Brandy & Cognac
Brandy is a spirit made from distilled wine, usually served as an after-dinner drink or used in flambé dishes—like Jacques Pepin's recipe for classic Crepes Suzette. Brandy is a great addition to a number of cocktails, and is often added to fruity sangrias. It's an essential ingredient in a Sidecar, a classic drink typically made with brandy, orange liqueur and lemon juice. We love this holiday-inspired version that uses hazelnut sugar, apple-flavored brandy and Frangelico. Whether you're looking for an alcohol-infused dessert or want to step up your cocktail cred, F&W's guide to brandy has all of the recipes you need.
![Vineyard in the French Charente region in France.](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/8i-_1O-1Cld0VjchCbb3MHRXRtI=/364x242/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Cognac-Crus-FT-BLOG0524-03-04d8271e111b4bf5a1a526cefecae15a.jpg)
The Ultimate Guide to the 6 Crus of Cognac
![Illustration of three bottles of cognac](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/QqUreOyJxovKtLYWbE6sjBDzOgg=/364x242/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/VS-VSOP-XO-Cognac-Explainer-FT-BLOG0424-f5832b7acf044cb28ec7be69cb75241b.jpg)
What’s the Difference Between VS, VSOP, and XO Cognac?
![Bring Back Cognac After Dinner](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/QUOqGbiJJZZq9QCQijXh9LU-XZM=/364x242/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/bring-back-cognac-ft-blog1219-c56e59402fef440792a4418a2a1610cc.jpg)
Why Cognac Belongs On Your Bar Cart
![Cognac vs. Brandy: What's the Difference?](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/6cfpFRKBd_WYLsOoH2fqBc_l6wE=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Cognac-vs-Brandy-FT-BLOG0823-df7025f0342c4692b989fecd53d43756.jpg)
What's the Difference Between Cognac and Brandy?
![Rakia](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/5mYt822LrlgPOQLwA0E-YJZ-ai0=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Rakia-Explainer-XL-BLOG1022-be2bdb2943624952a9d283f45f48406c.jpg)
Get to Know Rakia, the Spirit of the Balkans
![pouring cognac](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/B5cEPlwm5v04a4TcFE6iEfz9HRU=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ethan-fixell-cognac-header-ft-blog0318-f7b3465636dd418181cde9576c6f8083.jpg)
Whiskey Lovers, Here's Why You Should Be Drinking Cognac Instead
![Newark cocktail in coupe glass with a shadow against a cream background.](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/efk-5lbnv3DVbGpEM8k4e9oQQMk=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Newark-4000x2667-recirc-97ff3f849fb64e018caf1355e81c50c1.jpg)
Newark Cocktail
![Champs-Elysees cocktails on a tray with a blue table cloth](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/qawcsoAssBNBtLRdzcCXQsj95Sk=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/champs-elysees-FT-RECIPE0324-1dc3d3a25d5f43079689b3371dba36e3-e5843fc5232d4196a2d1c8ce8a4afc83.jpg)
Champs-Élysées
![Drinks in glasses on a dark marbled blue background.](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/5bf4nY4gszKm2wyQvesfPxRzGPg=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Brandy-vs-Whiskey-FT-BLOG0624-769a89df2638455eb61fcb8781a2e67e.jpg)
What’s the Difference Between Brandy and Whiskey?
![drinking grappa](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/jsbhQGVPHx96Yitzz_R5lmjhZK8=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Grappa-Explainer-FT-BLOG0524-803ef7383aff474dad20890ca7e736f3.jpg)
A Guide to Grappa, the Italian Digestif You Should Order More Often
![Map of Calvados with a bottle of Le Calvados Pays d'Auage de Christian Drouin](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/k4iJj4wqvXch9nrx5YjWYvowwcU=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Calvados-Explainer-LeadImage-FT-BLOG425-2fcf687fefe04c55a576d04176070a7a.jpg)
How to Drink Calvados, France's Signature Apple Brandy
![Brandy Daisy cocktail against a light grey marble background.](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/mu287igz2h-KiKZCs_ByMHot0hU=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/brandy-daisy-4000x2667-recirc-6b98274ae9c046a7a99a09ece74e7f32.jpg)
Brandy Daisy
![Cognac vs Armagnac](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/0fRIa1HGjo9rvjsmewJpirLA9l0=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Cognac-Vs-Armagnac-FT-BLOG-0130-bf147fe39e394b138aa132fd5994ade2.jpg)
What's the Difference Between Cognac and Armagnac?
