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Brandy (short for brandywine, from Dutch brandewijn-burning wine) is a general term for distilled wine, usually 40-60% ethyl alcohol by volume. In addition to wine, this spirit can also be made from grape pomace or fermented fruit juice. Unless specified otherwise, brandy is made from grape wine. It is normally consumed as an after-dinner drink. "Claret is the liquor for boys; port for men; but he who aspires to be a hero must drink brandy." - Samuel Johnson The origins of brandy are unclear, and tied to the development of distillation. Concentrated alcoholic beverages were known in ancient Greece and Rome and may have a history going back to ancient Babylon. Brandy as it is known today first began to appear in the 12th century and became generally popular in the 14th century. Initially wine was distilled as a preservation method and as a way to make the wine easier for merchants to transport. It was also thought that wine was originally distilled to lessen the tax which was assessed by volume. The intent was to add the water removed by distillation back to the brandy shortly before consumption. It was discovered that after having been stored in wooden casks, the resulting product had improved over the original distilled spirit. Also, the distillation process doesn't just remove water, but leads to the formation and break-up of dozens of aroma compounds fundamentally altering the composition of the distillate. This is why unaged wine spirits (unaged brandy) diluted back to wine alcohol strength tastes nothing like the original wine. There are three primary types of brandy. Grape brandy is the type that is meant if brandy is used by itself. Grape brandy Grape brandy is produced by the distillation of fermented grape juice. There are four main subtypes of grape brandies. Cognac comes from the Cognac region in France, and is double distilled using pot stills. Popular brands include Hine, Martell, Rémy Martin, Hennessy, Ragnaud-Sabourin, Delamain and Courvoisier (a favourite drink of Napoleon). Armagnac is made from grapes of the Armagnac region in Southwest of France (Gers, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne). It is single continuous distilled in a copper stills and aged in oak casks from Gascony or Limousin. Armagnac was the first distilled spirit in France. Armagnacs have a specificity: they offer vintages qualities. Popular brands are Darroze, Baron de Sigognac, Larressingle, Delord, Laubade, Gélas and Janneau. Grape brandies from other countries such as South Africa, Spain, Mexico etc. South African grape brandies are, by law, made almost exactly as in Cognac, using a double-distillation process in copper pot stills followed by ageing in oak barrels for a minimum of three years. American grape brandy is almost always from California The European Union legally enforces Cognac as the exclusive name for brandy produced and distilled in the Cognac area of France, and Armagnac from the Gascony area of France, using traditional techniques. Grape brandies are arguably best drunk in a tulip shaped glass or a snifter, at cool room temperature. Often it is slightly warmed, by holding the glass in the cup of the palm or gently heating with a candle. However, heating it causes alcohol vapor to become very pungent so that the aromas are overpowered. Brandy, like whisky and red wine, exhibits more pleasant aromas and flavors at a lower temperature, e.g., 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit). In most homes, this would imply that the brandy should in fact rather be cooled for maximum enjoyment. Furthermore, alcohol (which makes up 40% of a typical brandy) becomes thin as it is heated, but more viscous when cooled leading to a fuller and smoother mouthfeel with less of a burning sensation. Pomace brandy Pomace brandy is produced from fermented grape pulp, seeds, and stems that remain after the grapes are pressed for their juice. Examples include the Italian grappa and the French marc. Fruit brandy Fruit brandies are distilled from fruits other than grapes. Apple, plum, peach, cherry, raspberry, blackberry, and apricot are the most commonly used fruit. Fruit brandy is usually clear, 80 to 90 proof, and usually drunk chilled or over ice. Calvados is an apple brandy from the French region of Lower Normandy. Apple is pressed into cider, fermented with yeast and double distilled. Kirschwasser is a fruit brandy made from cherries. Pálinka is a fruit brandy traditional to Hungary. It can be made from any kind of fruit - most often plum (szilva), apricot (barack), grape (törköly), elderberry (borzag), pear (vilmoskörte) and cherry (cseresznye). Less common pálinka-types include apple, peach and even walnut (dió). Mixed pálinka (vegyes) is also popular. Slivovitz is a fruit brandy made from plums, traditional to Serbia. Pot vs. tower stills Cognac and South African pot still brandy are examples of brandy produced in batches using pot stills (batch distillation). Many American brandies use fractional distillation in tower stills to perform their distillation. Special pot stills with a fractionation section on top are used for Armagnac. Ageing A brandy can be aged in one of three main ways. No ageing: Many pomace and fruit brandies are not aged after distillation. The resulting product is typically a clear liquid. Single barrel ageing: Brandies that have a golden or brown color have been aged in oak casks. Solera process: Some brandies are aged using the solera system. Brandies from Spain are typical of