America’s Paul Masson won’t be the best brandy you ever try, but it will deliver plenty of bang for your buck. Before bottling its Cognac, Courvoisier separates its liquid and uses only the clean and pure liquid from the middle. Along similar lines, brandy can be aged for various periods of time. Man of Many participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we sometimes earn commissions from qualifying purchases. An unopened bottle can keep indefinitely as long as it’s stored properly: a tightly sealed container, away from heat or light. This is a great example of a good quality Spanish brandy and it’s a staple bottle. When it comes to the best brandies from the best brands, grapes do tend to dominate. Notes of fig and walnuts balance out the zest. Finally, we weighed up each bottle’s individual qualities, aroma and taste profile, before deciding what each unique bottle was most known for. “It’s very fruity but not cloying, with a silky mouthfeel.” Drink it in a snifter or balloon glass. Traditionally, VS (Very Special) brandy is aged for a minimum of two years, VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) means the youngest brandy in the blend has been aged for at least four years, and XO (Extra Old) denotes that the youngest brandy in the blend has sat in oak for a minimum of six years. VSOP: Very Superior Old Pale, or brandy that’s aged a minimum of four years. Asbach. Secondly, not all brandies are created equal. Use the VSOP in a brandy cocktail or sangria, but save the Cask Finish Collection for your sifter. These cookies do not store any personal information. The aged brandy is then bottled at 80 proof. Brandy Brand Champion Old Admiral is a case in point, and ranks highly as a result. It’s given perpetual good reviews, thanks to its notes of orange, black pepper, powdered cocoa and oaky leather and its long, cinnamon-dusted finish. This brandy is known for its internationally renowned guarantee of quality and intense bouquet of flavours like cinnamon and vanilla. Combining place, precision and time, Martell uses Ugni Blanc grapes from the Charente region near the Atlantic coast to give the brand its characteristic aromas. Click through the following pages to discover the top 10 best-selling Cognac and brandy brands, listed in order of their nine-litre case sales. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Founded: 1925 (originally established in 1910) Brandy is a distinct and classic liquor made by distilling wine, generally considered a late evening or after dinner drink. Pomace brandy or marc is incurred from the one-time pressed grapes, stems, seeds, and grape skins that are used for making wine. These brandies are known for being more mellow than previous categories thanks to their time spent in barrels. “I’d say it’s the most diverse category out there.". We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Grenache, Pinot Grigio and French Colombard are some of the most common varieties of grapes used to make brandy. my uncle will miss his hennessy-cream drops, as we play bridge, then poker. }); Then, take small sips of brandy, allowing it to roll around your mouth before swallowing. To drink brandy the classic way, leave the bottle on the counter for around an hour before drinking and then pour it into a tulip glass; the best glass used to savour the spirit. There are also XO (extra old) brandies, which age for at least six and a half years. Founder: Ansley J. Coale, Hubert Germain-Robin This is the best way to savour every mouthful of what’s known as one of the most popular brandies ever created. We use cookies on this site to store information on your device. It also needs to have been aged in the area bordered by the towns Sanlucar de Barrameda, El Puerto de Santa Maria, and Jerez de la Frontera.