I Want Brandy!
The Sidecar is back: learn how to perfect this classic brandy cocktail for your next party, then improve your recipe arsenal with some basic drink formulas. Duos, trios, New Orleans sours and 3-2-1 ratios: Gary Regan breaks 'em down. Discover how to add layers to your cocktail creations — Baby Guinness and the B-52 will have you mastering the technique in no time.

Learn the ins and outs of brandy (hint: it's not all smoking jackets and book-lined studies). From cognac to armagnac, there's an entire world of brandy knowledge just waiting to be discovered. We'll show you the proper way to taste the spirit (and how not to nuke your nostrils when sniffing the snifter). Visit the Brandy Library in New York City to discover a catalog of more than 900 spirits. Spirit sommelier Ethan Kelley leads a tour, then introduces us to a Brandy Library original: Spirit School, where tudents can learn all about some of the more intimidating liquors like cognac and scotch, all the while expanding their spirit horizons. Not a fan of the smoking ban? Visit a cigar bar or try a truly unique cocktail: the Nicotini!

Before you invite someone up for a nightcap, make sure you know what to serve. We have a couple of late-night drinks and nighttime noshes that are perfect to dish out after the bars close. And what do you do when the party’s over and your guests are still swinging from the chandeliers? Here are a few tips to help you quickly — and subtly — break up the bash.