How Is Brandy Made And Different Varieties Of Brandy

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What Is Brandy?

Brandy as it is today, began to appear as early as the 12th century and became generally popular in the 14th century. It has a rich history and when it comes to how is Brandy made you will be surprised to read that came by accident when wine was distilled to preserve it for long journeys on merchant ships. Brandy in a short way, is in the category of spirit that is made by distilling wine. This concentrates the alcohol and creates a strong, high-alcohol spirit. Brandy gets its name from how it is made because the word “brandy” originates from the Dutch word “brandewijn” which means “burned wine”. Brandy is usually between 35 and 60% alcohol and is traditionally enjoyed as a drink after dinner. Now that we know what brandy is, let’s have a look at how is brandy made.

How Is Brandy Made?

The majority of brandies are made from grapes, but some are also made from different fruits. In this post we will focus more on the traditional style of brandy, which is obviously made from grapes.

The first phase of the brandy-making process is the same as the wine-making process and begins with harvesting grapes which end up with wine. Wine usually has an alcohol percentage of about 12 to 15% and it is this wine that is then heated up and distilled until it becomes a clear liquid with a much higher alcohol percentage. The distilled wine is then taken and placed in oak barrels where it matures over a long period. This period can last for a minimum of one year and last for up to thirty years. Maybe you are wondering what this time in the barrel does to the distilled wine in the barrel. It is this time in the barrel that gives the liquid its wonderful golden color and also several incredible flavors from the interaction of the spirit with the oak.

The final stage of the brandy-making process is the bottling and selling of the liquid around the world. Now that you know how is brandy made, do you know the name of the special brandy glass that the liquid is being served in bars around the world? It is called the brandy balloon or the brandy snifter and is the perfect glass for brandy because by holding it in your hand, the liquid is heated up by your hand which then helps to release the wonderful flavors and aromas. So far by now, you should be able to know how is brandy made and what is brandy.

The Different Varieties Of Brandy

Brandy is a popular spirit that is produced all over the world such as in France, South Africa, the USA, Portugal, Spain, and more. Below we will discuss the main two varieties of brandy that derive their name from the region where they are produced. In the same way that Champagne gets his name from he region where it is produced, so do the varieties of brandy, cognac and armagnac.

1. Cognac

Cognac gets its name from the town of Cognac which is found in the west of France. There are six growth areas where the cognac is produced:

1. Bons Bois
2. Bois Ordinaires
3. Grande Champagne
4. Petite Champagne
5. Borderies
6. Fins Bois

Cognac is made from white wine grapes, of which the most common is the Ugni Blanc Grape. One of the special characteristics in the production of Cognac is that all cognacs are double-distilled in pot stills using the traditional method known as “a repasse”. From here what is, what is known as the “eau-de-vie” is then taken and stored in oak casks where it is matured for a long period of time. When it comes to the typical flavors of Cognacs, they are usually incredibly big, bold, and spicy with hints of chocolate and coffee.

2. Armagnac

Armagnacs, like cognacs, get their name from the place they were produced. In particular, they are produced in the Armagnac region in Gascony, which is located in the south-west of France. The grapes used to make Armagnac are:

1. Baco 22A
2. Colombard
3. Folle Blanche
4. Ugni Blanc

When it comes to distillation, Armagnac is very different from Cognac. This is because Armagnac is distilled only once and the distillation is being made in column stills unlike Cognac was made in pot stills. Because the distillation takes place only once, Armagnacs are often more fragrant than Cognacs. because the liquid isn’t as refined. After this, the same process as Cognacs is followed with the resulting distillates being placed in barrels where they are then left for maturation. When it comes to the flavors of Armagnac, they are slightly more understated than Cognacs. They have a drier, more medicinal, and almost floral flavor.

Is important for you to know that are many other varieties of Brandy such as Calvados, Brandy De Jerez, American Brandy, Pisco and much more. These are just a few examples of the many varieties of brandy available around the world. Each type has its own distinct characteristics and is influenced by factors such as grape variety, production methods, and aging process. We went through the most popular of two types such as Cognac And Armagnac.

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