SPIRITS
BRANDY
Brandy is a spirit which is distilled from fermented grape juice or WINE and suitably aged in Oak
barrel to get the final product BRANDY. It is distilled out by Pot still method at around 85° proof.
PROCESSING OF BRANDY
Brandy is produced in all parts of the world by distilling a wine at less than 190° proof. Then it
must be aged at least for 2 years to get the require level of product.
The word Brandy has derived from the phrase burnt wine and is also called Delightful soul of
wine or water of life. The Brandy is a colorless but obtained a beautiful garnet red color through
maturation. Thus Brandy is aged from 2 to 70 years.
COGNAC
“All COGNAC are brandy but all Brandy are not COGNAC”.
The Cognac are the most prestigious of all Brandies are made from a wine produced from a
certain type of grapes in the District of Cognac located north of BORDEAUX in France. Therefore
the grapes used to make Brandy can only be called as COGNAC otherwise; it is only a Brandy
and not COGNAC.
Cognac is distilled twice in the traditional pot still method. After second distillation the Brandy
thus produce is aged in a Oak barrel made of wood of Limousine forest. It takes around 10 barrels
of wine to make 1 barrel of Cognac. Therefore it develops a beautiful Amber Hue, mellow and
flavour throw aging, to get the ultimate product Cognac. Sometimes a caramel is added to the
Brandy to get it is proper amber color.
In the bottles of Cognac some of the English words that are found to denote the age of the Cognac
are as follow:-
V- VERY, S – SUPERIOR, O-OLD, P- PALE, E – ESPECIAL, F- FINE, X – EXTRA.
Therefore if VSOP is written on the Cognac bottle it means Very superior old pale.
Sometimes the word NAPOLEON can also be found written on Cognac bottles which signifies
that the Brandy is at least 5 years old. Certain other abbreviations are as follows:-
VO – 10 to 15 years
VOP – 15 to 20 years
VSO – 20 to 25 years
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VSOP – 25 to 40 years
XO – 50 -70 years or it is also called as Napoleon.
Grapes : Saint emilion,Folle blanche,Colambard
The Cognac are also denoted according to Star which as follows One star – 3 to 4 years, 2 star -
5 to 6 years, 3 star - 7 to 10 years, 4 star - 10 to 15 years, 5 star - 15 years to 20 years.
Some of the famous Cognac is REMY MARTIN, NAPOLEON, MARTELL, HENNESSEY,
COURVOISIER,OTARV
Cognac labels may bear the word GRAND CHAMPAGNE and PETIT CHAMPAGNE which
signifies it to be the best quality Cognac made from to the district Cognac.
This type of Cognac carries the appellation controlee designation. Fine Champagne must be
made from at least 50% grape from the Grand Champagne district.
BRAND NAMES OF BRANDY (INDIAN)
DOCTORS, HONEY BEE, GOLKUNDA, ARISTOCRAT, HAYORD’S.
ARMAGNAC
This is another well known French Brandy made from grapes from the South of BORDEAUX
region. Unlike Cognac it is distilled once and also has more heavy body and flavour and also
drier that Cognac. It is less distinct in aroma and less expensive in price.
Grapes: Folle blanche,Colambard,Bacco 22A
E.g; J.D Enalliac, Delord, Sanalens, Demontal,Saint Vivant,Claberie
OTHER BRANDIES
Although the term Brandy is generally used to denote a distilled product from grape wine, the
Brandy can also be distilled from other fruits as well. A famous apple Brandy of France is called
CALVADOS. In Germany the apple Brandies are known as APFELS CHNAPPS.
Another well known fruit Brandy is KRISCH made of black berries is very popular in France and
Switzerland.
The Brandies made from plum known as SLIVOVITZ of Germany.
Metaxa is a Greek brandy. Slightly sweetened. It is technically a liqueur but generally thought of
brandy. .
Pear William from pears of Switzerland and France.
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