Brandy – the connoisseur choice

Table count
• Ethomology
• What is brandy
• Cognac
Region
History
Legal definition

• What kind of Brandies are available

• What kind of Cocktails are available
 Ethomolgy
• AD 750 Abu Musa Jābir ibn Hayyān ( latin Geber) Muslim scientist (alchemist)
experimentation of the first wine distillation in Alambic (pot still)
• AD 8th century Abu-Nuwas al-Hasan ben Hani al-Hakami (classical Arabic and
Persian poets) describes a wine that "has the color of rain-water but is as hot
inside the ribs as a burning firebrand". The terms "alembic" and "alcohol", and
possibly the metaphors "spirit" and aqua vitæ ("life-water")
• AD 9th century Abū Yūsuf Yaqūb ibn Isḥāq al-Kindī (alchemist)
Was the first who isolated ethanol completely from the compounder what we
know today as brandy.
• AD 12th century the formula how to make aqua vitae reaches Europe (Greece, Italy)
first for medical purpose later for enjoyments.
• AD 13th century German Hausbrand and Dutch Brandewijn (brandy arrives).
• AD 16th century Brandy eventually arrives to France
 What is brandy
• Brandy can be distilled in any region in the world and needs to be made out of
wine.
• While some brandies are aged in wooden casks, most are coloured with caramel
coloring to imitate the effect of such aging.
• Brandy can also be made from fermented fruit (i.e., other than grapes)
• All brandies are considered as eau de vie “water of life”.

• Fruit brandy
fruit brandy is made out of any fruits which needs to be fermented before the
process can proceed to the distillation. Apples, plums, peaches, cherries,
raspberries, blackberries, and apricots are the most commonly used fruits.
Cognac region
 Cognac history
• The history and production of Cognac is directly related to trade. The town of Cognac,
France, has always been linked to important international trade routes through the river
Charente, which gave the small town easy access to the Atlantic Ocean. During the 16th
century, the Dutch merchants used to ship salt and wine from the Southwestern parts of
France to northern European countries such as England, Scandinavia, and The
Netherlands. However, the merchants soon encountered a problem: the delicate white
wine would often spoil during the long voyage. To protect the quality of the wine, the
merchants began to distill it, and they named it Brandewijn or “burnt wine”. This became
the forerunner of Brandy.

• During the 17th century, the people of Cognac, the Cognaçais, began the process of
double distillation, which allowed the concentrated alcohol to travel in the safer and the
more economical conditions. Initially, this alcohol was to be diluted immediately upon
arrival. However, it is merely by chance that the Cognaçais discovered that the alcohol
improved with time and contact with the oak barrels in which it was stored. Soon
enough, they began to drink it straight from the barrels. The name given to the new
product was Cognac.
 Cognac legal definition
• Cognac has to come from France the south east region named cognac.
• Cognac needs to be aged for a minimum of 3years in whit limousine oak barrels.
• Cognac has to made out of the special grapes mainly used is Colombard, Ugni blanc
and Folly blanc.
• Cognac contains at least 40% of ABV.

Classification (min age)

V.S = Very Special = 3 years aged up to 5 years old
V.S.O.P = Very Superior Old Pale = 4.5 years aged up to 10years old
X.O = Extra Old = 6 years aged up to 25years old
Extra = 12.5 years up to 50 years old

• You might have seen of some bottles written Fine champagne which means 51% of
the grapes are from Grand champagne and the remaining are coming from the petit
champagne.
 Brandies available
Remy Martin L Heraud
Hennessy V.S
V.S.O.P 1936

Park1er cru
Hennessy Remy Martin Grande Champagne
V.S.O.P X.O

Hennessy X.O
Remy Martin Courvoisier V.S.O.P
Louis Tres

Hennessy Extra
Paradis

Hennessy
Ellipse
Cocktails available
Sazerac Georga mint julep

B&B cocktail

Brandy Alexander