![Brandy in glasses](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/FH1wB57x8AJHwsc6FH4a0gS_Rwk=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Best-of-American-Brandy-FT-BLOG1023-c9f717cd61a04633a730ef7ef51f9a99.jpg)
8 Bottles of Brandy to Help You Make the Perfect Autumnal Cocktails
![Rubino Shakerato Cocktail](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/jngmjTUPyqZAi_rw9qGAMuE4txM=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Rubino-Shakerato-2-FT-RECIPE0823-164864e4cac746a29c706ca9fafc0fb8.jpg)
Rubino Shakerato
![Upset the Applecart Cocktail Recipe Lairdâs Applejack](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/CPBAdqYQXpn0AFDj3wLPl7KXq5U=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Upset-the-Applecart-FT-RECIPE0823-4525bbcd9665476ca1abbd3677f14edd.jpg)
Upset the Applecart
![Café Brûlot](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/ZBevvja1mut3kIomtwQmp9lNLow=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Cafe-Brulot-XL-RECIPE0822-2000-7d607abe4f8b4dcfbbb6d0d062ed55d3.jpg)
Shortcut Café Brûlot
![Apple Brandy Hot Toddy](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/163W7qJnMNWGCBe5LQCxAhP0G68=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Apple-Brandy-Hot-Toddy-FT-RECIPE1223-f7f56f2057b14b0c8b658df758ddd135.jpg)
Apple-Brandy Hot Toddies
![FWX LIQUOR CABINET ROULETTE GM 1](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/3c2xEx4LrDE1Qm2x0CWAEng1Mlk=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/fwx-liquor-cabinet-roulette-gm-1-1239d303c3a74c56bb2b200948f080fa.jpg)
3 Classy Cocktails to Show Off Your Grand Marnier
![Tom and Jerry](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/PoNqKQSzXh3cgVPVOCud7ITLq0E=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Tom-and-Jerry-Cocktail-FT-RECIPE1023-cf7a0f3ebc0d475eb6b4f73c86fda3ca.jpg)
Sugar, Spice, and Plenty of Booze Make the Tom and Jerry a Holiday Classic
![Pineau des Charentes Cocktails](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/30qXi_9fDctOo_GHztS2KQAhJk4=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/pineau-des-charentes-cocktails-FT-BLOG0817-669c33f4afb34342a1f7be2be38b6e2c.jpg)
Pineau des Charentes: The Superstar Cocktail Ingredient You Haven't Heard of
![FWX 3 COCKTAILS COURVOISIER 1](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/6-G6u83RLneKx49BXTzlqPdLf00=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/fwx-3-cocktails-courvoisier-1-e8e54ea3acd34fe3ae588328eb995106.jpg)
Get Classy with These Courvoisier Cocktails
![Apricot Sour](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/Wd7evrpUW2sacvV92KKEcOvr_-4=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/fw2008-xl-apricot-sour-ace4af791f86408d9cc4f9b5c6c497f1.jpg)
Apricot Sour
![Citrus, Brandy and Pineapple Punch](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/6hwJgSW9ONOyXo8-CCu1-RC9Yus=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/original-201411-r-citrus-brandy-and-pineapple-punch-3b07701172a744dab0dac48b4ab4f5e2.jpg)
Citrus, Brandy and Pineapple Punch
![Asian Pear Martini](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/ray7AVBbDe28vXKwsSBL4i5xdEU=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/2005-c-asian-pear-martini-3a66b149ee21416c99592bf5a61692bd.jpg)
Asian Pear Martini
![Smoked Cherry Bounce Recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/dY8zW8aOSoRMgqnwUWj3_2g-xrs=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/smoked-cherry-bounce-ft-recipe0820-40ee4d816a9e45c2bdd1b1f24e0a76e3.jpg)
