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. Try it over ice, combined with ginger ale and a slice of orange zest and be prepared to be converted.
It makes a mean Old Fashioned cocktail too. Gonzalez Byass is widely known for its exceptional sherry. Gonzalez Byass also produce an outstanding brandy, which, after 12 years in a Solera vat a smart term for marrying vessel it is then aged for a further three years in thick, sticky sweet Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. Think notes of woody spice, intense dried fruit and tobacco. As complex as they come.
Riserva is matured in Slavonian oak casks, produced from trees grown in eastern Croatia. The five years it has spent snoozing in oak have given the spirit a wonderful array of fruit aromas: from crisp green apple, fresh lemon zest and a perfumed nectarine note, with a honey influenced spicy palate.
Using a blend of Chenin Blanc and Colombard grapes, the brandy is distilled in a copper pot still, and then matured for 12 years, where it develops some very distinct fresh fruit notes on the nose, backed with a dark, rich spiciness and subtle earthiness on the palate. Ok, so technically NOT a brandy. In the technical sense anyway. It has an aroma of dark chocolate, port wine cask, exotic spices and figs, while a sip will reveal notes of white and red grapes, dried apricot, nutmeg, cinnamon, honey and caramel.
Its impressive character means this is a brandy that should only be enjoyed neat or, at most, with ice.
This sweet and smooth bottle is perfect to win over brandy novices right through to experts. An outstanding cognac, Hine Antique XO Premier Cru is a new addition to the family and is well loved for its caramel, jasmine, nutmeg and vanilla flavour notes.
Then, it was upgraded to Grande Champagne, meaning that all the eaux-de-vie used in the assemblage nowadays come from the best region of cognac. This puts it, deservedly, in one of the top spots for cognac in the world, thanks to its multitude of interesting elements. When sipping, it features an unexpected combination of perfume and spice with a beautifully zingy finish. A German brandy, Asbach is a popular producer of the spirit and matures its offerings in small French Limousin oak casks.
It produces rich, spicy brandies that have won awards in the past for their smooth and warming tastes. With its well-developed flavour of fruits with background notes of almonds and spices, this is a top brandy that can be enjoyed neat, with ice, with water or mixed into a range of cocktails. Best value brandy: Asbach Brandy 8 Yr.
Louis XIII Cognac is often considered the most unique and special spirit in the entire world and has an equally impressive taste and aroma. When sipping, expect notes of incense, grapefruit, freshly sawn wood and raisins, with an oaky finish.
It comes with some strong floral notes too, and is known for being one of those bottles that every brandy lover should try once in their lifetime. The oldest component blended into this brandy is 10 years. Enjoy its sweet grape, wood and nut aromas and light body when sipping this brandy. Best budget brandy: Torres 10 Gran Reserva Brandy.
A staple of its kind, this extra old brandy is carefully distilled at Hennessy distillery, France, and is a deep amber colour. Each bottle features a blend of these grapes and is aged for up to 30 years in French Limousin oak barrels.
Drink this brandy smooth for ultimate enjoyment. Most popular brandy: Hennessy XO Cognac. Delamain is a cognac house that uses only eaux-de-vie from the highest cru in Cognac, the Grande Champagne region. Delamain Pale and Dry XO gets its name from its production method: this brandy is much lighter than most eau-de-vie its age.
Delamain never uses caramel or sugar to modify the taste or colour of its offerings, making it a dry rather than sweet brandy. The XO is the youngest release from the house and is aged in litre oak barrels called roux, which reduces the amount of tannins involved in the process and alters the taste slightly. Keep sipping to really draw out the complementary notes of vanilla, butter and caramel. O Cognac. The brand prides itself on creating a range of offerings that are blended, balanced and full of vibrancy.
If ever there was a spirit designed for cocktails, it would be Bertoux: blended by renowned bartender Jeff Bell and acclaimed sommelier Thomas Pastuszak, who crafted the brandy into the optimum cocktail partner. This brandy has a dark amber colour and a strong and welcoming aroma of candied apricot, orange blossom and honeysuckle. It has a clean and engaging palette, featuring hints of raisins and dark chocolate, and blends perfectly into a Sidecar cocktail.
Shake it well with triple sec and lemon juice for a deliciously refreshing drink. Best brandy for cocktails: Bertoux Brandy. The brandy is aged for around 17 years, with the process taking place in Limousin oak barrels. Wood spices and red fruit are two of the immediate aromas noted, and a sip will reveal a rich and deep brandy filled with soft orchard fruit, vanilla and hints of chocolate.
Throughout the drinking experience, enjoy further notes like caramel and coconut. Each bottle combines long-aged eaux-de-vie from Grande and Petite Champagne for grace and flavour with a touch of Borderies to add extra depth. It boasts a deep flavour of oak, violet and strawberry, with aromas of apricot, brown sugar and cacao nibs. Courvoisier XO Cognac is a true example of brandy at its best; combining its rich character with a full-bodied finish and a sharp taste.
Best rated brandy: Courvoisier XO Cognac. Anyone looking for an especially smooth brandy should choose Martell XO above all. Renowned for its optimum and velvety smoothness, Martell blends nuts and fruit into its XO offering in a uniquely-shaped bottle. Known for its outstanding quality, Martell XO is a soft, mellow brandy with an aroma of black pepper, fig, almond and sandalwood and tasting notes of citrus, blossom and walnut. Its premium quality makes this brandy one to enjoy neat or, at most, with a splash of water to bring out further notes of warming smoke and caramel.
Smoothest brandy: Martell XO. The aged brandy known as cognac is produced from grapes grown in the Cognac region of France, where brandy has an illustrious history. There, the grape varieties and growing areas, the minimum 30 months of aging, the French oak barrels, copper pot stills, and the winter distillation are all strictly enforced.
Fruit for brandy is fermented into a wine, which is then distilled to produce a spirit. Though brandy is often thought of—and greatly enjoyed—as an old-school after-dinner drink, to sip neat from a snifter as you smoked your cigar, the spirit has a long history as a staple ingredient in classic cocktails.
Today, many VS brandies are made with an eye toward mixology. Betsy Andrews has been writing about wine and spirits for two decades. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile.
Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. 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.
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