13 Mixers You Need To Pair With Hennessy For Ultimate Taste
It is no secret that Hennessy cognac is a long-time classic. This delicious, double-distilled treat dates back to 1765, when Richard Hennessy opened a trading house in the Cognac region of France. Originally an Irishman, Hennessy ended up in France after serving in the army of King Louis XV. However, time would eventually show that this military man's real talent was in distillation. By 1794, the cognac business founded by Hennessy began exporting its goods to New York. The spirit has remained a fixture in American bars ever since.
The reason that Hennessy continues to be so popular has to do with its unique flavor profile. In spite of its liquor content, this golden beverage is smooth on the tongue. When consumed on its own, you'll see that Hennessy contains a wide range of tastes, such as nuts, berries, and vanilla spice. It even contains a woody flavor reflected in strong oaky notes.
If you do choose to make a cognac cocktail, Hennessy's naturally rich flavors are deep enough that they can combine with any number of sweet and savory ingredients to give you a sophisticated cocktail experience. Whether you are looking to mix your Hennessy with sugary berry Chambord, or a dry dash of vermouth, the liquor's forest-like notes will certainly bring you a strong blast of flavor.
1. Chambord
When it comes to choosing a great Hennessy mixer, your first thought probably isn't to blend the cognac with, well, more cognac. However, there is a strong case for why a classic cup of Hennessy will pair beautifully with a rich splash of Chambord. Like Hennessy, Chambord gets its liquor content by undergoing the full cognac distilling process. However, interestingly, this unique French booze is actually infused several times with black raspberries in order to produce a liqueur that is sweet, fruity, and tart all at the same time.
Once mixed with Hennessy, the cognac flavors in Chambord will not clash with the rest of your drink in the same way that raspberry schnapps or some type of vodka infusion inevitably would. Instead, the rich and nutty flavors of the two liquors build upon each other, all while the sweet berry goodness from the Chambord adds a dessert-like element to your cocktail.
The best part is that you can limit just how much Chambord you add to your cocktail, depending on your tastes. Folks who enjoy the occasional blast of sugar can go ahead and pour the berry liqueur into their cups with abandon. Meanwhile, those who want something more savory can add just a few drops. Either way, you can also squeeze a bit of lemon juice over the top to help cut through the strong sugar element in this combination.
2. Ginger beer
You have probably heard of the Moscow mule, but what about the Hennessy mule? In this delightful cocktail, simply mix your Hennessy with a healthy dose of ginger beer and squeeze a dash of lime juice on top. Even though this concoction takes mere seconds to create, it tastes fantastic.
Here, the unique blend of spices in the ginger beer will accentuate the rich and woody flavors of your Hennessy, leaving you with a final product that is sweet and nutty, yet deep and complex. The relative lightness of your ginger beer and lime blend will also help offset some of the cognac's naturally intense flavors, giving you a cocktail that is more balanced.
In terms of texture, the fizziness of your ginger beer will add an interesting sensation to each sip. In contrast to an otherwise still pool of cognac, the carbonation of your soda will add an element of fun to your drink, making the overall sipping experience a little less serious. To make this cocktail especially enjoyable in a party environment, you can serve it with a festive garnish. Some of the best options can include ginger, lime, or even a cinnamon stick.
3. Fruit punch
Cognac may conjure the image of an English gentleman sipping a small glass in a wood-paneled library, but that does not mean it would not still taste great in a very different environment, such as a boozy pool party. In fact, one of the best ways to serve your Hennessy is mixed into a rich bowl of fruit punch.
Go ahead and fill a punch bowl with grenadine, grapefruit juice, a few cups of sugar, and a dash of Grand Marnier. Then, add as much Hennessy and sliced citrus as your heart desires. Thanks to the strong citrus element, the resulting combination will be tart, fruity, acidic, and sweet, all at the same time. It should also be light and refreshing enough to taste magnificent on a hot summer's day.
While the citrus will bring a wide range of lighter flavors to your cup, the Hennessy will contribute a sense of darker spicy deliciousness. Specifically, you will be able to savor the cognac's nutty vanilla spice notes, even as they contrast with the more acidic fruity elements. If you are worried that the cognac and citrus will clash, however, worry not. In this unique fruit punch mixer, the Grand Marnier ties the citrus and Hennessy flavors together by adding its own orange cognac blend.
4. Margarita ingredients
When you start preparing a homemade margarita, chances are that you reach for tequila. While this tangy Mexican liquor tastes delicious in a cocktail, it is far from being the only margarita option. On the contrary, margarita ingredients actually make a fantastic Hennessy mixer.
To try the results for yourself, mix up a healthy dose of Cointreau, a bit of lime juice, and a dash of tequila. Then, pour a full shot of Hennessy into the mix. In this unique combination, the deep orange overtones of the Cointreau will pair beautifully with the woody nuttiness of your cognac, generating a flavor that will call to mind the spicy citrus flavors of mulled wine.
