When making mixed drinks can you substitute bourbon for brandy?

While bourbon and brandy are both brown liquors, they have distinct flavor profiles and are not generally considered to be interchangeable in mixed drinks. Bourbon is an American whiskey, distilled from at least 51% corn, and aged in new, charred oak barrels. It has a sweet, oaky flavor with notes of vanilla and caramel. Brandy, on the other hand, is a distilled fruit spirit, made from fermented grapes or other fruits. It has a fruity, sweet flavor with notes of spice and can be aged in either new or used oak barrels.

Due to their different flavors, bourbon and brandy are not suitable substitutes for each other in most mixed drinks. For example, using bourbon in a Sidecar, which is traditionally made with brandy, would result in a drink that is too sweet and lacks the characteristic citrus notes. Similarly, using brandy in a Manhattan, which is traditionally made with bourbon, would result in a drink that is too fruity and lacks the bitterness of the vermouth.

There are a few cocktails that do call for both bourbon and brandy, such as the Vieux Carré, but these are rare exceptions. In most cases, it is best to stick to the traditional ingredients when making mixed drinks.