BRANDY & COGNAC Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is brandy?
A spirit made by the distillation of fermented fruit mash or fruit juice — most commonly grapes, but can include apples, pears, etc.
Where does the word brandy come from?
From the Dutch word “Brandewijn”, meaning burnt wine (i.e., distilled wine).
What’s the difference between brandy and cognac?
All cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac. Cognac must come from the Cognac region of France and follow strict rules.
What still is used to make cognac?
The Alambic Charentais copper pot still is mandatory by law.
Describe the distillation process for cognac.
- First distillate = “Brouillis” (~26–29% ABV) from wine (8–10%)
- Second distillation = “Bonne chauffe” yields ~58–60% ABV
- Heads and tails are discarded — only the heart is kept = “eau de vie”
What are the required grape varieties?
Ugni Blanc
Folle Blanche
Colombard
What kind of barrels are used to age cognac?
Limousin
Tronçais
Capacities: ~350–400 L (3.5–4 hl)
What is ‘Part des Anges’?
“Angel’s Share” — about 5% of the spirit evaporates yearly during aging.
VS / Very Special / 3 stars / Sélection
≥ 2 years
Supérieur / Cuvée Supérieure
≥ 3 years
VSOP / Réserve / Vieux / Rare
≥ 4 years
Vieille Réserve / Réserve Rare / Royale
≥ 5 years
Napoléon / Très Vieille Réserve / Héritage / Suprême
≥ 6 years
XO / Hors d’âge / Extra / Ancestral / Gold / Impérial
≥ 10 years
Cognac Regions (Appellations). hese affect quality and flavor profile. From best to lowest:
- Grande Champagne
- Petite Champagne
- Borderies
- Fins Bois
- Bons Bois
- Bois Ordinaires
Big 4 (Top Global Producers):
Hennessy
Martell
Courvoisier
Rémy Martin
Others cognac brands
Montifaud
Louis Royer
Otard
Frapin
Camus
Marquis de Montesquiou
What are the top international markets for cognac?
USA (5.3 million cases)
Singapore (2.3 million)
China (1.4 million)
How did China impact cognac in the 2000s?
It became the 2nd largest market by 2010, growing over 15% between 2005–2010.
