Skip to main content

Cognac Punch Swizzle

Cognac Punch Swizzle recipe
Photograph by Emma Fishman. 

If you think of cognac only as that bottle gathering dust in the back of your liquor cabinet, it’s time to reconsider. This spirit’s depth and complexity make it the ideal base for a warming winter cocktail, as in this fruity, peppery punch swizzle from cocktail expert Shyretha Sheats. Where a traditional punch recipe might call for orgeat (almond syrup), Sheats substitutes a creamy condensed milk and pineapple syrup for a tropical vibe. The syrup’s yield is party-size (about 2 cups): Scale up the rest of the ingredients for 12 servings, then batch the drink into a punch bowl, or make just a couple of servings and save the extra syrup for drizzling over ice cream or pound cake. Sheats loves Pierre Ferrand cognac, particularly the Ambré or the 1840 Original Formula, for its quality and price point.

What you’ll need

Read More
This light and drinkable cocktail pairs the bittersweet flavor of grapefruit with botanical gin and sparkling sake for a bubbly finish.
A riff on the Bicycle Thief cocktail, a citrusy, low ABV riff on a Negroni, this three-ingredient, party-ready twist features grapefruit soda.
The beergarita perfectly encapsulates laid-back summer sipping in a single pitcher, combining the familiarity of a margarita with the effervescence of beer.
Gourmet’s version of this perfect summer drink mixes the ideal ratio of vodka with cranberry and grapefruit juices, right in the glass.
With elderflower liqueur, mint, and prosecco, the effervescent Hugo spritz cocktail is a hit year round, but particularly on warm nights.
This simple honey-grapefruit cocktail dates to Prohibition, though its origin is a matter of some debate.
A short list of ingredients comes together in this elegant sake martini.
This velvety white wine sauce imparts tangy, rich flavor to everything it touches.