garnish, so you can design your own here or just steal one of theirs... maybe just pick the winning one though...

Ingredients
50ml Cognac (we used Courvoisier VSOP)
30ml Dry Curaçao
40ml Sparkling Water (we love Fever-Tree)
10ml fresh lemon juice
20ml simple syrup
Garnish (creative one yourselves!)

Method
Give everything except the sparkling water a good long shake with ice until chilled, then double strain over ice and top up with your soda!

Sidecar

One of the most famous ways to let Cognac shine through is the Sidecar, and that’s exactly what Aidy makes in Episode Three. There’s tangy lemon and sweeter orange but the star of the show is that delicious Cognac.

Ingredients
30ml Cognac (we used Rémy Martin 1738)
20ml orange liqueur (like triple sec)
10ml fresh lemon

Method
Shake with plenty of ice, strain and pour. To make the cocktail into more of an experience, rub lemon over the glass so that you smell it before you taste it!

Sidecarmalade

Aidy and Maxime didn’t leave it there though! Gloriously simple, the great thing about the Sidecar is how adaptable it is... enter the Sidecarmalade! Using two local additions really gives the cocktail a new lease of life. Verjus (green juice) is basically unfermented grape juice, but with a feel much more like lemons and limes. The tartness is balanced out by delicious sweet marmalade for a cocktail that combines sweet and tangy citrus perfectly.

Ingredients
30ml Cognac (we used Rémy Martin 1738)
20ml orange liqueur (like triple sec)
10ml verjus
Dollop of marmalade

Method
Brush some marmalade around the inside of the glass for a gorgeous glistening effect. Shake everything with plenty of ice so the marmalade is mixed throughout, then strain and pour!

The Gala Highball

Highballs are one of the best ways to show off a quality spirit because all you have to do is add a mixer and plenty of ice. Ginger ale works wonderfully well, but our choice in Episode One of The Three Drinkers in Cognac was Sicilian Lemonade for more zip and refreshment.

Ingredients
30ml Cognac (we used Courvoisier VSOP)
80ml Sicilian Lemonade
Plenty of ice

Method
Highballs are simple so let’s keep it that way – pour everything over ice and give it a little stir.

French 75

When we say French 75, you’ll probably think of gin, but Cognac was traditionally used more, and it works so well. The Champagne adds great lightness and elegance to this bittersweet blend that is fruity, rich, and refreshing. Nom! Of course, Cava or Crémant work just as well!

Ingredients
30ml Cognac
10ml fresh lemon
10ml syrup
Champagne to top up
Lemon twist (garnish)

Method
Shake everything except your Champagne with ice and strain into your flute. Pour that gorgeous fizz over the top and just ease it into its new surroundings with a gentle non-bubble-breaking stir. Top off with lemon!

The Harvard

A twist on the Manhattan, The Harvard isn’t the most well-known of cocktails, but it is one of the oldest, first appearing in Kappeler’s 19th-century cocktail book. If you like cocktails that pack a punch, look no further. Hearty fruits from the vermouth and Cognac are balanced out by some bright citrus, dashes of bitters and a little sweetness. Delicious.

Ingredients
30ml Cognac
30ml Italian sweet vermouth
10ml syrup
3 dashes Angostura bitters
Orange twist (garnish)

Method
Mix everything with ice and once it’s fully stirred and chilled, strain and garnish! Voila!

There are plenty of other amazing cocktails in the show using other fantastic ingredients from the Cognac region too so if you want even more ideas, or just to see exactly how some of the above cocktails are made, get watching!

The Best Sidecar Variations

As is the way with many of the most loved cocktails we enjoy, the origins of the Sidecar are not exactly clear. Named after the motorcycle attachment that was at the peak of its popularity then, it was invented sometime around the first world war, either in London or Paris. Harry’s Bar in Paris claims a soldier arriving in a sidecar invented it there, the Ritz in Paris insists on something similar and on British soil, Pat MacGarry of Buck’s Club in London is often cited as the creator. Who knows?!

