🍸 Worthington’s Bar Monthly Pub Quiz: Brandy & Cognac Classics Edition! 🍸

Welcome to the November edition of our Monthly Pub Quiz! As the weather cools down, it’s the perfect time to explore rich and warming brandy and cognac-based cocktails. From smooth Cognac to a classic Brandy Alexander, this month’s quiz will test your knowledge of these sophisticated sips. If you’re new to brandy or Cognac (like we were!), check out our Beginner’s Guide to Brandy & Cognac for a full intro before diving in.

🌟 How It Works:

• Answer the 10 multiple-choice questions below.
  
  
• No peeking! The correct answers (and fun facts) are listed at the end of the quiz.
  
  
• Grab your favorite drink, play along, and challenge your friends!
  
  

We post a new quiz every month, featuring different themes, from classic cocktails to spirits from around the world. Make sure to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest to join the conversation and participate in our interactive stories!

Ready? Let’s get started! 🍹👇

Brandy & Cognac Classics Quiz: 10 Questions

1. Which classic cocktail is made with Cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice?
   A) Sidecar
   B) Old Fashioned
   C) Sazerac
   D) Manhattan
   
   
2. What sets Cognac apart from other types of brandy?
   A) It must be aged for at least 20 years
   B) It can only be produced in the Cognac region of France
   C) It must be made from only one type of grape
   D) It is always flavored with vanilla
   
   
3. Which brandy cocktail is named after a historic New Orleans district?
   A) Vieux Carré
   B) Brandy Crusta
   C) Sazerac
   D) French 75
   
   
4. The Brandy Alexander is a dessert cocktail made with brandy, cream, and which other ingredient?
   A) Chocolate liqueur
   B) Coffee liqueur
   C) Crème de cacao
   D) Vanilla syrup
   
   
5. What is the base spirit in a traditional Metropolitan cocktail?
   A) Bourbon
   B) Rum
   C) Brandy
   D) Vodka
   
   
6. Which of the following cocktails includes both Cognac and rye whiskey?
   A) Vieux Carré
   B) Sazerac
   C) Brandy Sour
   D) Stinger
   
   
7. The Stinger cocktail is a simple two-ingredient drink made with Cognac and which other ingredient?
   A) Amaretto
   B) Crème de menthe
   C) Vermouth
   D) Ginger liqueur
   
   
8. Which cocktail, known for its sugared rim, is considered a precursor to the Sidecar?
   A) French 75
   B) Brandy Crusta
   C) Sazerac
   D) Corpse Reviver No. 2
   
   
9. Which classic cocktail combines Cognac, rum, orange curaçao, lemon juice and bitters, often served in a coupe glass?
   A) Champs-Élysées
   B) Vieux Carré
   C) Harvard
   D) Between the Sheets
   
   
10. What does “VSOP” stand for when referring to Cognac?
    A) Very Smooth Old Production
    B) Very Special Oak Process
    C) Very Special Old Pale
    D) Vintage Select Original Product
    
    

🍹 Answers & Fun Facts about Brandy & Cognac Classics 🍹

1. A) Sidecar
   The Sidecar is a classic Cognac cocktail that perfectly balances citrus and sweetness with Cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.
   
   
2. B) It can only be produced in the Cognac region of France
   Like Champagne, Cognac is a protected designation, meaning only brandy made in the Cognac region of France can bear the name.
   
   
3. A) Vieux Carré
   The Vieux Carré was created in New Orleans’ French Quarter (Vieux Carré means “Old Square” in French). It’s a rich, complex cocktail with Cognac, rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, and bitters.
   
   
4. C) White crème de cacao
   The Brandy Alexander is a creamy, chocolatey delight, made with Cognac or brandy, white crème de cacao, and cream.
   
   
5. C) Brandy
   The Metropolitan is a lesser-known brandy cocktail similar to a Manhattan, made with brandy, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
   
   
6. A) Vieux Carré
   The Vieux Carré blends Cognac and rye whiskey, making it a bold yet balanced cocktail with a rich history.
   
   
7. B) Crème de menthe
   The Stinger is a smooth after-dinner drink made with Cognac and crème de menthe, offering a minty kick.
   
   
8. B) Brandy Crusta
   The Brandy Crusta is a 19th-century cocktail with brandy, lemon juice, orange curaçao, and bitters. It’s served in a sugar-rimmed glass, inspiring the later Sidecar.
   
   
9. D) Between the Sheets
   This cocktail is similar to a Sidecar but includes rum alongside Cognac, orange curaçao and lemon juice.
   
   
10. C) Very Special Old Pale
    “VSOP” is a Cognac classification meaning “Very Special Old Pale,” indicating it has been aged for at least four years in oak barrels.

🥃 How did you do? 

We hope you enjoyed this month’s Worthington’s Bar Pub Quiz! Whether you aced it or learned something new, we’d love to hear from you—drop your score in the comments or share your results on Instagram!

If you want to brush up on your knowledge or learn more about the spirits behind these cocktails, don’t miss our Beginner’s Guide to Brandy & Cognac blog post.

📅 Next month’s theme: Holiday & Winter Cocktails — so stay tuned!

Want to put your knowledge into practice? Check out our latest cocktail recipes and start mixing!

🥂 See you next month for another round!