Chapter 6: Brandy Intro

Question 1

Minimum bottling abv for US Brandy

Answer 1

40%

Question 2

Requirements for a US product labeled as “brandy” (base material, max distillation proof, aging)

Answer 2

• Produced from grapes (with some allowance for grape pomace or lees) * Distilled at a max of 190 proof * Aged for at least 2 years in wood

Question 3

Requirements for a US product labeled as “neutral brandy” (required distillation proof, aging)

Answer 3

• Distilled at 170 - 190 proof * No aging required

Question 4

Minimum bottling abv for EU brandy

Answer 4

36%

Question 5

Definition of EU brandy (base material, max distillation proof, aging)

Answer 5

• Produced from grapes * Distilled at a max of 189.6 proof * Aged for at least one year in any type of oak container - or a minimum of six months in small oak barrels

Question 6

Definition of EU Fruit Spirits (base ingredients, max distillation, aging)

Answer 6

Produced from any type of fruit except for grapes, Distilled at less than 172 proof, Does not require aging

Question 7

Minimum bottling abv for EU Fruit Spirits

Answer 7

37.5%

Question 8

Alternative name(s) for EU Fruit Spirits

Answer 8

Wasser + name of the fruit (in some cases - such as Mirabelle, Williams, and Quetsch - just the name of the fruit may be used)

Question 9

German word for brandy (also used as an EU synonym for “brandy”)

Answer 9

Weinbrand

Question 10

EU term for unaged grape brandy

Answer 10

Wine spirits

Question 11

Alternative names for EU pomace brandy

Answer 11

• Grape Marc Spirit or Fruit Marc Spirit (individual countries may also have specific terms, such as grappa)

Question 12

System of barrel aging (also used to age Sherry) that is used for some brandies

Answer 12

Solera System