Brandy

Extra old Cognac label is the one with a blend that has been aged the longest. Although the previous legislation stated that XO needs to be at least six years old, new categorization, which will be fully implemented by March 31, 2019, wil... READ MORE

Tsikoudia is a Cretan spirit that is distilled from fermented grape pomace (strafylo)—the solid remains that are left after the grapes have been pressed. Tsikoudia is traditionally distilled in October and November, usually... READ MORE

Slavonian plum brandy is the most popular drink in eastern Croatia. It is distilled from locally grown fresh and ripe plums such as Bistrica, which have been cultivated in the region for centuries. This clear drink can range from light yellow to a... READ MORE

Considered to be one of the first grape brandy varieties produced in France, Armagnac originated in Gascony, a historic area now divided between the regions of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie. The first written records on Armagnac date b... READ MORE

Very superior old pale is a Cognac category whose blend is aged for at least four years—which means that the youngest brandy mixed in the blend is four years old, while the others can be aged for longer. VSOP is both lively and seri... READ MORE

Pisco is a brandy that is distilled from the fermented grape juice. It was invented in the 16th century as a replacement for orujo—an ancient Spanish pomace brandy. Although it is also produced in Chile, Peruvian pisco resu... READ MORE

Šljivovica, internationally known as slivovitz, is a clear, potent drink that is distilled from fermented plums. It is produced throughout Central and Eastern Europe—namely Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, H... READ MORE

This classic French brandy is distilled from grapes in order to produce eau-de-vie, which is then aged and blended to make cognac. The drink originated when it was revealed that eau-de-vie brandy of the Charente region develops d... READ MORE

Pisco is a drink that is distilled from fermented grape must and juices. It is considered a national drink in both Peru and Chile, but the style and the character of pisco can differ based on the location where it was created. Chilean pis... READ MORE

Singani is a brandy variety that is exclusively distilled from Muscat of Alexandria grapes. Due to the specific terroir and the strict rules regarding the production method, the base wine is complex, aromatic, and flavorful. Signani has b... READ MORE

Calvados is a brandy distilled from apple cider or a combination of apples and pears. The fermented juice is usually double distilled to create the base of the ... READ MORE

Along with Cognac and Armagnac, the Portuguese Lourinhã region is one of the three designated brandy-production regions in the world. This brandy is mostly produced with neutral white wine that has good acidity. Recommended grape varieties ... READ MORE

Marillenschnaps is a type of fruit brandy that is distilled from apricots. The drink is traditionally associated with Wachau—a region known for apricot production—though it is also produced in other Austrian and German regions... READ MORE

Williamine is a fruit brandy distilled from locally grown Williams pears. It is produced in Martigny, Valais, and the name has been protected by Morand distillery since 1953. A highly-prized version comes with the whole pear inside the bo... READ MORE

Hungarian pálinka is a fruit brandy distilled from various fermented fruit such as plums, apricots, or cherries. The name pálinka has been protected under European Union law, and can only be produced in Hungary from fruit gr... READ MORE

Abricotine is a clear, colorless fruit brandy that is characterized by its dominant apricot flavor and subtle almond nuances. It is distilled from pitted and fermented Luizet apricots that are cultivated in the Valais area and are especia... READ MORE

Applejack is often dubbed as one of the oldest American spirits. Essentially, it is an apple brandy that supposedly originated during colonial times. It is believed that the original version was made as a cider that was fermented and left... READ MORE

This Portuguese fruit brandy is distilled from fermented medronho berries that grow wild throughout the Algarve region. The production of medronho has not been completely regulated, and though many distilleries have been licensed, some pr... READ MORE

Chacha is a potent Georgian brandy that is made from pomace—solid remains of grapes such as skins, stems, and seeds that are left after the juice has been pressed. The drink is usually a by-product of winemaking, in which t... READ MORE

Poire Williams is a type of eau-de-vie (fruit brandy) that is distilled from fermented Williams pears. The production of this clear and colorless spirit is mostly associated with France, Switzerland, and Germany. The drink is often sold w... READ MORE

