Brandy and Cognac
Brandy is an iconic spirit made throughout the world from distilled wine or fermented fruit juices. Cognac is a type of brandy made only in one location using very specific ingredients. Read on to learn more about brandy and cognac and what makes them different.
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes
After Dinner Pours
Loved for their sweet and fruity flavors, brandy and cognac offer great alternatives to favorites like whisky, gin, and tequila. They’re mostly sipped neat after dinner, but also lend themselves well as ingredients and flavors for luxurious cocktails.
These distilled spirits are somewhat similar, but you need to know a few key differences.
BRANDY
Brandy is a spirit made from distilled wine or fermented fruit juices. The process mostly uses grapes, but other styles use apples, peaches, cherries, apricots, and pears. Brandy can be made in any part of the world, and the popular regional styles include cognac, grappa, pisco, and armagnac.
COGNAC
Cognac is a type of brandy and is produced from distilled white wine. This double-distilled spirit is named after the commune of Cognac, France, and is protected under French law, which defines the rules that every cognac must meet. It’s made exclusively from white grapes, which are grown in the Cognac region.
Key Takeaways
- Brandy and cognacs are typically enjoyed after dinner, but also lend themselves well as ingredients and flavors for luxurious cocktails.
- Brandy is a spirit made from distilled wine or fermented fruit juices.
- Cognac is a type of brandy and is produced from distilled white wine.
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