What is Brandy?

What is Brandy?

Brandy is an alcoholic beverage distilled from fermented fruit juice, typically grapes. However, brandy encompasses a broad range of spirits and expressions that vary in both production methods and flavor. While grape-based brandy is both the most common and easily recognized, brandy can be made with a variety of different fruits like apples, pears, plums, cherries, and more. 

How is Brandy Made?

The base of all brandy is wine, whether it is fermented grape juice or other fruit juice. This wine is then distilled, often using pot still or column stills, and most brandy is then aged in either french or american oak barrels, which adds both flavor and color. Although many brandies made of fruit juice other than grapes are often unaged and clear in an effort to preserve the aroma and natural flavors of the fruit used in the brandy making process. After distillation and aging, brandy is often blended for consistency and complex flavor. Some are also sweetened or colored with caramel before being bottled. 

Types of Brandy

1. Grape Brandy: The most popular and most recognized form of brandy is grape brandy, which is made from fermented grape juice or wine. Grape brandies include well known types like Cognac and Armagnac, which come from France, as well as Brandy de Jerez, a Spanish brandy aged in a solera system. 

2. Fruit Brandy: Fruit Brandy, also known as Eau-de-Vie which means “water of life” in French, is a type of brandy made with distilled fruit juice other than grapes. Common fruits used include apples, plums, cherries, and pears. Fruit brandies are often known for their clear colors, intense fruit flavors, and higher alcohol content. Unlike other brandies, these are usually unaged and bottled with their natural fruit character. 

3. Pomace Brandy: This type of brandy is somewhat unique in that it is made from the skins, seeds, and stems that are left after the wine-making process, rather than the wine itself like more standard grape brandies. A popular example of a pomace brandy would be Grappa, which is produced in Italy. Pomace brandies are typically stronger than regular grape brandies and are accompanied by a more rustic and earthy flavor profile. 

Popular Brandy Regions

While brandy is made worldwide in a variety of countries, there are a few stand outs in the industry in terms of popularity and history. France is arguably the most well known in terms of historical production, with the Cognac and Armagnac regions being leaders in high-quality brandy. Other regions like Spain and Italy have made a mark on the brandy industry with Brandy de Jerez and Grappa coming out of the respective countries. Additionally, California in the United States is a major producer of both commercial and artisanal brandies. 

What Does Brandy Taste Like?

Due to how broad and diverse brandy is as a beverage, the flavors that can be produced are equally as varied. Each brandy’s flavor will depend on the fruit source used, the distillation, and the aging. However, some typical notes you get in brandies include:

• Fruity: Flavors like apricots, raisins, apples, and pears

• Spices: Notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves

• Oaky: Traditional flavors like vanilla, caramel, and smoke

• Earthy: Flavors like walnut, almond, and tobacco

Brandy covers a complex group of spirits with a diverse range of unique expressions. Whether it be a refined and consistent taste that comes with historic regions like Cognac or intense and fruit forward expressions of eau-de-vie, brandy offers an incredible depth for exploration into its many varieties. It is a versatile spirit accompanied by a long cultural heritage and is perfect for sipping, mixing, and even cooking.