Brandy is delicious on its own, in cocktails or as a drink after meals. Rich in delicate flavors and aromas, it is distilled from wine to produce a liqueur that contains 35-60% alcohol. You can enjoy it by knowing its history, the different varieties and the correct way to drink it.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Learning to Know and Choose Brandies
Step 1. Learn how brandy is made
This liqueur is a distillate made with fruit juice. The fruits are crushed to obtain the juice, which is then left to ferment to obtain wine. Afterwards, the wine is distilled to make the brandy. The liqueur is usually left to age in wooden barrels, although some types are sold soon after production.
- Brandy is typically made from grapes, but there are varieties based on apples, peaches, plums and many other fruits. If a brandy is made from another fruit, the name of the product is mentioned together with the word "brandy". For example, an apple wine distillate is called apple brandy.
- The typical dark color of brandy comes from barrel aging. Unaged products do not have the classic caramel color and often contain dyes to achieve the same effect.
- Marc brandy is made a little differently. The wine to be distilled, in fact, is not obtained from the simple fermentation of grape juice, but from that of juice, skins, stalks and seeds of the fruit. This variety is best known as grappa in Italy and as marc in England and France.
Step 2. Learn some information about the history of brandy
The name "brandy" originates from the Dutch word "brandewijn" or "burnt wine", which recalls the warm and luminous sensation of the first sip of a good brandy.
- This liqueur has been made since the twelfth century, but was originally produced only by doctors and apothecaries as a medicine. The French authorities authorized winemakers to distil it in the sixteenth century.
- The French brandy industry grew slowly, until the Dutch started importing this liqueur to consume it and export it to other European states. It was cheaper to transport than wine due to the higher amount of alcohol it contained, making it a viable alternative for merchants.
- The Dutch invested in the construction of distilleries in the French wine-producing areas: the Loire, Bordeaux and Charente. The Charente has become the most profitable area for the production of brandy and that is where the town called Cognac is located.
Step 3. Learn about the different types of brandy and their various denominations, according to aging
The most common types include Armagnac, Cognac, American brandy, pisco, apple brandy, eaux de vie (brandy) and Brandy de Jerez. These liqueurs are cataloged according to the years of aging, following a specific system for each variety.
Step 4. Learn about the different aging systems
The brandy is produced with a slow and delicate process that allows to extract all the aromas from the wine and is traditionally aged in oak barrels. There are different aging and classification systems for the different varieties of this liqueur. Common denominations include AC, VS (Very Special), VSOP (Very Special Old Pale), XO (Extra Old), Hors d'age, and vintage, but all of them vary greatly depending on the type of product.
- VS indicates a product aged at least two years. These liqueurs are more suitable for cocktails than as a pure drink.
- VSOP indicates products aged between 4 and a half years and 6 years.
- XO indicates products aged 6 and a half years or more.
- Hors d'age brandies are too old to determine their age, for whatever reason.
- For some brandies these are official names, but for others they are not.
Step 5. Try armagnac
This liqueur is a grape brandy named after the Armagnac region in southwestern France. It is made from a blend of Colombard and Ugni Blanc grapes and is distilled only once in column stills. It is then aged for at least two years in French oak barrels, a process that gives the product a more rustic flavor than that of cognac. After aging, the brandies from different vintages are blended to obtain a product with more consistent characteristics.
- The three-star or VS (Very Special) brandies are blends in which the youngest liqueur has been aged for at least two years in oak barrels.
- VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) indicates that the youngest product in the blend has been aged for at least four years in oak barrels, although many such brandies are much older.
- Napoleon or XO (Extra Old) brandies contain only products aged for at least six years.
- Hors d’age products contain brandy aged at least ten years.
- If a bottle of armagnac reports the duration of aging, the number refers to the "youngest" brandy used in the blend.
- There are vintage Armagnacs aged at least ten years, which show the year of the harvest on the bottle.
- These aging categories only apply to armagnac; cognacs and other brandies have different meanings for the same denominations.
Step 6. Try the cognac
This liqueur is a grape brandy named after the city in France where it was first produced and is made with a specific blend of grapes that includes the Ugni Blanc variety. It is distilled twice in copper stills and aged in French oak barrels for at least two years.
- The three-star or VS (Very Special) brandies are blends in which the youngest liqueur has been aged for at least two years in oak barrels.
- VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) indicates that the youngest product in the blend has been aged for at least four years in oak barrels, although almost all brandies in this category are much older.
- Napoleon, XO, Extra or Hors d'age cognacs contain brandy blends aged for at least six years in oak barrels. On average, these products have aged for 20 years or more.
- Some cognacs age 40-50 years in oak barrels.
Step 7. Try American brandy
These liqueurs include many different brands and are not regulated by strict laws. Aging denominations, such as VS, VSOP and XO are not controlled by the authorities and you should consider this when making your purchase. There are only two US regulations that affect consumers when it comes to brandies.
- According to the law, if a brandy has not been aged for at least two years, it must have "immature" (immature) on the label.
- Also, if the brandy is not grape based, the starting fruit must be indicated on the label.