What we do know is, it’s a simple mix of cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice that has become a bartender’s essential. This simplicity however also lends itself to some cracking twists, so see which of these Sidecar variations takes your fancy!

The Original – for the Cognac lovers

As the most famous cognac cocktail, you can see Aidy and Helena explore the original Sidecar in the third episode The Three Drinkers in Cognac. Historically, the ‘French school’ of bartending teaches equal parts, whilst the ‘English school’ advises two parts Cognac to one parts Cointreau and lemon. This is all about personal taste and we like plenty of Cognac with a touch less lemon so the former can be the rightful star of the show, but experiment!

Ingredients
30ml cognac (we used Rémy Martin 1738)
20ml orange liqueur (like cointreau)
10ml fresh lemon

Method
Shake with plenty of ice, strain and pour.

Top Tip: To make the cocktail into more of an experience, rub lemon over the glass so that you smell it before you taste it!

Sidecarmalade – for the marmalade lovers

Thought up by Aidy and Maxime during the same episode mentioned above, this is a twist inspired by local ingredients, but one that you can easily do at home too! Verjus means green juice and is essentially unfermented grape juice but with flavours reminiscent of lemon and lime. This is a little tart so delicious, sweet marmalade is added for a gorgeous balance of sweet and tangy citrus.

Ingredients
30ml cognac (we used Rémy Martin 1738)
20ml orange liqueur (like cointreau)
10ml verjus
Dollop of marmalade

Method
Brush some marmalade around the inside of the glass so it’s glistening and shake everything with plenty of ice so the marmalade is mixed evenly throughout, then simply strain and pour! 

Amaretto Sidecar – for the Amaretto lovers

If you’re a fan of sweeter cocktails then step this way because instead of cognac, we’re using Amaretto here. There’s still a generous splash of lemon juice to offset this, but the nuttiness and indulgence of the wonderful Italian liqueur with the intense orange and vibrant lemon is so flavoursome. Use plenty of ice though!

Ingredients
60ml amaretto
20ml orange liqueur
20ml fresh lemon juice
Optional garnish: orange slice

Method
Shake with plenty of ice, strain and serve. Simple and ready to enjoy.

Bourbon Sidecar – for the Bourbon lovers

Bringing those classic whiskey notes of oak, warm spice, and vanilla, this is a much less fruity and floral number than the original. It’s a deeper, more brooding twist but with the help of a little syrup, the overall feel actually isn’t miles away from the cognac version so it’s definitely worth a try.

Ingredients
50ml Bourbon
25ml Cointreau
12.5ml fresh lemon juice
1tsp simple syrup
caster sugar
orange twist for garnish

Method
Roll the rim of the glass in a little lemon juice so caster sugar sticks to it. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice until ice cold. Strain into a glass and garnish with the orange twist - delicious!

Boston Sidecar – for the rum lovers

If you’re not familiar with the Boston Sidecar, then it’s kind of a Daiquri-Sidecar hybrid. Also, Between the Sheets is basically the same drink but with lemon instead of lime so if you’ve ordered one of those and enjoyed it then give this a go. The tropical notes of the rum plays off the rich and fruity cognac nicely, with the lime and triple sec providing vibrance and needed bitterness.

Ingredients
20 ml light rum
20ml brandy
20ml triple sec
15ml lime juice

Method
Sidecars are so simple – just shake everything with ice and strain into a cocktail glass! Garnish with orange or lime if you wish!

Tahona Sidecar – for the tequila lovers

Only the lemon juice remains from the original here, with tequila the show stealer. Refreshingly tart with a little sweetness, this is a bold cocktail buzzing with bright citrus that balances out perfectly.  

Ingredients
45ml tequila (a good reposado works well)
30ml dry/orange curacao
15ml fresh lemon juice
Orange twist (garnish)

Method
Combine everything in a mixing glass and get shaking with ice. Strain into a pre-chilled glass and away you go!

We love our mixology at The Three Drinkers, so see our best riffs on the Old Fashioned here!