In contrast to the earthier flavors of the orange and cognac blend, your lime and tequila will prove light and refreshing. Just be sure to add more Cointreau and Hennessy than tequila and lime; these latter ingredients are meant to be more of a garnish. That ensures you won't overwhelm the deeper flavors of this drink.
5. Cointreau and lemon juice
If a Hennessy margarita is just too adventurous for your tastes, you might consider sticking to the classics. When it comes to traditional Hennessy mixers, no combination of ingredients may be as traditional as those used in the sidecar.
Dating back to the era of World War I, this delightful beverage was beloved throughout the Roaring '20s and continues to appear on cocktail menus today. The reason for its long-lived popularity likely pertains to the delicious simplicity of its ingredients. To make a sidecar, just shake a double shot of cognac with a shot of Cointreau and a shot of lemon juice. Then, serve it in a martini glass with a sugar rim and a lemon twist.
In this combination, the sugary and citric notes of the Cointreau interact with the deep complexity of the cognac, creating something that is spicy, boozy, and sweet all at the same time. Meanwhile, the acidity of the lemon juice contributes a refreshingly tart flavor to the cocktail, balancing out the overwhelming richness of the first two ingredients. The sugar rim also helps round out the drink's overall flavor, providing a blast of sweetness that will prepare your taste buds to encounter the strong, oaky notes that lie in the booze.
6. Crème de menthe
Like the sidecar, the stinger is a long-time cognac classic. With origins dating back to before Prohibition, this cocktail has maintained its popular status for over a century. Using a combination of Hennessy and white crème de menthe, this beverage is easy to make.
Simply stir the primary two ingredients together in a cup full of ice. Then, once the liquid has cooled down to a pleasantly refreshing temperature, just pour them over a strainer and into a martini glass. If you are feeling fancy, add a mint garnish to your glass. This won't just enhance the flavor of your beverage, but it will also give it a pop of color.
The reason that stingers taste so good is thanks to the refreshingly minty flavors of crème de menthe. Here, the light freshness of this mixer helps to offset the darker forest flavors that make your Hennessy so potent. This contrast also plays out in what we perceive to be "cooler" and "warmer" flavors, with the colder taste of the mint balancing out the burning warmth of the cognac. When making this drink, however, be aware that either too much Hennessy or too much crème de menthe can make your beverage overwhelming. To maintain the ideal balance, try shooting for two parts cognac and one part crème de menthe.
7. Champagne
Folks who are looking to enjoy a glass of champagne with a twist might enjoy adding a shot of cognac to their bubbly. While champagne might not seem like the most traditional Hennessy mixer, these two ingredients work together to form a cocktail that is sophisticated and rich, leaving you with a flavor that alternates between dry fruitiness and thick oakiness. To bring this unique beverage to fruition, pour yourself an almost full glass of bubbly and then simply spike it. To round out the flavors, drop a cube of brown sugar into the bottom of your glass.
Although adding sugar to champagne might sound blasphemous, there is a reason why this ingredient is important. On its own, champagne can be rather dry and acidic — characteristics which, unfortunately, don't always pair well with the warmer flavors of cognac. Here, the sugar cube will help take the sour edge off of your champagne, highlighting its delicious apple and pear notes. Ultimately, this will allow the wine's autumn fruitiness to interact with Hennessy's vanilla spiciness, producing a blend of flavors that is rich, deep, and elegant.
8. Crème de cacao and cream
While there are plenty of unique ways to enjoy a glass of cognac, there is nothing quite like sipping the velvety richness of a boozy dessert drink. To enjoy this marvelous effect, mix your Hennessy with crème de cacao and heavy cream. This unique combination is also known as a Brandy Alexander — and it is one of the most delicious after-dinner indulgences out there.
In this blend, the complex notes of the cognac mix with the buttery taste of the cream. This provides your palate with all the nutty warmth of hard liquor, yet balances it with a smooth and fatty liquid. Meanwhile, the sugary thickness of the crème de cacao swirls through your cup, bringing in a dessert element that will bring to mind the luxurious texture of a custard.
For the richest results, add in a blend of both white and dark chocolate crème de cacao. This ensures that the chocolate element in your drink is both bitter and creamy, providing the perfect base for your warm boozy cognac. Garnish the final product with a few dashes of cinnamon and nutmeg. These ingredients will help accentuate the spicy nature of the Hennessy, preventing it from hiding beneath the buttery smoothness of the cream.
9. Rum, tawny port, and maraschino liqueur
To wrap up your evening with something stronger, you might want to consider mixing your Hennessy with rum, tawny port, and maraschino liqueur. This unique blend of sweet and savory ingredients — along with several different kinds of liquor — results in the ever-potent Wardroom cocktail. Wardooms are known for having something of a punch, so folks with light stomachs beware!
