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5 cocktails ideal for a rooftop summer party

We've curated an extensive list of cognac cocktails that are not only easy to make and delicious but are the picture-perfect way to ring in the rooftop season. Enjoy blemish-free views and cool breezes all while sipping on a drink made to wind down with during balmy nights.

Mixology

The Horse's Neck cocktail

In the 1890s, this was a non-alcoholic mix but by 1910, brandy or bourbon would be added for a "Horse's Neck with a Kick" or a "Stiff Horse's Neck". With the Hennessy V.S.O.P cognac, this cocktail takes on a modern hue, impeccable for when you want to expand your horizons.

1.5 oz Hennessy V.S.O.P
4 dashes Angostura bitters™
4.5 oz Ginger Ale
1 lemon zest

Fill a tumbler with ice cubes. Pour all cocktail ingredients into the glass, ending with the ginger ale. Stir for 8 seconds. Garnish the drink with a long lemon zest.

The Hennessy V.S.O.P Sour cocktail

The balance of the sweet and sour allows the Hennessy V.S.O.P cognac flavors to shine and steal the show. If you like a little sour in your sweet, you'll be a fan of this summer cocktail, which has the unexpected but delightful addition of lemon juice.

1.5 oz Hennessy V.S.O.P
0.5 oz fresh lime juice
0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
1 oz Simple syrup
1 lemon twist

Add all liquids to a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish your drink with a lemon twist.

The Caïpirinha cocktail

When the sun is blazing down upon you, you need to sip on something extra cold to quell the heat. In comes the The Caipirinha cognac cocktail – Hennessy's take on this national favorite swaps out the cachaça for Hennessy V.S.O.P to add body and interest.

1.5 oz Hennessy V.S.O.P
Half a lime cut into wedges
0.5 oz Simple syrup
1 orange twist

Muddle lime wedges into bottom of shaker tin. Add all other cocktail ingredients with ice. Shake to chill and strain over crushed ice. Garnish your drink with an orange twist.

The Horchata cocktail

A sophisticated twist on a traditional cocktail, this cognac cocktail recipe uses Hennessy V.S.O.P. and Horchata. Ideal for lazy summer afternoons on a rooftop, spent imagining you're somewhere on the continent.

1.5 oz Hennessy V.S.O.P
3 oz Horchata
1 cinnamon stick

Mix Hennessy cognac and Horchata in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a Rocks glass. Garnish your summer cocktail with a cinnamon stick.

The Flor de Jamaica cocktail

Gently bitter and zesty, this exotic drink with hibiscus and the elegance of cassis also has an edge to counter the fruitiness. Centered around Hennessy V.S.O.P cognac, its vibrant color is a guaranteed eye-catcher.

1.5 oz Hennessy V.S.O.P
0.5 oz Crème de Cassis
2.75 oz Hibiscus tea
3 dashes Angostura bitters™
1 lemon Wheel

Add all cocktail ingredients to a cocktail with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a Rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish the drink with a lemon twist.

Hennessy V.S.O.P

Since 1765, Maison Hennessy has perfected the art of cognac-making, a tradition perpetuated by eight generations of Master Blenders. A legacy of cultural openness lets Maison Hennessy shine around the world, wherever its celebrated cognacs are shared.

In 1817, James Hennessy created a unique blend for the future King George IV of England. From the encounter of these two visionaries, was born the first Hennessy “Very Superior Old Pale,” know today as Hennessy V.S.O.P.

The savoir-faire of the Maison Hennessy is fully expressed in this balanced cognac: the selection of eaux-de-vie, aging and assemblage. A cognac of remarkable consistency and vitality, Hennessy V.S.O.P conveys all of the savoir-faire of the Hennessy master blenders who have ensured the continued success of this harmonious assemblage for 200 years.

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