Brandy

Brandy is any alcoholic liquor distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice containing at least 36% ABV. Some brandies are still fermented in wooden casks, although most brandies now use caramel coloring to imitate the aging process.The European Union, however, has it's own, much stricter definition that won't be used here for practical purposes.

Brandy owes much of its popularity to the Dutch, whose merchants devised a cheaper method of wine transport by distilling it beforehand—removing water from wine cuts its volume in half, which ultimately saved money on transport costs. Eventually it was noticed that when the distilled wine was left in wooden casks for an extended amount of time, it assumed a dark amber color, as well as a rich flavor and aroma. Others soon followed suit, creating brandy from many other fruits as well. By the 19th century, brandy was appreciated worldwide.

Cognac – Brandy that comes from the Cognac region of France is considered to be the world's finest. The region is separated into six zones, each producing cognac of varying quality. The zone of origin is often printed on the bottles of cognac, and can be ordered by quality: Grand Champagne, Petite Champagne, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, Borderies, Bois Ordinaires, with the first two being the best. cognac can also be rated according to age, where older is better and much pricier: Very Special, Very Special Old Pale, and Extra Old. This system also extends to all other grape brandies.

Armagnac – Older than cognac and made in the Gascony region of France, it is seen as a more rustic brandy than it's more fashionable sibling. Although it is made with the same grapes as cognac, Armagnac is distilled differently, allowing for a more pronounced flavor.

The Other Grape Brandies – Coming from across the world, the two most popular grape brandies hailing from outside of France are from Spain and California. The Spanish Brandy, Brandy de Jerez, is sweetish, while the California Brandy is lighter than its European competition.

Calvados – Like the two famous grape brandies, this apple brandy is named after its place of origin, the Calvados region of France. This brandy is made from the juices of carefully selected apple varieties and left to ferment with apple cider. Afterward it is double-distilled to create this widely-beloved drink.

Eu-de-Vie/Aqua Vitae – Colorless brandy distilled from a variety of fruit juices. The two names both mean “water of life,” a reference to the clear color. Popular fruit juices include strawberry, raspberry, cherry, and pear, although all types are typically very expensive.

Other Fruit/Fruit-Flavored Brandies – Other types of brandy include grape brandy flavored with a variety of fruits as well as colored fruit brandies like Applejack. These are usually cheaper and of lesser quality than most. You will find that most of these brandies have been unnaturally treated.