If you want to combine your cognac with other drinks, you will be glad to find out that this is a very versatile alcoholic beverage.
Cognac is a spirit with a lot of personalities and a very rich history. It is a type of brandy that originates in the commune of Cognac, France, which gave the drink its name too.
Cognac can be aged for different periods. VS (Very Special) cognac was aged a minimum of two years, VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) cognac was aged at least four years while XO (Extra Old) cognac was aged a minimum of six years.
When you want to incorporate your cognac into more complex drinks, you can successfully mix it with ginger ale, coke, iced tea, tonic, and many other drinks. Keep reading to find out the best way to combine your cognac with other drinks!
Best 15 Cognac Mixes
When you choose the perfect mix for your cognac-based drink, take into account your favorite drinks as well. Chances are that you will find several options you like in the list below!
1. Ginger ale
The mix of cognac with ginger ale is a classic and you have to try it at least once. Ginger ale has a spicy taste that completes the sweetness of cognac in a very interesting way. Ginger ale with an orange flavor is also a great choice as it will add a great flavor and aroma to your drink.
Be generous when you add your ginger ale to your cognac. You can add two parts ginger ale to one part cognac and even more ginger ale if you like its taste.
2. Coca-cola
Coca-Cola is potentially the most popular soda in the world. This is also because you can mix it with many alcoholic beverages, including cognac.
You can add as much Coke to your cognac as you want, depending on how much you want to dilute the alcohol concentration and its flavor.
A great tip is to add a lemon slice on the edge of your glass as it will add to the aroma of your drink and it will create a very aesthetic presentation for otherwise a simple beverage.
Don’t forget the ice in this mix as it can take the entire drink to a different level.
3. Iced tea
Iced tea and cognac are ideal for a hot summer afternoon, along with a few ice cubes. It might not be your first choice but once you try this combination, you will keep going back to it.
Iced tea comes in a wide range of flavors so you can choose one that you love. Add three parts iced tea to one part cognac, and ice cubes and you will have a simple but refreshing cocktail. Garnish your glass with a slice of orange or maybe the fruit that gives the flavor to your iced tea.
4. Tonic
Tonic is one of the most common drinks mixed with cognac. This combination highlights the fruity notes of cognac you can choose to mix your cognac with plain tonic and a few ice cubes or flavored tonic. Add two parts tonic one part cognac and a few ice cubes for a refreshing drink that is ready in seconds.
Tonic water is a bit bitter, which balances the sweetness of cognac and dilutes its alcohol concentration.
5. Lemon soda
Lemon soda is perfect for a cognac mix. You will get a taste similar to lemonade, plus a decent alcohol content to spice your mood up or, on the contrary, relax you.
You can find lemon soda at your grocery store or simply make it at home with lemon juice and bubble water. In terms of quantities, you can follow your personal preference entirely.
But start by adding two parts of lemon soda to one part of the cognac. You can always increase the quantity of soda as you please.
Also Check: What To Mix With Pink Whitney (14 Best Options)
6. Lime soda
If you don’t have lemon soda, lime soda will be just as great. However, when you combine lime soda with your cognac shot, be ready for the bitterness of the lime, that will be very present in your drink.
You might want to add less lime soda than you would add lemon soda, especially due to its bitterness. If you feel the need for a sweeter taste in your drink, don’t hesitate to add a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup and you will love the final result!
7. Margarita mix
Margarita mix is one of the most popular mixes you can buy as it helps you prepare your favorite cocktail. But did you know that you can twist the original recipe by adding cognac?
Add the margarita mix along with one ounce of tequila, two ounces of cognac, and one ounce of triple sec, and shake for a few seconds. You will end up with a delicious drink and you might even prefer it to the traditional margarita recipe.
8. Fanta
Fanta can be a great choice to mix with your cognac. It’s frizzy and sweet with a delicious orange taste to it. All these qualities will compliment the flavor and aroma of your cognac and you will get a refreshing drink.
Add ice cubes and a slice of orange to the glass for decoration and serve to your friends and family.
You will only use a shot of cognac and as much soda as you want. The quantities depend on how strong you want your drink to be.
9. Cranberry juice
Cranberry juice goes great with different alcoholic beverages, including cognac. The best cognac to mix with cranberry juice is Hennessy cognac.
To create the Cran-Henny mix, you will need to combine one part cognac with three parts cranberry juice and ice cubes according to your taste.
Everyone will love this mix and it is considered one of the easiest cocktails to make. Cranberry juice is a mix of bitter and sweet tastes and it helps highlight the flavor of cognac.
Also Check: Cognac Vs Bourbon: What’s The Difference?