Blame It on the Cherry Bounce
![Classic Sidecar Cocktail Recipe](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/SMD5BgO4HvAOA8jQsqjd3TnMN7s=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Sidecar-Cocktail-FT-RECIPE0123-bc2f2a8c3fc44002869e60d2059c37ec.jpg)
Sidecar
![FWX APPLEJACK COCKTAILS 4](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/lcthTQu3grrNKmLYdr2al9f1Wko=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/fwx-applejack-cocktails-4-f4f0ba225f9c4795a539aeb1c43d44db.jpg)
3 Patriotic Cocktails to Make with America's Native Spirit: Applejack
![FWX CALVADOS COCKTAILS 1](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/2I597tTcJ0UXzs1hhYpRPm2I4g0=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/fwx-calvados-cocktails-1-1d237a2fcac0408a99e6ee65d78a3b72.jpg)
3 Calvados Cocktails to Start Your Fall Off Right
![Brandy Pecan Pie](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/3x9JQB8X4D4YD-pI1Ut07Z_Is6w=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/brandy-pecan-pie-FT-RECIPE1121-b5c7bb0b01764fa097a2a27b57277518.jpg)
Brandy Pecan Pie
![Bacchanalian](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/QesvNp-E8DSlf8klJpFz0K0YYvA=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/2013-xl-bacchanalian-2000-d1ae1b69079b46ed8e13b9e76553af1c.jpg)
Bacchanalian
![Brandy-Wine Punch](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/tg5rRI_PW4upGK8NJhK6XbJSubI=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/HD-fw200312_083punch-7ce404644d404bb7a04e592a370c9eac.jpg)
Brandy-Wine Punch
![Anjou Punch](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/1CnJEGOHTXF4NSwQYhrTniIAm7I=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Batch-Cocktails-That-You-Can-Prep-in-Advance-FT-BLOG1023-02ccb07cf13241ec9acd30779c81a696.jpg)
How to Use Citrus and Cinnamon to Make a Warming Holiday Punch
![Mushroom-and-Herb Gravy with Apple Brandy](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/ZCYskpOcl901xsSS-O1w_8yRNes=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/mushroom-and-herb-gravy-with-apple-brandy-FT-RECIPE1121-1-5f00afe3d813456bb1e0c55cf9c3485d.jpg)
Mushroom-and-Herb Gravy with Apple Brandy
![Card Placeholder Image](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/qGZ2CDjfKbQd64oZqCu4DfpHwMQ=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/defaultimageplaceholder-9fd5e1075cd244b190106553700abb99.png)
Veal Chops with Cognac Sauce
![Cocktail recipe: Luxury Peach 75](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/a3jD6lVvA9W55IoTc02vhL3Ia8k=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/2012-cocktails-xl-luxury-peach-75-2000-1b58a061bef746eb82f4760ae14b0d73.jpg)
Luxury Peach 75
![Pu-erh Tea Digestif](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/CNnuHHEZm-nxRCtuBc5WSm0lsz8=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Pu-erh-Tea-Digestif-FT-RECIPE0221-6c061a96770640eba98e7d2314e39497.jpg)
Pu-erh Tea Digestif
![Straits Sling](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/7KachFlDJSiURD-1M461yTEsFcg=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/fw2008-xl-straits-sling-2000-6c336c49337b4762b2b8ef38a0934e5e.jpg)
Straits Sling
![Sprezzatura Royale](https://www.foodandwine.com/thmb/vWfRIKq4YQjqdtvDlEq6b9gH5oQ=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/2013-xl-sprezzatura-royale-7114d1b8d9654fac9e6d46dfe3190630.jpg)
Sprezzatura Royale