The Sidecar, French 75 and Vieux Carré all date from the early 20th century. Bartenders still serve all three every holiday season.
Each one uses cognac, and the French 75 also uses Champagne. That keeps your shopping list short.
This guide covers the recipes, which cognac to use and how to serve each drink, so you can plan your holiday cocktails 2026 menu.
What Are the Best Classic Cognac Cocktails for Holiday Parties?
The Sidecar, French 75 and Vieux Carré are three of the most popular cognac cocktails for the holidays. The Sidecar is citrusy and shaken. The French 75 is topped with Champagne. The Vieux Carré is rich and stirred.
Why Cognac Works Well in Holiday Drinks
Cognac is a brandy from the Cognac region of France. It's double-distilled and aged in French oak for at least two years.
Oak aging gives it notes of dried fruit, vanilla and spice. These flavors suit winter menus and desserts.
For mixing, VSOP is a good choice because it's aged at least four years. Many bartenders build Hennessy VSOP cocktails for this reason: the cognac holds its flavor against citrus and vermouth.
Sidecar Recipe: A Citrus-Forward Cognac Classic
The Sidecar Recipe became popular after World War I. Paris and London both claim it.
Ingredients:
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2 oz cognac
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¾ oz Cointreau or triple sec
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¾ oz fresh lemon juice
Method: Shake hard with ice for 10–12 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with an orange twist. A sugar rim is optional.
French 75 Recipe: Cognac Topped with Champagne
The French 75 Recipe is named after a French field gun from World War I. Early recipes used either gin or cognac, and bars in New Orleans have long served the cognac version.
Ingredients:
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1 oz cognac
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½ oz fresh lemon juice
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½ oz simple syrup
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3 oz chilled Brut Champagne
Method: Shake the cognac, lemon juice and syrup with ice. Strain into a flute, top with Champagne and add a lemon twist.
Vieux Carré Recipe: A Stirred New Orleans Cocktail
Walter Bergeron created this drink in 1938 at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans. The name means "Old Square," the local name for the French Quarter.
Ingredients:
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¾ oz rye whiskey
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¾ oz cognac
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¾ oz sweet vermouth
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1 tsp Bénédictine
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2 dashes Peychaud's bitters
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2 dashes Angostura bitters
Method: Stir with ice for about 25 seconds. Strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass, then garnish with a lemon twist or a cherry.
This Vieux Carre recipe is strong and spirit-forward, so serve it after dinner.
How to Serve These Three Cocktails at a Party
Use fresh lemon juice, not bottled. Chill the glasses and the Champagne before guests arrive.
Serve the French 75 when guests arrive, the Sidecar during the main part of the evening and the Vieux Carré with dessert.
Stock Your Bar for Three Holiday Classics
You need a bottle of VSOP cognac and a bottle of Brut Champagne. Add rye, sweet vermouth, Cointreau, Bénédictine, bitters and fresh lemons.
That's everything required for all three cognac cocktails in this guide.
Wine Chateau has sold wine and spirits since 1997. Browse its cognac and Champagne selection to plan your holiday cocktails 2026 menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use gin instead of cognac in a French 75?
Yes. Gin is the most common modern choice and tastes crisper and more botanical. A cognac French 75 recipe is richer and rounder, with dried fruit and vanilla notes. Both versions are traditional, so pick based on your guests' taste.
2. What is the best cognac for cocktails?
A VS or VSOP cognac works best. VS is bright and affordable, while VSOP is aged at least four years and adds more depth. That balance is why Hennessy VSOP cocktails are popular with bartenders. Save XO for sipping neat.
3. Should a Sidecar have a sugar rim?
It's optional. A sugar rim softens the tart lemon and adds a festive look, which suits holiday parties. Purists often skip it. A balanced Sidecar recipe with good cognac and fresh juice tastes great either way, so follow your preference.
4. Can I batch these cocktails for a party?
Yes, partly. Batch the Sidecar and Vieux Carré a few hours ahead and chill them in the fridge. Add some water to replace dilution from ice. For French 75s, prepare the cold base, then top with Champagne just before serving.
5. What is the difference between cognac and brandy?
All cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac. It must come from the Cognac region of France, used mainly Ugni Blanc grapes, be double-distilled in copper pot stills and age in French oak for at least two years.