Brandy
Also known as: grape spirit
In short
Brandy is distilled wine or fermented fruit: the family that cognac, armagnac and calvados belong to. We explain the origin of the name, the relatives and how to drink brandy.
In depth
What is brandy?
Brandy is made when wine or fermented fruit is distilled. The name comes from the Dutch "brandewijn", literally burnt wine. The technique made wine durable and transportable before necessity turned into a luxury category.
The family at a glance
- Cognac: the crown of the family, with its own entry
- Armagnac: the older relative from the French southwest
- Calvados: apple brandy from Normandy
- Fruit brandies: kirschwasser and himbeergeist from the tradition of the distilleries
Neat or in a drink
Brandy is classically a digestif, neat after a meal, happily warmed slightly in the hand, exactly as you know it from our neat entry. In drinks, the sidecar is the classic, which you already know from our rim entry.
Remember this one
"Brandy is the family, cognac is the crown."
At our lounge
Neat or in a drink: ask our team what is currently on our shelves, the family is bigger than its most famous name.