Comments on: Brandy http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/ Quenching your thirst with sips, nips and tipples. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:53:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Robert Hess http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-268927 Sun, 17 May 2009 15:14:47 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-268927 Dave, To "discover" new spirits, I'd recommend stopping in at what you think is a good bar in your area, hopefully at a slow time (usually right about when they open, on a Sunday or Monday night). Sit "at" the bar, and ask the bartender for a recommendation for the spirit you are interested in trying. However, if you are a beginner drinker, instead of going for a sipping version of the spirit, I'd recommend a cocktail made with that spirit instead. Our palates aren't really tuned up for what a spirit has to offer when we are just turning of age, so usually a spirit on its own will be too harsh, and needs a little time to get acquainted with it. For brandy, a good "beginner" cocktail is a sidecar. My preference is made thusly: - 2 ounce brandy - 1 ounce Cointreau - 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice Shake with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass. You may want to just try this at home, pick up some mini-bottles at the liquor store so you aren't investing in an entire bottle, and give it a try. Dave,
To “discover” new spirits, I’d recommend stopping in at what you think is a good bar in your area, hopefully at a slow time (usually right about when they open, on a Sunday or Monday night). Sit “at” the bar, and ask the bartender for a recommendation for the spirit you are interested in trying.

However, if you are a beginner drinker, instead of going for a sipping version of the spirit, I’d recommend a cocktail made with that spirit instead. Our palates aren’t really tuned up for what a spirit has to offer when we are just turning of age, so usually a spirit on its own will be too harsh, and needs a little time to get acquainted with it.

For brandy, a good “beginner” cocktail is a sidecar. My preference is made thusly:

- 2 ounce brandy
- 1 ounce Cointreau
- 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice

Shake with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass.

You may want to just try this at home, pick up some mini-bottles at the liquor store so you aren’t investing in an entire bottle, and give it a try.

]]> by: Dave http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-268406 Fri, 15 May 2009 05:32:17 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-268406 Im new to the spirits out there ive tryed my hand at scotch and whiskey but just not for me so a great friend recommened brandy. since i know nothing of brandy maybe someone cant point me in a general direction to start. Im new to the spirits out there ive tryed my hand at scotch and whiskey but just not for me so a great friend recommened brandy. since i know nothing of brandy maybe someone cant point me in a general direction to start.

]]> by: Paul http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-141752 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:31:22 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-141752 I was stuck at a grocery store due to rain this afternoon, which gave me the occasion to wander into the adjacent liquor store. My eyes settled upon a bottle of Paul Masson VSOP pale amber. I snickered at first, thinking "VSOP - yeah right!" But then I thought it had a very attractive deep color, and the packaging looked classy. With my VSOP inventory kind of decreasing, and XO being reserved for "special occasion", I said, what the heck. When I got home, curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't resist a test sip out of a whiskey glass. I must say that, at $15, it was a very pleasant surprise. Even sober folks with healthy taste-buds might have trouble telling this apart from a cognac three to maybe even five times more expensive. Have you tried it (or are you "above" that :-). If so, what do you think of it? I was stuck at a grocery store due to rain this afternoon, which gave me the occasion to wander into the adjacent liquor store. My eyes settled upon a bottle of Paul Masson VSOP pale amber. I snickered at first, thinking “VSOP - yeah right!” But then I thought it had a very attractive deep color, and the packaging looked classy. With my VSOP inventory kind of decreasing, and XO being reserved for “special occasion”, I said, what the heck. When I got home, curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn’t resist a test sip out of a whiskey glass. I must say that, at $15, it was a very pleasant surprise. Even sober folks with healthy taste-buds might have trouble telling this apart from a cognac three to maybe even five times more expensive. Have you tried it (or are you “above” that :-) . If so, what do you think of it?

]]> by: Robert Hess http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-77460 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:00:22 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-77460 My personal preference for brandy/cognac sipping temperature is just slightly above a comfortable room temperature. I'll hold the glass in my hand to warm it up just a little bit. -Robert My personal preference for brandy/cognac sipping temperature is just slightly above a comfortable room temperature. I’ll hold the glass in my hand to warm it up just a little bit.

-Robert

]]> by: Mike http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-77348 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:53:50 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-77348 What would be the best temperature for sipping brandy(room temp , 10 degrees warmer , etc....) ? What would be the best temperature for sipping brandy(room temp , 10 degrees warmer , etc….) ?

