A tumbler and brandy decanter on a table

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Brandy and Cognac

Brandy is an iconic spirit made throughout the world from distilled wine or fermented fruit juices. Cognac is type of brandy made only in one location using very specific ingredients. Read on to learn more and discover what makes them different.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Loved for their sweet and fruity flavours, brandy and cognac offer great alternatives to favourites like whisky, gin, and tequila. They’re mostly sipped neat after dinner, but also lend themselves well as ingredients and flavours 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 there are other styles that use apples, peaches, cherries, apricots, pears. Brandy can be made in any part of the world, and the popular regional styles include cognac, grappa, pisco, and armagnac.

Discover more about brandy, its history & production

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.

Discover more about cognac, its history & production

Key Takeaways

Brandy and cognacs are typically enjoyed after dinner, but also lend themselves well as ingredients and flavours 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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