Very special Cognac is the youngest that is allowed on the market. It must be aged for at least three years, with the reference date being October 1. The fresh and lively character of these labels makes them an excellent option for cockta... READ MORE

Named after the eponymous mountain in Yerevan, Ararat is the most famous Armenian brandy. Ararat was first introduced in 1887, and it was mainly modeled on the famed French cognac-making tradition. Although Armenian producers copied Frenc... READ MORE

Szilvapálinka is a traditional plum brandy from Hungary, and this Szatmári version is one of the esteemed protected varieties. It is made from Penyigei and Besztercei plums, which have to make up at least 80% of the base. Al... READ MORE

Orujo is an ancient Spanish pomace brandy that is enjoyed throughout the country, but it is usually associated with northern Spain—namely Galicia, León, and Asturias. In its basic form, orujo comes as a clear, strong spirit w... READ MORE

Asbach Uralt is a German brandy that was first distilled in 1892 by Hugo Asbach, a Cologne native. With the knowledge he gained at various French distilleries, Asbach distilled his first batch of brandy and opened a company in Rüdesh... READ MORE

This clear, colorless fruit brandy is double-distilled from the fermented cherry mash. Because it was originally produced with sour morello cherries, it is believed that it first appeared in Schwarzwald, Germany, where the morello cherries were tr... READ MORE

Jaloviina is a type of Finnish cut brandy, a type of brandy that has been cut with neutral grain spirit. This Finnish version is based on French brandy and the Finnish spirit. Jaloviina comes in several grades, usually differentiated by t... READ MORE

Zivania is a Cypriot brandy produced from grape pomace—solid components of grapes that are left after the juice has been pressed. The distillate is then mixed with dry wines which are traditionally produced from native Mavro and Xyn... READ MORE

Damassine is a Swiss plum brandy that is traditionally produced in the Canton of Jura. It is distilled from fermented damson (damassine) plums. These small red plums are cultivated across Europe, but their origin still remains unclear. Th... READ MORE

Nagykörűi cseresznyepálinka refers to a cherry brandy (pálinka) that originates from Nagykörű, a region in Hungary. Pálinka is a traditional fruit brandy, and when it's specified as Nagykörűi cseresznyepá... READ MORE

Lambig is an oak-aged brandy distilled from apple cider. It hails from Brittany, where it originated as a farm brandy that was mainly distilled for local consumption. The brandy is now commercially produced and has become one of the tradi... READ MORE

Pommeau is a French drink that combines unfermented apple juice (apple must) and apple brandy—traditionally, Calvados is used. The drink is officially classified as a mistelle, a blend of brandy and fruit juice. The production invol... READ MORE

Nagykunsági szilvapálinka is a plum brandy from Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok. It has to be made from the plums grown in the region, and a minimum of 40 % has to be made from Vörös and/or Besztercei plums. The entire... READ MORE

This clear, colorless fruit brandy is distilled from ripe, locally grown cherries, and it can be produced in the entire canton of Zug as well as several municipalities in the canton of Schwyz and Lucerne. Rigi kirsch has a distinctive, in... READ MORE

This clear, colorless fruit brandy is produced from fermented Williams pears that are cultivated in Valais. The final distillate is combined with water to reach the desired 40% ABV, and it is then aged for a minimum of six months. This strong spir... READ MORE

Marc de Bourgogne is a French pomace brandy distilled from grape marc (pips and skins of pressed grapes). The marc has to be produced in Burgundy, and it can be made with regional grapes such as Aligoté, Chardonnay, Gamay, Pinot No... READ MORE

As the name suggests, this eau-de-vie (fruit brandy) hails from Lorraine, and it is made from Mirabelle plums that are cultivated in the region. This fruit brandy has been granted the AOC status, and its production is strictly regulated and restri... READ MORE

Kirsch de Fougerolles is a French cherry brandy. As the name suggests, the brandy hails from Fougerolles (Fougerolles-Saint-Valbert). It is a clear and colorless brandy, with a distinctive cherry aroma and a subtly bitter note reminiscent... READ MORE