Cognac is a type of brandy primarily consumed as a sipping whiskey. It has an alcohol content that ranges from 40% to 60% ABV (alcohol by volume), with 40% being the official minimum requirement. It differs from other brandies in four distinct ways:
- Cognac is made only from white grapes.
- Cognac is made only from white grapes originating in the Cognac region of France.
- Cognac must be produced by a double distillation process.
- Cognac is produced only in small batches.
While most cognac is served neat, it also tastes superb when mixed. Read on for a list of the 16 best mixers for cognac.
1. Apple Juice
Apple juice makes an excellent mixer for many kinds of alcohol, and the same is true for cognac. A slightly tart but sweet apple juice balances the taste of cognac and rounds out its rough edges while adding a zesty apple flavor.
To make a quick and easy mixed drink from apple juice and cognac, simply combine 2 ounces of cognac with 3 ounces of apple juice in a rocks glass over ice. Or, for a somewhat fancier drink, mix 2 ounces of cognac with 3 ounces of apple juice in a highball glass over ice, and fill the glass with soda water. Add a lemon wedge to garnish for a Cognac Highball that is sure to please.
2. Aromatic Bitters
Hold onto your seat when you try the Sazerac, the first famous cognac cocktail, which originated in my old stomping grounds better known as The Big Easy, New Orleans, Louisiana. Its distinctive taste comes from a specific type of aromatic bitter known as Peychoud’s Bitters.
Although the drink may sound complicated to mix, it is simple and similar to an Old Fashioned. To create the Sazerac, follow the simple steps below:
The Sazerac
Gather the following ingredients:
- 1 shot (1.5 ounces) Cognac
- ¼ ounce Absinthe
- 1 Sugar Cube
- 3 dashes Peychoud’s Bitters
Follow these directions:
- Pour the absinthe into a chilled rocks glass, swirl to rinse, discard the excess, and set the glass aside until needed.
- Add the sugar cube and Peychoud’s Bitters to a mixing glass and crush to combine.
- Pour the shot of cognac into the sugar and bitters mix, add ice, and stir.
- Strain the mixture into the prepared rocks glass, garnish with a lemon peel twist, and serve immediately.
3. Club Soda
Club soda added to any alcohol makes a refreshing cocktail that smooths the alcohol bite. But, take that two-ingredient drink and add simple syrup and any fresh fruit in season, and you get a delicious treat called a Cobbler.
To create a Cognac Cobbler, follow these directions:
- Combine 2 ounces of cognac with 1 ounce of simple syrup over crushed ice in a wine or old-fashioned glass.
- Add 2 ounces of club soda and stir.
- Top with a few pieces of fresh fruit. (Fruit can be skewered or piled on top of the ice.)
- Serve with a straw, and enjoy.
4. Coca-Cola
Cognac mixes well with most types of soda for an easy-to-mix two-ingredient cocktail. The critical thing to remember is the correct ratio for the right soda.
Coca-cola is one of the most-requested mixers for almost any kind of alcohol. To make cognac and coke with a balanced flavor that takes the edge off the alcohol bite while adding a sparkling zing, mix one part cognac with two parts Coca-Cola for the perfect combination that is sure to please.
5. Coffee
Cognac and hot coffee is the perfect drink for that cold winter evening. This combination will warm you up from the inside out.
In a warmed mug, mix 6 ounces of your favorite brewed coffee with one shot (1.5 ounces) of cognac. Add one to three teaspoons of powdered sugar, depending on your taste, and enjoy. This could start a new tradition.
6. Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is another fruit juice that mixes well with most types of alcohol. Its tang and refreshing taste blend perfectly with cognac. For those Cosmopolitan lovers who love a tart drink, try a Cognac Cosmopolitan.
To make the perfect tart Cognac Cosmopolitan, just follow this simple recipe:
Cognac Cosmopolitan
- 1⅔ ounces Cognac
- ⅔ ounce Cranberry Juice
- ½ ounce Cointreau Liqueur
- ½ ounce fresh Lemon Juice
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice.
- Shake well.
- Strain into a martini glass.
- Garnish with a lemon or lime slice and serve.
7. Cream
To make a splendid dessert cocktail with cognac, try making a Brandy Alexander with your favorite cognac brand. This drink is smooth and creamy, chocolatey, and sweet. Here is a simple recipe that is easy to make and will be a crowd-pleaser at your next gathering.
Brandy Alexander
Ingredients:
- 1.5 ounces Cognac
- 1 ounce of Dark Creme de Cocoa
- 1 ounce of Cream
- Dash of fresh grated Nutmeg
Directions:
- Combine cognac, creme de cocoa, and cream in a cocktail shaker over ice.
- Shake to mix and chill.
- Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass.
- Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and serve.
8. Creme de Menthe
If you are looking for the perfect after-dinner drink, look no further than the Stinger. The Stinger has been around since the Prohibition era and combines cognac with creme de menthe to make a spectacular two-ingredient cocktail.
To make the Stinger, follow these steps:
- Combine two ounces of your favorite cognac with one ounce of white creme de menthe in a cocktail shaker over ice.
