Cognac is a versatile drink that can be enjoyed in many different ways, including neat, over ice, or diluted with a little water. It can also be mixed with quality mixers, such as soda, tonic, ginger ale, or traditional lemonade to make a long drink. Additionally, cognac can be used to make a variety of cocktails, including:

• Sidecar: 1 oz cognac, 1 oz Cointreau, 3/4 oz lemon juice. Shake with ice and strain into a sugar-rimmed glass.

• French 75: 1 oz cognac, 1/2 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup, 2 oz champagne. Shake cognac, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice, strain into a champagne flute, and top with champagne.

• Sazerac: 2 oz cognac, 1 tsp simple syrup, 3 dashes Peychauds Bitters, absinthe rinse, lemon peel. Rinse a chilled glass with absinthe and discard the excess. Stir cognac, simple syrup, and bitters with ice and strain into the glass. Express lemon peel over the drink and garnish.

• Vieux Carre: 3/4 oz cognac, 3/4 oz rye whiskey, 3/4 oz sweet vermouth, 1/4 oz Benedictine, 2 dashes Peychauds Bitters, 2 dashes Angostura Bitters. Stir with ice and strain into a chilled glass.

When mixing cognac, its important to consider the spirits inherent taste profile and how it can be balanced with other ingredients. Fresh citrus flavors, fragrant herbs, and even champagne can be used to create aromatic and refreshing cocktails. There are no rules about which cognac to use in a cocktail, and experimentation is encouraged.