DIY Cognac Base
[T] Template — a classic cocktail structure applied to this bottle where no producer version exists. Part of our Cognac alcohol-free spirits guide.
- 250 ml Concord grape juice
- 1 vanilla pod, split (or 1 tsp extract)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Warm gently without boiling, steep 20 minutes, cool and strain. Use 1:1 wherever a recipe calls for cognac. Concord mirrors cognac’s grape base, the vanilla and cinnamon stand in for barrel, and the vinegar cuts the juice’s sweetness. Costs pennies and beats most of the commercial options in Sidecars, Sazeracs and French 75s.