10. Sprite
The famous Sprite soda can be mixed with cognac and ice to offer you a simple but tasty drink in the summer. You can have this mix in other seasons as well, but its refreshing taste makes it more appropriate for hot days! Add one part cognac to three parts Sprite for the best balance of flavors and serve!
11. Orange juice
Orange juice goes just as well with cognac as it goes with vodka. You can buy your orange juice from your grocery store or make it at home from fresh oranges.
Mix one part cognac with two parts orange juice and a few ice cubes and you will love the result. If you like your orange juice, feel free to add more to your drink.
Also, if you feel the need for more sweetness, you can add a teaspoon of honey and you will get the perfect fix!
12. Pineapple juice
Pineapple juice can be easily found in stores. You can mix it with a shot of cognac and a few ice cubes for an exotic and delicious drink that is ready to enjoy in a matter of seconds.
If you use unsweetened pineapple juice, you might feel the need to add some honey to it. But make sure you taste your mix before you add any sweetener because pineapple can be sweet enough on its own.
13. Apple juice
Apple juice is one of the most common drinks you can mix with cognac. Both sweetened and unsweetened apple juice will compliment the taste of your cognac perfectly.
The flavor of apples is very much suitable to the fruity flavor of cognac and it gives the alcohol content a note of freshness. Add two to three parts of apple juice to one part of cognac and some ice cubes and your drink is ready to enjoy!
14. Guava juice
Guava juice is richer in vitamin C than orange juice and it has a delicious taste that will go great with cognac. Guava juice might not be as easy to find in stores but if you can get it, definitely give it a try with your favorite cognac and you will not regret it.
The flavor of guava juice can be described as a mix of pears, strawberries, and mango. Start by mixing two parts of guava juice with one part of cognac and taste your drink. You might want to add more guava juice if you like its flavor.
15. Ice cubes
If you don’t want to mix other aromas and flavors with your cognac, ice cubes are all you need to complete your shot.
Nowadays, it is more appreciated to add one, larger ice cube to your drink, rather than several little ones. Ice cubes dilute the level of alcohol concentration in your drink and it gives it a milder flavor as well. So, all you might need to add for a perfect shot is ice.
What soda can you mix with cognac?
When you choose your soda for your cognac mix, you can go for almost any type of drink you like. Soda is by definition sweet and frizzy so it will take over the flavor of your cognac and dilute the alcohol concentration. Since you will add more soda than cognac, your drink will taste a lot like soda with cognac flavor in it.
If you want to create a long drink with some alcohol in it, mix soda like Sprite, Coke, and Fanta with your cognac shot and enjoy during a hot summer afternoon!
However, the best soda to mix with cognac remains Coca-Cola. It has a unique taste that blends perfectly with the fruity and alcoholic flavor of your cognac. And you can even use lemon Coke if you want your drink to have an interesting twist!
What to mix with Hennessy cognac
Hennessy cognac is made from the white wine and it is one of the most popular types of cognac all over the world.
Traditionally, this French cognac is best to be enjoyed plain and sipped slowly. However, if you want to mix your Hennessy cognac with another drink, your best choice would be a bubbly one.
You can use bubbly water or soda to convert your Hennessy cognac into a long drink. Don’t forget to add some ice and you will simply love the outcome!
However, the producers of Hennessy cognac suggest keeping the drink mixed with unflavored bubbly water so you can enjoy the taste of the original cognac better.
Read: What To Mix With Hennessy (14 Best Mixers)
Cocktails that include cognac
Cognac is a great alcoholic ingredient to use in cocktails. Here are a few famous cocktails that contain this delicious drink!
Sidecar cocktail
Sidecar is a very simple yet satisfying cocktail. It is made of orange liqueur, lemon juice, and cognac. In some bars, the glasses of a sidecar cocktail come with sugar on the rim and a slice of lemon on the edge of the glass for a better presentation.
French 75
To make the French 75 cocktail you will need Hennessy cognac for the base, along with sparkling wine, lemon juice, and orange bitters. It looks like a light cocktail but it has a very rich flavor and it might just become your favorite choice.
Sazerac
Sazerac is made of cognac, Peychaud’s bitters, syrup, and absinthe along with a slice of lemon as a garnish. It is popular in New Orleans and ideal for a night out with your friends.
Final thoughts
Cognac is not just a popular drink by itself but also a versatile ingredient in a variety of cocktails and mixes. You will love it plain but also combined with the drinks in this guide.
Consider the fact that cognac comes with an alcohol concentration of 40%, and it will add this level of alcohol to your mixed drinks as well.
Feel free to get creative when you mix your favorite cognac with other drinks because there are several options you can try out. You will be surprised by the combinations you can discover by trying out different mixes!
