B&B Cocktail

Classic B&B brandy cocktail on a light wood surface

The Spruce Eats

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

B&B stands for Bénédictine D.O.M. and Brandy. Making the drink really is as simple as mixing the two spirits. One of the best classic cocktails, it is an icon of sophisticated drinking and makes an ideal after-dinner drink or nightcap.

A B&B is often served on the rocks. Some drinkers prefer it straight up and others like it slightly warmer. It is almost always served in a brandy snifter, which captures the aroma and enhances the enjoyment of drinking it.

The producers of Bénédictine also make a pre-mixed B&B which is really good. However, if you have a favorite brandy, you will find a made-from-scratch B&B the better option.

"The B&B is a classic among classics. It is easy to make, it is satisfying, and it is hard to forget. This recipe showcases the seamlessness of this equal parts cocktail. Invitingly sweet grape and honey, touched by grilled almond and baking spice…how can you go wrong?" —Sean Johnson

B&B Cocktail on a wooden surface
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for B&B Brandy cocktail gathered

    The Spruce Eats

  2. Pour the liquors into a brandy snifter.

    Brandy and Bénédictine pouring into a snifter

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  3. Stir well.

    Stirring a B&B cocktail in a snifter

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  4. Add ice if you like. Serve and enjoy.

    B&B brandy cocktail on the rocks

    The Spruce Eats

Tips

  • The B&B is an excellent way to enjoy a fine brandy. The simple mix will enhance any sipping brandy and show off it's more elegant characteristics. Then again, Bénédictine can also transform a less expensive brandy into a very enjoyable drink.
  • If you pour cognac, the drink is called a Cognac and Bénédictine.

Recipe Variations

  • You can also use the back of a bar spoon to gently float the brandy on top of the liqueur. 
  • Snifters have a deep bowl, so swirling the drink around in the glass is a great way to mix it, too. It wakes up the aroma and flavor as you drink.
  • If you prefer a slightly warmed B&B, partially fill the snifter with warm water and let it rest for a few minutes. Discard the water before adding the spirits.
  • A very similar drink, the beautiful cocktail mixes cognac with Grand Marnier.

What Is B&B Liquor?

Bottles of B&B are a pre-mixed version of this cocktail. Produced by Bénédictine, it's a blend of 60 percent Bénédictine liqueur and 40 percent French brandy that's aged in French oak barrels and bottled at 40 percent ABV (80 proof). B&B was first made in 1937, making it one of the oldest bottled cocktails. It can simply be served on the rocks but also makes an excellent addition to hot and cold coffee drinks, including the affogato, an Italian gelato-espresso dessert. Some cocktail recipes, such as the peary bird, use it as an ingredient just like any other liqueur.

How Strong Is the B&B?

Enjoying a B&B is more about the experience than how much alcohol you're taking in. It's meant to be enjoyed slowly and savored for its exquisite taste, but it's also good to realize that it is strong. Most brandy is 80 proof, as is Bénédictine, so if you mix the two without ice, the B&B is 80-proof as well. A bit of dilution from ice knocks it down slightly, to about 34 percent ABV (68 proof).

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
272 Calories
0g Fat
24g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 272
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 1mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 16mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)