Best Substitutes for Brandy
Out of Brandy? Here are the best alternatives that work in cocktail recipes.
Original Ingredient
Brandy
Spirit
40.00% ABV
Warm, fruity nose with dried grape, oak, and vanilla. Palate shows concentrated fruit sweetness with smooth spirit warmth and oxidative complexity. Long, elegant finish with gentle spice.
Recommended Substitutes
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Cognac
Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.
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Apple Brandy
Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.
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Applejack
Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.
General Substitution Tips
- → Match the alcohol level: a 40% spirit needs a similarly strong replacement or adjust volume.
- → For liqueurs, dilute spirits + simple syrup can replicate sweetness and proof.
- → Citrus substitutions: lemon and lime are mostly interchangeable at a 1:1 ratio.
- → For bitters, Angostura is the most neutral substitute for most other aromatic bitters.