What type of brandy should i buy

Floral and herbaceous—such a unique spirit for sipping. In This Article Expand. Our Picks. What to Look for. Why Trust The Spruce Eats? View On Wine. Best Budget: Fundador Brandy. View On Drizly. The 8 Best Drinking Glasses of Best for Sangria: Western Grace Brandy. Best for Cocktails: Bertoux Brandy. What The Experts Say "I love turning whiskey drinkers on to brandy. The 7 Best Cocktail Cherries of Best Flavored: St. George Raspberry Liqueur. View On Minibar Delivery. Best Clear Brandy: Singani 63 Brandy.

The 7 Best Cocktail Muddlers in Final Verdict For notes of caramelized pear, toasted oak, nutmeg, and vanilla, we recommend our top pick, Argonaut Brandy Fat Thumb view at Reserve Bar —delicious neat or as part of a cocktail. The 5 Best Cocktail Smokers in Continue to 5 of 8 below. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for thespruceeats.

At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Brandy is something of a hugely diverse umbrella term in the world of spirits, but a deliciously flavoursome one at that. To get technical for a second, largely speaking, to be classified as a brandy, the base ingredient of the spirit needs to be grape-based, with the exception of Eaux de Vie and fruit brandies such calvados, which uses apples or pears.

The happy accident was that it ended up even more viscous, rich and utterly delicious, given the lengthy maturation in oak casks, which imparted both flavour and colour.

But surprisingly the company produces around , bottles a year. Artisanal production at its best. This 15 year old has subtle wafts of elderflower, milk chocolate and dried fruit, mixed with maple syrup and candied orange notes on the palate. This offers a totally new take on the concept of armagnac, which is traditionally known to be a well-aged spirit.

Blanche is a refreshing un-aged and therefore clear armagnac, which has been produced predominantly for mixing. The heady aroma and flavour of fresh plums, apple stewed prunes and Tarte Tatin make this a very accessible choice for the armagnac virgin, looking for something to make a superb excursion from their usual gin and tonic. Laubade combines some classic grape varieties from the Bas region arguably the most premium including Baco, Folle Blanche and Colombard, each one breathing life and character into the spirit.

Hine is somewhat reinventing the direction of cognac, away from the traditional view of a brandy balloon glass, cigar pairing and dusty leather armchair.

As fine as these things might be under the right circumstances, a lighter, more refreshing side to cognac is on the rise and H By Hine has been designed with the cognac cocktail in mind, especially long drinks, where it excels. List of Partners vendors. By Betsy Andrews. Betsy Andrews. Betsy Andrews is a freelance journalist specializing in wine, spirits, food, travel, and the environment.

Learn about Liquor. Pin Share Email. Best Armagnac: Darroze 40 Year Les Grand Assemblages at The Whiskey Exchange The artisanal brandy is richer, more rustic, more textural—and less industrial—than its better-known competitor, cognac. Best Budget: Deau VS Cognac at Drizly This cognac is clean and smooth, like orange sherbet, with a bit of spice and bracing heat at the end. Best for Sipping: Camus XO Borderies at Drizly Bright, floral aromas come through in this brandy, but the palate is far more wintery, fruity, round and mellow.

Buy on Drizly. Buy on Drizly Buy on ReserveBar. Buy on Thewhiskyexchange. Buy on ReserveBar Buy on Caskers. Buy on Drizly Buy on Flaviar. Buy on Drizly Buy on Minibar Delivery. Buy on Drizly Buy on Thewhiskyexchange. Final Verdict The best brandy can feel like a once-in-a-lifetime sip.

FAQs What is brandy? What's the difference between cognac and brandy? How is brandy made? What's the best way to drink it? Why Trust Liquor. Continue to sample different types of brandies until you find a few that tickle your fancy. This can lead to interesting discoveries and revelations. Try drinking the brandy unadulterated, without ice or water. Pomace brandies, like grappa or Marc, may call for an acquired taste, and at the same time taste fruitier to you, due to its lack of age.

You may find your taste leans toward cognac. Part 3. Explore popular brands. Do an online search for the most popular types of brandies enjoyed in your area, or ask a store associate for insight.

If you prefer something fruitier or cocktail-friendly, look into purchasing Greek Metaxa and South American Pixo brandy. Certain brandies, like Apple and Calvados, go especially well with cheese and white chocolate. Determine your spend. Look up the cost of different types of brandy online. Ask for suggestions. Ask your friends and family for suggestions on what brandy you should purchase. Visit distillery and wine sites online and read over their recommendations for the best type of brandy for first-time buyers.

Log into a site like Ask. Yes, alcohol needs fermentation. It doesn't really go bad. Worst case scenario, it will taste a little "off. Yes No. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3.

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The longer they are aged; the more expensive they will get, so remember: you can always order a single snifter at a restaurant or bar. It may be more pricey than you might like, but much cheaper than buying a bottle that you end up not liking. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Brandy that is aged for a hundred years or more is considered vintage brandy.