Everything You Wanted To Know About Brandy

The name Brandy is derived from brandywine (more accurately from Dutch brandewijn which means 'burnt wine'). Barndy is a spirit produced by means of distilling wine, the wine having first been produced by means of fermenting grapes. Brandy contains 40%-60% alcohol by volume and is normally consumed as an after-dinner drink. It is generally coloured with caramel colouring to imitate the effect of long aging in wooden casks.

The origins of brandy are clearly tied to the development of distillation. Concentrated alcoholic beverages were known in ancient Greece and Rome and may have a history going back to ancient Babylon. Brandy, as it is known today, first began to appear in the 12th century and became generally popular in the 14th century.

Initially wine was distilled as a preservation method and as a way to make the wine easier for merchants to transport. It was also thought that wine was originally distilled to lessen the tax which was assessed by volume. The intent was to add the water removed by distillation back to the brandy shortly before consumption.

It was discovered that after having been stored in wooden casks, the resulting product had improved over the original distilled spirit. In addition to removing water, the distillation process leads to the formation and break-up of numerous aroma compounds, fundamentally altering the composition of the distillate from its source. Non-volatile substances such as pigments, sugars, and salts remain behind in the still. As a result, the taste of the distillate may be quite unlike that of the original source.

1) American grape brandy is almost always from California. Popular brands include Christian Brothers, Coronet, E&J, Korbel, and Paul Masson.

2) Armagnac is made from grapes of the Armagnac region in Southwest of France (Gers, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne). It is single-continuous distilled in a copper still and aged in oak casks from Gascony or Limousin. Armagnac was the first distilled spirit in France. Armagnacs have a specificity: they offer vintage qualities. Popular brands are Darroze, Baron de Sigognac, Larressingle, Delord, Laubade, Gélas and Janneau.

3) Brandy de Jerez is the brandy from the area of Jerez. As such it is an essential ingredient to Sherry, but it is also available separately. Like Sherry and Cognac it is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).

4) Cognac comes from the Cognac region in France, and is double distilled using pot stills. Popular brands include Hine, Martell, Rémy Martin, Hennessy, Ragnaud-Sabourin, Delamain and Courvoisier.

5) Lourinhã, located in western Portugal's Estremadura region, is one of the few brandy-making areas to receive appellation status along with Cognac and Armagnac.

Other grape brandies: Brandies are also produced in several other countries, including Portugal where it is called aguardente (burning water), Mexico, Germany, Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova, Cyprus, Italy.

1) B&B
1 oz Benedictine
1 oz brandy

Pour the Benedictine into a brandy snifter.
Use the back of a bar spoon to gently float the brandy on top.

2) Brandy Alexander
1 1/2 oz Brandy
1 oz Dark Crème de Cacao
1 oz Half-and-half or Heavy cream
1/4 tsp grated Nutmeg
Rather than nutmeg, fresh Mint leaves or an equal measure of Ginger have been used for different flavor blends with the Cacao.

In a shaker half-filled with ice cubes, combine the brandy, crème de cacao, and half-and-half. Shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with the nutmeg.

3) Brandy Sour
2 oz brandy
juice of 1/2 lemons
1/2 tsp powdered sugar
1/2 slice lemon
1 cherry

Shake brandy, juice of lemon, and powdered sugar with ice and strain into a whiskey sour glass. Decorate with the lemon slice, top with the cherry, and serve.

4) Crunk Juice
8 oz can Red Bull® energy drink
1 1/2 oz Brandy

Pour both ingredients into a cup or glass, stir slightly, and serve.

5) Jack Rose
2 oz Applejack® brandy
1 oz lemon juice
1 oz grenadine syrup

Shake with crushed ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

6) French Connection
1 oz brandy
1 oz Grand Marnier® orange liqueur

Combine ingredients into a snifter and serve neat, or add a small amount of ice if desired.

7) Horse's Neck
spiral lemon peel
2 oz brandy
8 oz ginger ale
2-3 dashes Angostura bitters (optional)

Place the spiral lemon peel into a collins glass.
Secure one end of the peel over the lip of the glass.
Add ice cubes to the glass.
Pour in the bourbon and ginger ale.
Add a dash of bitters, if desired.
Stir well.

8) Nikolaschka
1.5 oz Brandy
1 lemon disk, peeled
1 teaspoon powdered coffee
1 teaspoon of powdered sugar

Pour brandy into a brandy snifter and place the lemon disk on top of the glass. Next cover half of the disk with coffee powder and the other half with a powdered sugar and serve.
One should eat the lemon with the coffee and sugar mixture and then enjoy the drink.

10) Paradise
1 oz Apricot Brandy
0.75 oz Orange Juice
0.75 oz Gin

Place some ice cubes in the shaker and add all the other ingredients. Shake for 6-8 seconds and strain into the glass. Serve undecorated.

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11) Porto Flip
1/4 oz Brandy
1.5 oz Ruby Port
1 egg yolk
A pinch of nutmeg for garnish

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Sprinkle nutmeg on top.

12) Brandy Fix
1 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Water
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
1/2 measure Cherry Brandy
1 measure Brandy

Dissolve the sugar in the water in a tumbler.
Add the remaining ingredients and fill with crushed ice.
Stir, place a lemon slice in the drink and serve with a straw.