While this drink can be heavy in liquor for some, others will delight in its unique blend of sugary yet fiery flavors. In this mixture, the thick sweetness of the tawny port combines with the spiciness of the rum and cognac to create a cocktail that feels like a way more powerful version of sangria. This effect is only highlighted more by the maraschino liqueur, which adds a uniquely fruity touch to this brew.
If you want to enjoy a toned-down version of this old fashioned classic, try serving it over ice. Alternatively, you can dilute it with grenadine. Because this mixer offers strong citrus and pomegranate flavors, it will combine well with the fruity nature of the Wardroom. It will also contribute some bitter notes to your cocktail.
10. Syrup, bitters, and rye whiskey
A Sazerac may call to mind a smoky cocktail involving rye whiskey and bitters. However, this was not always the case. Back in the day, Sazerac cocktails were made with cognac instead of rye. While there's nothing wrong with adding a bit of whiskey to your glass, there is a reason that the original cognac recipe is a classic. To make a Sazerac the original way, add some Hennessy to your ice-filled glass and mix in half a shot of simple syrup. Then, add some Peychaud's bitters and a lemon peel.
This drink highlights the flavors that naturally make cognac taste good on its own. After all, Hennessy combines bitter woody flavors with sweeter vanilla and berry notes. The Peychaud's bitters will draw out the savory pungency that prominently exists in your cognac, while the sugar in the simple syrup will help make its fruity caramel undertones shine. Together, these ingredients intensify the experience of sipping your Hennessy — although the lemon peel dials everything back a bit.
11. Crushed ice, limes, and sugar
Brazil's signature cocktail is called the caipirinha. It is traditionally made with ice, crushed limes, sugar, and cachaça (a spirit made from sugarcane). But, that doesn't mean that you can't mix things up. Throughout Brazil, there are tons of variations of the caipirinha, including a drink called the caipiroska. This is a caipirinha made with vodka. Then, there's the sakerinha, a similar drink that uses sake. If you are looking for a fun new Hennessy mixer, you might want to try using traditional lime caipirinha ingredients. Just mash up some limes with sugar to create a thick citrus-flavored syrup. Then, throw in some ice and pour your Hennessy over this concoction to make a rich cognac caipirinha.
In this delightful beverage, the sugar will cut some of the intensely alcoholic flavors from your Hennessy, allowing you to enjoy the cognac's nuttier vanilla notes. Meanwhile, the acidity from the limes provides some cooler, lighter flavors to your cup, preventing the cognac's warmer tones from becoming overwhelming. As a result, your cocktail will be complex, flavorful, and also refreshing.
12. Sparkling wine and lemon juice
If you are looking for a boozy way to reinterpret your classic liquor and soda combination, this is it. Start out by ditching the tonic water and switching it out for some sparkling wine. Then, pour your bubbly into a tall glass with simple syrup, and a dash of lime.
You can use this combination as a spectacular Hennessy mixer. Simply pour a generous dose of your cognac into the fizzy wine and citrus brew. This will create a sugary lemony drink with heavy cognac notes and a light effervescent texture. Here, the tart yet sweet flavor of the simple syrup and lemon will help cut through the deeper flavors of your cognac. It will also highlight the fruitiness of your sparkling wine, allowing its apple and pear notes to shine.
This recipe inevitably calls to mind the old World War I beverage, the "French 75." Named for a type of gun used on the battlefield during the war, this mixture of gin, simple syrup, and sparkling wine has remained popular over the years. However, a Hennessy version won't have the tanginess of gin. Instead, it will be spicier and richer, thanks to the woody complexity of the cognac.
13. Vieux Carré ingredients
To enjoy the taste of New Orleans with your Hennessy, try making a classic Vieux Carré cocktail. Meaning "old square" in French, the cocktail's name refers to the city's historic French Quarter. To make this traditional drink, stir some Hennessy together with rye whiskey, vermouth, Bénédictine, and bitters. Then, serve it on ice with a maraschino cherry and a lemon twist.
In this potent blend of liquors, the spices from the Bénédictine will combine with the oaky vanilla notes in the cognac to build a flavor that's both piquant and sophisticated. The more neutral-tasting rye whiskey will then work to round out this intense flavor, providing a smoother liquor feel. To give the cocktail a slightly bitter punch, add a dash of vermouth. This unique ingredient will ensure that your cocktail maintains a dense and complex flavor.
Because of the intensity of these ingredients, the cherry and lemon garnishes are key to making the drink palatable. While the sweetness of the cherry will cut through the burn of the liquor, the acidity of the lemon twist will mellow out the drink's warmer notes. You can always mix in a dash of grenadine to help dilute the cocktail's strongest flavors.