It’s National Cognac Day? Because That, Too, Is a Thing
Photo by Geert Teuwen
Cognac is one of those spirits one tends to associate with crackling fires, smoking jackets, and the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, but here we are, at the beginning of summer and celebrating the brandy. June 4 is in fact National Cognac Day, according to… my inbox. This full-bodied French brandy can hang out in your cellar for a very, very long time, often becoming more complex and delectable in the process, not unlike, say, a wine writer for a beer-forward outlet. But why let it do that when you could be enjoying it in frisky summery ways you weren’t thinking about? For example, if drinking it neat, some experts (and amateurs, we aren’t snobby around here) prefer it straight out of the freezer. Some favor keeping a bunch of minis on hand to sneak into music venues, parks, or that matinee showing of the latest CGI-fest from the MCU. This is known as “complementing an experience” in case you were wondering.
Cognac has an affinity for bubbles: try it with Champagne, tonic water, or ginger beer. It also likes to have its natural fruitiness enhanced with… well, fruit. If you’ve got a bottle of V.S.O.P on your hands, it’s highly “sour-able;” so think citrus. Cognac’s other best friends include tart fruit liqueurs, pear, apple or apricot brandies, and chocolate.
Here are a handful of summer-friendly cocktails that incorporate cognac.
The Timeless Mastery
A twist on a classic Sazerac, The Timeless Mastery celebrates the past & future for the 200th anniversary of Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège.
2 oz. Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège Cognac
.5 oz. Madeira
3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
1 dash Angostura bitters
Orange twist and gold leaf garnish
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, stir to chill and strain into a rocks glass; garnish with the expressed oils of an orange twist, discard the twist and add gold leaf. (Note: if you need to skip the gold leaf, we totally understand and assure you it will still taste good.)
D’USSE LEMONADE
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz. D’USSE Cognac
4 oz. Lemonade
Directions: Add D’USSE and lemonade into an ice filled highball glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Sidecar
The Sidecar was created in 1920 at the Ritz Hotel bar in Paris. It has become the single most iconic Cognac cocktail of the world.
2 oz. Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège Cognac
.75 oz. Grand Marnier
.5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
Directions: Add all ingredients to a shaker tin with ice, shake until chilled, strain into a chilled cocktail coupe or martini glass, garnish with a lemon twist, and an optional sugared rim
