Brandy

Javaid Ahmad Bhat

Brandy known as Burnt Wine is a

expression derived from Dutch word
Brandewijn meaning burnt wine.

Types
Grape Brandy : Brandy made from fermented grape
juice and crushed grape skin and seeds.
Fruit Brandy : It is term used for brandies which are
made from fermenting juices of fruits other than
grapes.Like Apples-Calvados, Cherries-Kirsch

Pomace : Brandy made from pressed grape skin,

pulp and seeds the residue which remains after all
the juice has been extracted for wine.e,g Grappa-Italy
and Marc -France

How brandy is made?

Brandy is made by a simple process of distillation of wine. It is

created in a still to leave the water and remove the alcoholic
vapour which condenses back into liquid form as it cools.

Steps in making of brandy

Fermentation of Juice
Distillation
Ageing

Blending
Bottling

Fermentation of Juice

The process of making brandy starts with the fermentation of

fruit/grape juices. The wine is allowed to ferment in huge vats
for three to five weeks producing a sour high-acid wine with
low alcohol content

Distillation

Wine with an alcoholic strength of 8-12% v/v and high

acidity is boiled in a pot still.
The alcoholic vapours, water and numerous aromatic
compounds rise upward and are collected in a condenser
where they become liquid again.
This distillation process is carried out twice.

Ageing

Brandy must be then placed in oak casks and

allowed to age. As the brandy ages, it absorbs
flavors from the oak while its own structure
softens, becoming less astringent.
Through evaporation, brandy will lose about 1%
of its alcohol per year.

Blending

In this step brandies are blended and diluted to

around 40% alcohol. The brandies of various
years or various casks or various vintage are
mixed with each other to have a perfect mix. They
are then bottled to be sold.

Cognac

France

Brandies from a
region of France,
Cognac are called
cognac. They are
known to be the
best types of
brandies in the
world.

Cognac
The region is further subdivided into six growing zones

Grande Champagne,
Petite Champagne,
Bois Ordinaries,
Borderies,
Fins Bois, and
Bons Bois.

Brandies from the region of cognac have to:

Be made from three major varieties of grapes
Folle blanche Ugni Blanc Colombard.

Be distilled twice in copper pot stills and aged at least

2 1/2 years in oak barrels (made from Limousin or
Troncais oak) in order to be called "cognac".

Levels of Cognac
VS ( Very Special) or VSO ( Very Special Old)
where the youngest brandy in the blend is at
least aged for three years.
VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale), Rserve, where
the youngest brandy is stored at least four years
in cask.
XO (Extra Old), Napolon, Hors d'Age, where
the youngest brandy is stored at least six to
seven years in cask.

Armagnac
Region located in south west of France
Armagnac is the Oldest type of brandy in France
As in Cognac, there are regional growing zones:
Bas-Armagnac,
Haut Armagnac, and
Tenareze.
The best Armagnacs are aged in casks made
from the local Monlezun oak.

Service
Brandy is always
served at 23 degree
Celsius.
Brandy is served
without any garnish, It
can be served with
hot water.
It is served in
Brandy balloon or
Snifter.

Famous Brands
Brandy
Honey Bee
Doctor
Napoleon
Whitefield
Brihans grape

Cognac
Courvoisier
Martell
Hine
Hennessy
Remy Martin
Otard

Javaid Ahmad Bhat