- Since the names are not regulated by law, different brands give different meanings to the classifications and the aging processes of these products are often short. Check the distillers' websites for more information on particular varieties and their aging.
- There are no laws governing the distillation techniques to be used.
Step 8. Try pisco brandy
This unaged grape liqueur is made in Peru and Chile. The color, due to the lack of aging, is transparent. There is currently a dispute between Peru and Chile over who should be allowed to produce pisco and whether its area of origin should be limited to specific regions.
Step 9. Try an apple brandy
This liqueur is made using apples, and is produced in the United States, where it is called applejack, and in France, where it is called calvados. It is a very versatile drink, used in numerous cocktails.
- The American version, the applejack, is very lively and fruity.
- The French version, calvados, is more delicate and has a more structured flavor.
Step 10. Try the brandy (eaux de vie)
Brandy is a generic name attributed to all brandies made with fruits other than grapes, such as raspberries, pears, plums, cherries and many others. They are often transparent because they have not undergone an aging process.
In Germany the brandy is called "Schnapps"
Step 11. Try the Brandy de Jerez
This product originates from the region of Andalusia in Spain and requires a specific processing, which only allows the use of copper stills. The liqueur is then aged in American oak barrels.
- Brandy de Jerez Solera is the youngest and most fruity variety, aged for a minimum of one year.
- Brandy de Jerez Solera Reserva has aged for at least three years.
- Brandy de Jerez Solera Gran Reserva is the oldest liqueur, aged at least 10 years.
Step 12. Choose your brandy according to type and aging when purchasing
You can find liqueurs of the types described, or read the simple wording "brandy" on the label. If the liqueur does not belong to a particular variety, look for the country of production and the fruit used (e.g. grapes, fruit or pomace). After choosing the type of product, consider aging. Remember that the general aging categories for brandies can vary a lot.
Method 2 of 3: Drink the Brandy Smooth
Step 1. Learn what smooth means
Drinking "straight" brandy means not mixing it with any other drink or adding ice. The taste you will feel will be only that of the liqueur and you will be able to fully savor its taste.
The ice melts and water the brandy, ruining the flavor
Step 2. Drink brandy straight if you have a bottle of good quality aged liquor available
The best brandies should be drunk alone. This allows you to fully enjoy their flavor, making the tasting and your experience more pleasant.
Step 3. Get a snifter glass
These glasses, also known as balloon or napolèon, are low, made of glass, with a wide base that tightens near the mouth. They have a short stem and come in many sizes, although you shouldn't fill them with more than 60ml of liquor at a time. They are perfect glasses for drinking brandy, because they concentrate the aromas in the upper part of the glass, favoring the use of smell.
Clean the glasses thoroughly and let them air dry to prevent other flavors from interfering with those of the liquor
Step 4. Serve the drink immediately
Brandies don't have to breathe like wine. If you let the liqueur stand for too long, some of the alcohol will evaporate and carry some of the characteristics of the product with it.
Step 5. Heat the glass in your hand
Many experts prefer to reheat the brandy, because a slightly higher temperature enhances its flavor and aroma. The best way to do this is to hold the glass in your hand. The large base of the glass makes this step very easy.
- You can also warm the glass by pouring hot water into it, then throw it away before serving the brandy.
- Another way to reheat brandy is to carefully pass the glass over an open flame.
- Be careful not to overheat the brandy! If you did, the alcohol would evaporate and spoil the flavor and aroma of the product.
- Do not swing the liqueur in the glass, as some of the brandy aromas may be lost.
Step 6. Smell the brandy while holding the glass at chest height
Smelling the product at this distance allows you to feel the floral notes and introduce the delicate aromas into the nose. This way your senses won't be overwhelmed when you taste the liqueur.
Step 7. Bring the glass to your chin and sniff again
Lift the snifter and inhale deeply through the nose. Smelling at this height allows you to feel the dried fruit notes in the liqueur.
Step 8. Raise the snifter directly under the nostrils, then inhale through the nose and mouth
This allows you to feel the spicy notes of the brandy. The sensation will be much more complex than the previous ones.
Step 9. Take a very small sip
The first sip serves only to wet the lips, to prevent the taste of the liqueur from invading your senses too strongly. If you don't follow this advice, the very intense taste of the brandy may discourage you from tasting it again.
Step 10. Drink more sips, gradually increasing the amount
This will get your mouth used to the flavor. Only when your taste buds are ready will you be able to fully appreciate the taste of the brandy.
To taste brandy, the aroma is as important as the flavor, so be sure to continue smelling the liqueur as you sip it
Step 11. If you want to taste more different brandies, start with the youngest and work your way up to the older one
Always leave a small amount of each product to taste later - you will be surprised to find out how much your tasting experience can change when your nose and palate have become accustomed to the strong flavors of brandy.
Step 12. Try not to observe the type and cost of the brandy you are tasting if you are tasting multiple products
This information can influence your sensations, so it's best to hide it to really determine the flavors you like best.
