Brandy can be produced anywhere in the world but Cognac has to be made from white grapes from specific French terroirs. Both generally contain 35–60 percent ABV. Brandy is typically made from grapes but can also be produced from another fermented fruit mash. However, a brandy made from a different fruit is typically called just that, for example, “apple brandy” or “pear brandy”. Find out more about the UK supermarket Tesco VSOP Cognac. 7. Lasserre Honey Liqueur Cognac (Walmart) In comparison to many other spirits, brandy doesn’t go off. An unopened bottle can keep indefinitely as long as it’s stored properly: a tightly sealed container, away from heat or light. Some people choose to heat their brandy slightly with a candle, by holding the bowl of the glass above a small candle for a moment or two. However, it’s easy to overheat the liquid this way, exposing the harsh alcohol fumes.

Brandy is a spirit distilled from wine or another fermented fruit juice. The name originates from the Dutch “brandewijn”, meaning “burnt wine”, and it’s thought to have been discovered when wine was boiled down to reduce its volume, with a view to making it cheaper to ship overseas. The result was an even richer drink that had taken on some of the taste and colour of its oak casks. We remain in the UK for this one, with supermarket giant Tesco’s VS offering. It’s another that’s won its fair share of awards, but we have to say that the presentation really does leave something to be desired: the word “boring” doesn’t go anywhere near enough describing this truly dull bottle (sorry, Tesco). The rather dull presentation of the Tesco VS, in our humble opinion… Finally comes the aging process. Brandy is typically aged in oak barrels to ensure flavor and quality. Some brandies, especially Spanish varieties, are aged using the Solera system, where the barrels are changed each year. After a period of aging, which varies depending on the country producing the liquid and the type of brandy, the spirit is bottled and prepared for retail. However, the Cognac has certainly impressed industry judges in various competitions, with a handful of silver awards to its name. Sorry for those of you outside of the UK, it appears that at present this is the only country where it’s offered for sale. It has an aroma of dark chocolate, port wine cask, exotic spices, and figs, while a sip will reveal notes of white and red grapes, dried apricot, nutmeg, cinnamon, honey, and caramel. It’s certainly a complex brandy, and one that will leave you wanting more than just one taste. It’s a popular choice for brandy lovers, with a warming finish and smoky wood quality running throughout.If you’re new to the world of brandy, the broad variety of options available on the market might be overwhelming at first. It will require patience and trial to explore the different brands. VSOP: Very Superior Old Pale, or brandy that’s aged a minimum of four years. These brandies are known for being more mellow than previous categories thanks to their time spent in barrels. Discover more about the Bredon XO Cognacand its parent company, Louis Royer. 3. Chevalier VS Cognac (Aldi) Rémy Martin is known for being one of the biggest cognac producers in the world. Its expertise can also be recognized as it’s part of the Comité Colbert, an association of luxury businesses that promote French know-how worldwide. As long as you keep the bottle tightly sealed and away from direct sunlight or heat, it should last indefinitely. It doesn’t improve with age once in the bottle, but nor should it go off if stored correctly.

This aging and storage process can often be a sign of an impressive brandy or cognac. Most brandies are blended products of various ages. The age of the youngest brandy in the blend designates the age statement on the bottle, but can also be noted with various abbreviations: No time to read through our entire list? We’ve chosen Rémy Martin XO as the overall best brandy of the year and Asbach Brandy 8 Year as the best value brandy. Brandy de Jerez – Comes from Spain and is distilled once in copper stills, then aged in oak barrels. This must be produced in the Jerez area of Andalusia, within the so-called “Sherry Triangle”, and comes in three categories. Solera is the youngest and fruitiest, with a minimum average age of one year; Solera Reserva has a minimum average age of three years, and the Solera Gran Reserva is the oldest with a minimum average age of 10 years. Any advice on serving and storing brandy?

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Any fruit that ferments can be distilled and turned into a brandy but the most common and most favored choice is grape. Courvoisier XO Cognac was judged to be one of the finest XO cognacs in the world and it’s easy to see why. It’s a bottle with many layers, thanks to the brand’s Master Distiller using a prime selection of beautifully matured eaux-de-vie, all aged from 11 to 25 years. There’s no limit to how long a brandy can age for – some of the finest bottles are aged for 20 to 30 years and promise a spectacular array of notes. How to drink Brandy and Cognac

But give it a bit of time, and you’ll discover a world of rich new flavors and fascinating nuances. What’s the difference between brandy and cognac? Produced for and sold by German cut-price chain, Lidl, the Bredon XO caused so much controversy when it was launched that even the French government stepped in! Bredon is, in fact, part of the more widely known house of Louis Royer, and when this XO hit the shelves for the headline price of 19.99 Euro, even though it was presented in a smaller sized 50cl bottle directly contravened French sales law. Read more about this in our blog article, Lidl Sells Bredon XO Cognac for 19.99 Euro. The Bredon XO Cognac had France up in arms with the price it was offered for Its impressive character means this is a brandy that should only be enjoyed neat or, at most, with ice. This sweet and smooth bottle is perfect to win over brandy novices right through to experts. Discover details about Lasserre Honey Liqueur Cognacand let us know your thoughts if you’ve tried it. 8. Waitrose Armagnac VSOPRead more about the supermarket Cognac that’s got everyone talking, and let us know if you’ve managed to try Chevalier VS Cognac. 4. Waitrose VSOP Cognac