- Shake well to mix thoroughly.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled rocks glass over crushed ice.
There is no need to garnish this drink; it looks and tastes spectacular as is.
Related The 3 Best Chasers for Cognac.
9. Ginger Ale
If ginger ale is your favorite soda, mix it with cognac for a tasty two-ingredient cocktail with a certain spicy attitude. The critical thing to remember is a 2:1 ratio.
To create a delicious and refreshing drink, combine two parts ginger ale with one part cognac in a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a lime twist for an attractive presentation, and enjoy.
10. Ginger Beer
If you want a drink that is spicy, refreshing, and has a bit of a kick, then try, by all means, try The French Mule. This cocktail results when you combine cognac with ginger beer and fresh lime juice.
To make a superb French Mule, just follow these simple instructions:
- Combine two ounces of cognac with ½ ounce of fresh lime juice in a copper mug.
- Add ice and four ounces of ginger beer.
- Garnish with a lime twist and serve.
Be careful if it’s your first time trying a French Mule. It’s guaranteed to knock your socks off!
11. Lemon/Lime Soda
Your favorite lemon/lime soda is an excellent choice to take the edge off cognac’s alcohol bite. This is also another idea for a quick and easy two-ingredient cocktail for when the crowd is large and thirsty. Here again, the 2:1 ratio is the important thing to remember.
To mix this refreshing drink perfectly, combine 1.5 ounces (1 shot) of cognac with 3 ounces (2 shots) of a good lemon/lime soda in a rocks glass over ice. Stir and serve. What could be easier?
12. Lime or Lemon Juice
Lime or lemon juice, especially when using fresh-squeezed, makes a fantastic mixer for cognac. These juices take the edge off the alcohol bite without watering it down.
The Classic Sidecar cocktail is the perfect drink that combines cognac with lime or lemon juice. To make this drink, follow this simple recipe:
Classic Sidecar
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Cognac
- 1 ounce Cointreau
- ¾ ounce Lemon Juice
- Lemon or Lime Twist for garnish.
Directions:
- Chill a cocktail glass until needed.
- Combine the three ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into the chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a lemon or lime twist and serve.
13. Orange Juice
Orange juice is another fruit juice that is an excellent mixer for cognac. It balances the alcohol taste while adding a little sweetness to the mix.
To make a two-ingredient cocktail that is as delicious as it is refreshing, combine one part cognac with two parts orange juice over ice in a rocks glass for a “Cognac Screwdriver” that your guests will love.
14. Pineapple Juice
Pineapple juice is also a fruit juice that mixes well with cognac. In fact, a mixture of pineapple and orange juice, when combined with cognac, will create an unusual and refreshing cocktail.
To make a cocktail called a Bow Tie that mixes cognac with pineapple juice and vermouth, follow this easy recipe:
Bow Tie
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of Cognac
- 1 ounce of dry Vermouth
- ¾ ounce of Pineapple Juice
- Pineapple Frond for garnish
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice and shake until well blended and chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled rocks glass.
- Garnish with a pineapple frond and serve.
15. Sprite
Sprite is one of those sodas that pair well with alcohol. It smooths out the alcohol bite while adding a zesty, refreshing flavor all its own. The most important thing to remember when pairing Sprite with Cognac is that the ratio should be 1:3, one part cognac to 3 parts Sprite.
For a two-ingredient cocktail to add to your bag of tricks for your turn as the bartender, combine one shot of cognac and 3 shots of Sprite over ice in a cocktail glass for a simple and refreshing drink that is fast and easy to make.
16. Tequila
While cognac and tequila are rarely found as ingredients in the same cocktail, the combination can create a delicious dessert drink that is sweet but not too sweet. The Dulce De Tequila is delicious and inviting.
To create this spectacular concoction, follow this recipe:
Dulce De Tequila
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of Tequila
- 1 ounce of Cognac
- 1 ounce of Triple Sec
- 1/2 ounce Simple Syrup
- 1/2 ounce Lemon Juice
Directions:
- Prepare a margarita or cocktail glass by running a lime or lemon wedge around the rim and then dipping the rim in sugar. Set the glass aside until needed.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, cognac, Triple Sec, simple syrup, and lemon juice over ice and shake to blend and chill.
- Strain the mixture into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with a lime or lemon wedge and serve.
For more, check out Top 20 Mixers For Alcoholic Beverages.
Anne James has a wealth of experience in a wide array of interests and is an expert in quilting, cooking, gardening, camping, mixing drinks (worked as a professional bartender), and making jelly.
Anne has a professional canning business, has been featured in the local newspaper as well as on the Hershey website, and has been her family canner for decades. Anyone growing up in the South knows that there is always a person in the family who has knowledge of the “old ways,” and this is exactly what Anne is.
With over 55 years of experience in these endeavors, she brings a level of hands-on knowledge that is hard to surpass. Amazingly, she doesn’t need to reference many resources due to her vast wealth of experience. She IS the source.
Anne wants nothing more than to pass on her extensive knowledge to the next generations, whether that be family or anyone visiting her website, her YouTube channel, or preservingsweetness.com.