Top 10 Cognacs for Sidecar

Apple dominates the flavor profiles of New Jersey-based Laird’s 88-Proof 12-Year Apple Brandy. While other cognacs hover around 40 percent, this 88-proof option boosts the power of an already strong liquor. This small batch brandy reminds drinkers of apple pie with a buttery aroma, creamy mouthfeel, and tart, apple-heavy taste.

When you’re ready to enjoy a premium cognac in your sidecar cocktail, take the leap to a bottle of Courvoisier VS Cognac. Courvoisier ranks as one of the most famous elite cognac brands available. This high-quality option features pear and grapefruit flavors for a fruit taste all its own.

Like Courvoisier, Hennessy enjoys its status as a household name for cognacs. A deep, mahogany color, this premium brandy features a collision of flavors from juicy and fresh fruit to dusky vanilla and tobacco. The Hennessy VSOP Privilege ends as a supple after-dinner drink or in a spectacular sidecar.

Familiar cognacs finish their distilled fruit liquor in oak barrels to impart a dark and woodsy flavor. Martell Blue Swift bucks convention by finishing their cognac in bourbon barrels. The result is a banana-scented brandy with a spicy ginger finish for your next sidecar. This distinct liquor marks the first time a distiller has experimented with VSOP cognac aged in bourbon barrels.

The elaborate scrollwork adorning a bottle of Pierre Ferrand Sélection des Anges Cognac hints at the premium quality of this cognac. Sip this elite, mahogany-colored brandy to explore its honey, coffee, and cedar-tasting notes. A surprisingly light and floral aroma accompanies this cognac with a distinct smell of jasmine and violet.

This American brandy brand touts itself as a versatile partner for your next drink, like a delicious cocktail. This refined cognac delivers a straightforward, cozy aroma of toasted nuts, caramel and vanilla. Enjoy the smoothness of Torres 15-Year Brandy with a finishing flavor of delicious toffee.

Bertoux Brandy may be a sidecar’s best friend! This California brandy proudly claims to be designed to be used in cocktails. This multidimensional brandy delivers vibrant flavors that can stand up to assertive orange liqueur and lemon juice. Try this sleek and modern new brandy for a contemporary take on a classic.

Elite Bhakta Brandy desires to deliver a historical story along with their premium French brandies. The reverence for the land shines through in every distinct bottle from this brand, which will cost hundreds of dollars. This brand challenges you with aromas and flavors described as new shoe leather, peat, and “banana split on a syrupy diner table.”

A blend of four French growing regions compiles Hine H by Hine. This cognac offers a lighter and fresher option for your next sidecar. Instead of heavy aromas like toffee and tobacco, characteristics described as fresh apricot and bright florals elevate this discreet and elegant cognac.

This inky and opaque brandy stands apart from every other liquor on this list. Robust Ecuadorian coffee beans add a rich bitterness to the final VSOP Cognac blend. While this may seem like a modern innovation, blending coffee and cognac dates back to an 18th-century French tradition. Make a sidecar with Grand Brulot VSOP Cognac Cafe for a fun brunch alternative.