14 Exquisite Brandies for Elevating Your Cocktail Game

By Victoria Cece

Discover the World’s Finest Brandies for Mixologists and Cocktail Aficionados

There’s plenty to love about brandy. From its variety to its versatility, it is hard to get bored of this aqua vitae. That’s because brandy isn’t just for sipping after dinner with your pinkies up—it is a spirit that loves to buddy up with its cocktail-ingredient friends as a mixer. Seriously, brandy can easily finagle its way into any cocktail lover’s life.  

There are expertly crafted brandies from all over the world waiting to join your go-to spirits lineup. Let’s explore all the brandies you should be mixing with at your bar right now and why!

Clos Martin Armagnac XO

It is hard to resist the depth of flavor in this Armagnac. The Clos Martin Armagnac XO has 15 years of age on it, yielding those nutty and toasty aromas that make it the perfect digestif. But this Armagnac still carries this fragrant juiciness that makes it an alluring addition to a Sidecar recipe.

Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula

As far as cognac goes, Pierre Ferrand is a reliable barman’s choice. Maison Ferrand offers an array of smooth, premium cognacs, all made with grapes from the Grande Champagne vineyards. These esteemed vineyards are considered the best of the best in cognac production, all due to their terroir. Grand Champagne’s chalky soil and maritime climate are behind the grapes that produce cognacs with more finesse.

Maison Ferrand’s 1840 Original Formula is an ode to the bartenders of the 19th century, who were the first to get creative with mixing brandy. It’s based on an age-old recipe, producing a young brandy that is bold and high proof. No matter how you incorporate it, Ferrand’s 1840 Original Formula will be a respectful ode to the history of bartending and brandy.

Larsen Aqua Ignis Cognac

This cognac is made like no other brandy, literally. Larsen Aqua Ignis Cognac ages in steam-toasted barrels, an innovative practice patented by Larsen. The result—barrels that evoke deep and complex aromas, free of any smoky bitterness, that transform this brandy into pure elegance. Of course, there’s no issue in sipping this brandy alone. But, add it to your next Old-Fashioned, and watch your bar guests swoon.

Dartigalongue Dry Cellar

Dartigalongue is one of the rare Armagnac Houses with “dry” cellars. Its dry cellar, located in the attics, is subject to wide temperature variations, from 104˚ in the summer to 38˚ in the winter. This produces eaux-de-vie with a pure, soft, and well-defined character.

Single distilled in a traditional Armagnacais column still to 58%, aged a minimum of 2 years in local Gascon oak, and exclusively in a dry attic cellar, earning it the name “Dry Cellar.” The delicate aromas of vanilla, prune, and peaches, and the palate is very intense and concentrated, with marked notes of spice on the finish. Perfect base in any cocktail, particularly well mixed with tonic in a Highball, with Prosecco in a Spritz or as the base in a Negroni.

Argonaut Fat Thumb Brandy

American brandy has long been a thing. But it wasn’t always appreciated. Thankfully, Argonaut out in California reminds us how American brandy is now a competitive member in the brandy world. This distillery admirably does everything ‘in-house,’ growing its own fruit all the way to aging its final distilled brandies.

Of Argonaut’s three expressions, the Fat Thumb stands out as a dynamic mixing partner. It is a complex blend of seven different Alembic Pot and Coffey distilled brandies, all aged from 4 to 16 years. The result is a rich and luscious brandy with sinful spice notes. It is a friend to bold tiki cocktails or anything with a bitter edge.

Sempé 15 Year Armagnac

Smooth and spicy, Sempé is an ode to the history of Armagnac. Its craftsmanship is clear from its color to its aromas to its graceful palatability. With a beautiful golden hue and lingering fragrance of cocoa and candied fruits, you’ll be already crafting ways to incorporate this Armagnac into your winter cocktail recipes.

Bertoux Brandy

If this is a brandy created by a bartender then Bertoux must have some wizardly mixology science behind it, right?