You can mark the glasses on the bottom somehow before pouring the liquor into them. Then swap positions so you don't know what product you're tasting
Method 3 of 3: Drinking Brandy-Based Cocktails
Step 1. Drink brandy-containing cocktails to enhance younger, cheaper spirits
For example, you can use a VS product or one without a denomination in this way. Brandy is part of the wine family, so not all soda and tonic water pairings are suitable, but there are many great-tasting cocktails.
Although cognac is a rather expensive aged brandy, it is often used in cocktails
Step 2. Try a Sidecar
It is a classic cocktail, of which the Ritz Carlton in Paris, France, claims to be created in the early 1900s. To prepare it you need 45 ml of cognac, 30 ml of Cointreau or triple sec, 15 ml of fresh lemon juice, a lemon zest for garnish and, if you wish, some sugar on the rim of the glass.
- Garnish a frozen cocktail glass with sugar on the rim. These glasses have a long stem and an inverted triangle chalice. Freeze the glass in the freezer, then dip the rim into a plate of sugar to garnish.
- Pour the ingredients (except the lemon zest) into a shaker with some ice cubes and shake the drink vigorously.
- Strain the liquid to remove the ice cubes and pour it into the glass.
- Garnish with lemon zest. To get the classic spiral zest, peel a small strip from a lemon following a full circle.
- You can change the ratio of cognac, Cointreau and lemon juice to find the perfect flavor for you.
Step 3. Try a Metropolitan
It is a classic cocktail, whose recipe dates back to 1900. To prepare it you need 45 ml of brandy, 30 ml of sweet vermouth, half a teaspoon of sugar syrup and 2 drops of angostura.
- Make a simple syrup by mixing a cup of water with a cup of extra-fine sugar in a glass jar. Seal the jar and shake until the sugar is completely dissolved. Keep the mixture in the refrigerator.
- Pour all the ingredients into a shaker with ice cubes and shake well.
- Strain the cocktail into a chilled cocktail glass. This glass has a long stem and an inverted triangle shaped goblet.
Step 4. Try a Gentleman's Hot Toddy
It is a classic hot drink, historically used as a medicine. It can be made with many liqueurs, including traditional or apple brandy. You need 30 ml of brandy, 1 tablespoon of honey, a quarter of a lemon, a cup of water, a pinch of cloves, a pinch of nutmeg and two cinnamon sticks.
- Line the bottom of a cup or Irish coffee glass with honey, then add the brandy and the juice of a quarter of a lemon.
- Boil water in a saucepan and pour it into the glass.
- Stir the drink, then add the cloves and cinnamon.
- Let it sit for 5 minutes, then add the nutmeg and enjoy the drink!
- You can change the ratio of brandy to water. If you are using apple brandy, you can choose to use more liqueur to give the drink more flavor.
Step 5. Try a Pisco Sour
It is the most popular way to consume pisco and the most characteristic drink of Peru, also widely drunk in Chile. To prepare it you need 95 ml of pisco, 30 ml of freshly squeezed lime juice, 22 ml of sugar syrup, 1 egg white fresh and 1 drop of angostura or amargo, if you can find it.
- Make a simple syrup by mixing a cup of water with a cup of extra-fine sugar in a glass jar. Seal the jar and shake until the sugar is completely dissolved. Store it in the refrigerator.
- Mix the pisco, lime, syrup and egg white in an ice-free shaker, then shake vigorously until the egg white is fluffy, about 10 seconds.
- Add the ice, then shake very vigorously to cool the cocktail, about 10 seconds.
- Filter the ice and pour the cocktail into a special frozen glass. The pisco sour glass is quite small and has the shape of a normal grappa glass, with the narrower base and the edges that widen at the top.
- Add the drops of angostura on top of the egg white.
Step 6. Try the Jack Rose
It is a classic cocktail very popular in the 1920s, based on applejack, the American variety of apple brandy. You need 60ml applejack, 30ml lime juice and 15ml grenadine. It's not easy to find some real American applejack, but if you can get your hands on a bottle, you should try this cocktail.
- Pour all the ingredients into a shaker with ice cubes and shake well.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. This glass has a long stem and an inverted triangle-shaped goblet.
Step 7. Try the Julep Prescription
This drink first appeared in 1857 and is a blend of cognac and rye whiskey, perfect for cooling you down on hot summer days. You need 45 ml of VSOP cognac or another excellent brandy, 15 ml of rye whiskey, 2 teaspoons of sugar dissolved in 15 ml of water and two sprigs of fresh mint.
- Put the sugar and water in a tall glass or traditional silver goblet, then stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Add the mint leaves to the glass and gently squeeze them to release the aromatic oils. Do not crumble them or you will impart a bitter taste to the cocktail.
- Add the brandy and rye whiskey to the glass, then mix well.
- Fill the glass with crushed ice and stir with a long spoon until the glass freezes on the sides.
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and serve with a straw.
Advice
- If you can't stand the taste of straight brandy, you can add very little water before tasting it.
- There are many different cocktails made with brandy and you can also come up with new ones. Do your research or use your imagination!
Warnings
- Alcohol consumption limits the ability to drive a car or operate heavy machinery, and excessive consumption can cause serious health problems.
- Do not drink alcohol if you are pregnant, as it endangers your baby's health.
