Brandy used to be what you reached for after a gut-busting steakhouse dinner, or paired with a fine cigar during poker night. It’s complex, leathery, and strong—not exactly a go-to for easy-drinking summer cocktails. But Copper & Kings American Brandy Co. would beg to differ. The Louisville, Kentucky-based spirit packs a wallop at 90 proof, is aged in used bourbon barrels, and can still spawn cool cocktails fit for a barbecue or pool party.

“Brandy’s cheat is that it has length,” says Copper & Kings co-founder Joe Heron. “It has all the heft and structure that you look for in terms of body and flavor and depth, but it breaks into a gallop so effortlessly. The finish is just delicious. That’s why it works so well in cocktails and by itself.”

Hey, you heard the man. Try the brandy drinks below—which were crafted for C&K brandies but can be made with other brands—and if you're too lazy to play bartender, at least make a “Poor Man’s Old Fashioned." “It’s just brandy on the rocks with an orange peel,” says Heron. “It’s everything you like about an Old Fashioned, without the work. I’d like one right now, actually.”

So would we. Now read on and drink up.

BEER WITH JESUS:

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. C&K craft distilled brandy

.5 oz. Woodruff Syrup

4 oz. New Belgium Snapshot Ale

Lemon peel for garnish

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in highball glass. Add large ice cubes. Garnish with lemon peel.

Created By: Jackie Zykan

JIM MORRISON:

Ingredients:

2 oz. C&K craft distilled brandy

4 oz. root beer (or Mexican Coke)

.5 oz Ramazotti (or root beer schnapps)

1 dash Angostura bitters

Lemon peel for garnish

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in highball glass. Add ice. Garnish with lemon peel.

Created by: Jackie Zykan

RAMBLE ON:

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. C&K immature brandy

.75 oz. fresh grapefuit juice

.25 Giffard Elderflower liquer

1 dash simple syrup

3 dashes Suze Gentian liquer

3 dashes Abotts bitters

Top with ginger beer

Thai basil

Instructions: Combine all ingredients except ginger beer in shaker and fill bottom tin with ice. Shake vigorously. Fine strain over 4 to 5 large ice cubes. Top with ginger beer, garnish with Thai basil. Created By: Michael R. Anderson

GOV'T MULE:

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. C&K craft distilled brandy 

.5 oz. Del Maguey Vida Mezcal

.75 oz. lime juice

.5 oz. simple syrup

1 dash Hellfire bitters

Top with ginger beer

lime wheel

Instructions: Build all ingredients, ginger beer last, in a mug over crushed ice.

Created by: Michael R. Anderson

EVIL URGES:

Ingredients:

3 oz. C&K craft distilled brandy

2 oz. Crispin HoneyCrisp

2 dashes Absinthe

1 sugar cube

1 dash Peychaud’s Bitters

Lemon

Instructions: In mixing glass, dash bitters over sugar cube and muddle. Add ice and brandy. Stir until well chilled. Swirl absinthe into a rocks glass to coat and discard extra. Fill glass with ice. Strain the chilled mixture over ice and top with two ounces of Crispin HoneyCrisp. Garnish with lemon peel.

Created by: Krista Kemple

THE E-TYPE:

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. C&K craft distilled brandy

.75 oz. Becherovka

4 oz. Crispin Browns Lane Cider

3 dashes black walnut bitters

Instructions:

Add Brandy and Becherovka to mixing glass. fill with ice. Stir, strain into ice filled Collins glass. Top with cider and bitters. Stir.

Created by: Jackie Zykan

CHAMPAGNE SUPERVOX:

Ingredients:

1 oz C&K immature brandy.

.25 oz. C&K absinthe

.75 oz. Mandarine Napoleon

2 oz. club soda

2 oz. Champagne

Orange peel for garnish

Instructions: Combine ingredients in highball glass. Add ice. Garnish with orange peel.

Created By: Jackie Zykan

BACK IN FASHION:

Ingredients:

2 oz. C&K immature brandy

.5 oz. St. Germain

2 dashes Celery Bitters

Lime Twist

Instructions: Combine ingredients in mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir well, strain into an ice-filled cocktail glass and garnish with a twist of lime.

Created by: Marie Zahn

EDV&T:

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. C&K immature brandy

.5 oz. C&K craft-distilled brandy

.5 oz. lime juice

.5 oz. Biterman's Commonwealth Amaro

.75 oz. simple syrup

6 oz. Perrier

2 dashes Angostura bitters

Orange wheel

Lime wheels

Cilantro

Instructions: Combine all ingredients other than bitters in wine glass over ice, Perrier last. Then insert bitters, orange wheel, lime and cilantro.

Created by: Michael R. Anderson

IF YOU LIKE PINA COLADAS

Ingredients:

2 oz. C&K immature brandy

3 oz. Pineapple soda

.5 oz. Kalani Coconut Liquer

.5 oz. lime juice

Lime wheel or pineapple leaf garnish

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in highball glass, gently stir. Fill with ice. Garnish with lime wheel or pineapple leaf.

Created by: Jackie Zykan

SKINNY LOVE

Ingredients:

2 oz. C&K immature brandy

2 oz. club soda

1 oz. grapefuit juice

.5 oz. Stevia syrup

Grapefruit slice for garnish

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in highball glass. Add ice and garnish with grapefruit.

Created by: Jackie Zykan

And if you happen to be in Louisville on June 5th, check out Copper & Kings' "Craft to Cocktail 2.0" event at the Kentucky Bourbon Affair.