Well, that’s just it. This newcomer in the American brandy game is a perfect mixing agent at an incredible price. Bertoux is a very aromatic and refreshing brandy, with stone fruit, honey, and floral aromas. These elements make Bertoux a flawless pairing for light and easy drinks. Don’t overlook adding this brandy into your repertoire of fruity or bubbly cocktails, all year round.

Cognac Du Peyrat Organic Selection

A blend of young and lively cognacs; fresh and surprisingly round due to a special, fatty distillation process. Aromas are redolent of ripe juicy apricots with hints of tropical fruits. Rich and sweet in the mouth, flavors are pristine and focused with stone fruit, white tea, and fresh flowers. Smooth and balanced. Organic Selection is a great choice to drink on its own, but also shines as a base for cocktails.

H by Hine VSOP Cognac

A friend of soda or a cocktail, H by Hine is a youthful addition to this Hine’s impressive Cognac lineup.

The vitality of this VSOP is what makes it an amazing mixing brandy. It isn’t asking for sophistication, but more to be played with. You’ll notice this immediately once you get a whiff of its youthful aromas of caramel, vanilla, and orange zest.

To get a little better grasp of H by Hine’s character, Hine gives an excellent analogy for its new and vibrant cognac on their site: “H by Hine is whimsical. If it were a young man, it would have the keen eye of Dick Diver in Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night…”

Chateau D’Arton Armagnac Fine Blanche

Blanche Armagnac is one brandy that you need to be mixing with. And, Chateau D’Arton is the O.G. when it comes to this style of Armagnac. Before Blanche Armagnac was allowed in the Armagnac appellation, Chateau D’Arton created their own, calling it ‘Fine Blanche.’ This white brandy is made of the same grapes as D’Arton’s matured Armagnac, which are all grown in the mineral-driven soils of the Haut-Armagnac.

Fast-forward to today, this unaged, unmatured Armagnac has shown how it is the ultimate substitute for your usual clear spirits. Mix it with tonic or make it a French Mule—you’ll love how blissfully this Blanche Armagnac suits any spritz-y drinks.

Lustau Solera Reserva Brandy

We can’t talk about brandy without mentioning Brandy de Jerez. In Spain, this brandy has long been enjoyed mixed with soda or juice.

What makes the Lustau Solera Reserva a must add to your bar is its complex flavor, coming from the aging in a solera system, traditionally used for sherry. This blending approach lends this brandy nutty and candied fruit aromas that make it just irresistible when incorporated into an amaro-based cocktail.

Never Sink Spirits Apple Brandy

Clean and crisp just like the apples that made it, Never Sink Spirits Apple Brandy is a unique addition to any bar. Sourcing their fruits only from local organic and sustainable orchards in N.Y. state, Never Sink presents us with a white brandy with fascinating character. It is fresh, green, and earthy, a zesty complement to a punch or spritz.

Cognac Monnet VS

Monnet VS cognac is masterfully blended from floral eaux-de-vie and slowly aged in Limousin oak casks for a minimum of two years. Sparkling gold in color, Monnet VS exudes aromas of fresh flowers and delicate spices with a soft touch of vanilla. On the palate, it reveals freshness and finesse, followed by a long, warm finish. Try it for a fresh and floral riff on classics.

Delord Blanche Armagnac

Blanche is a new A.O.C. (Appellation d’Origine Controlée) approved in 2005. It represents a renaissance of traditional Armagnac eau-de-vie rekindled by the producers. Coming from the same Armagnac terroir, it is the result of a thousand-year-old savoir-faire of distillation. Delord’s Blanche is rich and fruity, strong, and round, and therefore can be consumed in a variety of ways: Pure, at room temperature, chilled or with an ice cube, just so you can appreciate the true beautiful flavors and roundness. With caviar, smoked fish and numerous desserts such as lemon tart, key lime pie, tart Tatin and lemon sabayon. In a variety of cocktails: it marries well with citrus flavors, red berries, kiwi, and chocolate. Use Delord Blanche as a replacement for vodka in any cocktail to add a depth of flavor.

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