this variation. Distillation A batch distillation typically works as follows: Wine with an alcohol concentration of 8-12%v/v and high acidity is boiled in a pot still. Vapours of ethanol, water and the numerous aroma components rise upwards and are collected in a condenser coil where it becomes a liquid again. The alcohol concentration of the condensed product (the distillate) is far higher than in the original wine (roughly 82% by volume). As the alcohol is continuously being removed from the wine, its alcohol concentration drops, resulting in a drop in the instantaneous alcohol concentration of the distillate. When all alcohol has been removed in the wine, the boiling point will be roughly that of water (100 degrees Celsius), and the distillate will contain no more alcohol. The accumulated distillate, however, will contain roughly 30% alcohol (ethanol) by volume. This distillate is usually distilled a second time and in both cases an amount of distillate is kept separate at the start as well as the end of the distillation process. These fractions are called the "heads" and "tails". The fraction that is kept is call the "heart". The hot conditions in the pot still as well as the fact that it usually consists of copper, lead to chemical reactions to take place during the distillation. This leads to the formation of numerous new volatile aroma components as well as the hydrolysis and formation of others. Historical production As described in the 1728 edition of Cyclopaedia, the following method was used to distill brandy. A cucurbit was filled half full of the liquor from which brandy was to be drawn; and then raised, with a little fire, till about one sixth part was distilled, or till that which falls into the receiver was entirely flammable. This liquor, distilled only once, was called spirit of wine or brandy. Purified by another, or several more distillations, this was then called spirit of wine rectified. The second distillation was made in balneo mariae, and in a glass cucurbit; and the liquor was distilled to about one half the quantity. This was further rectified, as long as the operator thought necessary, to produce brandy. [1] To abridge these several distillations, which were long and troublesome, a chemical instrument was invented, whereby the rectification of spirit of wine was performed in one single distillation. To test the goodness of the rectified spirit of wine, a portion was lit on fire. If the entire contents were consumed, without leaving any impurity behind, then the liquor was good. Another, better test involved putting a little gunpowder in the bottom of the spirit; if the gunpowder took fire when the spirit was consumed, then the liquor was good.[1] Cognac classification of age V.S.(Very Special): at least 2 years old V.S.O.P (Very Superior Old Pale): at least 4 years old Napoleon X.O(Extra Old): at least 6 years old Gifts2Drink provide a high quality gift service offering unique and stylish Cognac and Brandy Gifts with gift packaging that our customers can rely on to impress every time. We are the UK's top supplier of drinks gifts and we specialise in Cognac and Brandy Gifts. We have over 500 unique gift ideas available only online from Gifts2Drink. "...We have built a long lasting reputation with our customers for providing a high quality service every time with a personal touch..." We pride ourselves on our personal and reliable luxury gift service. Because we use our own professional florists to create each and every Cognac and Brandy Gift, we can guarantee the very best value gifts on the internet! Gifts2Drink have built a long lasting reputation with our customers for providing a high quality service with a personal touch, to suit every budget. We can deliver your gift to anywhere in Europe within 5 days and anywhere within the mainland UK on the next working day. Our most popular Cognac and Brandy Gift brands include Courvoisier, Martel, Hennessy, Asbach, Remy Martin, and fine cognacs such as Remy Martin XO and Hennessy Paradis. All our Cognac and Brandy Gifts are available in highly stylish and attractive gift packaging with gift cards and your own personal message. We provide a high quality service with products and gift packaging that our customers can rely on to impress every time. At Gifts2Drink we have a track record of reliable, high quality delivery of luxury gifts delivered to exacting schedules and our couriers try to deliver on time, every time. "....Cognac and Brandy is an extremely popular gift suitable for any occasion...." As well as Cognac and Brandy Gifts we have an array of the most popular Champagnes, Wines, Whisky's, Liqueurs, Beers and Spirits available, accompanied by Cigars, Flowers, Chocolates and Balloons all gift boxed together and delivered to the door at the same time. Many people prefer to send their Cognac and Brandy Gifts with flowers and balloons on special occasions such as Christmas, birthdays, and Valentines Day, or just to say something special. Here at Gifts2Drink we aim to create original and elegant corporate Gifts. We will work to your specific requirements, turn your ideas into reality and produce a specific product for your customers. Our creative team are always on hand to give you the enthusiastic help you may require. With our own brand products, in-house design, printing, glass engraving and box manufacturing facilities, Gifts2Drink can turn each and every concept into a specific and unique product. Buy your Cognac and Brandy Gifts today! |
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