]]> by: Robert Hess http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-17408 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 00:42:16 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-17408 It is my understanding that "Cape of Good Hope" brandy is something different from normal brandy as opposed to a brand name. I think it has been sweetened, and/or flavored somewhat. No idea what it's value might be. It would still be good (as in won't make you sick), as to if it still "tastes" good or not, it depends on how it has been stored, and if it has any noticable evaporation. It is my understanding that “Cape of Good Hope” brandy is something different from normal brandy as opposed to a brand name. I think it has been sweetened, and/or flavored somewhat.

No idea what it’s value might be. It would still be good (as in won’t make you sick), as to if it still “tastes” good or not, it depends on how it has been stored, and if it has any noticable evaporation.

]]> by: tiffani http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-17328 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 00:18:43 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-17328 I have a bottle of Cape of Good Hope Brandy with a five star label on it and a tax stamp from 1944. The bottle has never been opened. Do you have any idea if this has any value? Thanks for the help. I have a bottle of Cape of Good Hope Brandy with a five star label on it and a tax stamp from 1944. The bottle has never been opened. Do you have any idea if this has any value? Thanks for the help.

]]> by: Andy http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-2746 Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:30:39 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-2746 I'll have to pick up some Chalfonte to try, up to now Hennessey has been the favorite one I have tried (a handle of Hennessey VS was a generous gift from a family friend whose party I bartended). It's a bit pricey, but it makes Cognac cocktails a bit more special in a way, less 'everyday'. I did at one point try Couvoisier and found it ok for sipping but by and large unsuitable for mixing. The one thing I did find that I thought it worked well in was the Japanese Cocktail, mixed 8:1 with 1883 de Philibert Routin orgeat and a few dashes of Angostura. Lovely drink, but hardly a reason to keep Courvoisier on hand. But if anyone has some that needs using up, there are far worse ways to do it ;-) -Andy I’ll have to pick up some Chalfonte to try, up to now Hennessey has been the favorite one I have tried (a handle of Hennessey VS was a generous gift from a family friend whose party I bartended). It’s a bit pricey, but it makes Cognac cocktails a bit more special in a way, less ‘everyday’. I did at one point try Couvoisier and found it ok for sipping but by and large unsuitable for mixing. The one thing I did find that I thought it worked well in was the Japanese Cocktail, mixed 8:1 with 1883 de Philibert Routin orgeat and a few dashes of Angostura. Lovely drink, but hardly a reason to keep Courvoisier on hand. But if anyone has some that needs using up, there are far worse ways to do it ;-)

-Andy

]]> by: Robert Hess http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-2671 Tue, 21 Nov 2006 23:28:07 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-2671 Andy, For mixing with cocktails, I use "Chalfonte VSOP Cognac" quite a bit, at about $20 a bottle I think it is a great price. It is not however, necessarily a cognac that I recommend for sipping. I love Kelt VSOP Cognac, but at nearly $60 a bottle it might be a little pricy to refer to as a "good value". Lots of folks reach for Courvoisier (VSOP ~ $35), but I find it has a slight sour note to it that sets it off. Other well-worn names are Hennessy (VSOP ~ $$45), which I prefer to Courvoisier, or Remy Martin (VSOP ~ $40), and Hine (Rare VSOP ~ $40), which is quite good. There are many brands of cognac that I haven't tried yet, and it often feels like a game of "blinds man bluff" when staring down the bottles in the liquor store, trying to remember what you might have heard about one or the other. What I recommend folks do is just go to a bar you trust and work your way through a few of their brandy recommendations to see if you can find one that really strikes your fancy. Andy,

For mixing with cocktails, I use “Chalfonte VSOP Cognac” quite a bit, at about $20 a bottle I think it is a great price. It is not however, necessarily a cognac that I recommend for sipping.

I love Kelt VSOP Cognac, but at nearly $60 a bottle it might be a little pricy to refer to as a “good value”.

Lots of folks reach for Courvoisier (VSOP ~ $35), but I find it has a slight sour note to it that sets it off.

Other well-worn names are Hennessy (VSOP ~ $$45), which I prefer to Courvoisier, or Remy Martin (VSOP ~ $40), and Hine (Rare VSOP ~ $40), which is quite good.

There are many brands of cognac that I haven’t tried yet, and it often feels like a game of “blinds man bluff” when staring down the bottles in the liquor store, trying to remember what you might have heard about one or the other. What I recommend folks do is just go to a bar you trust and work your way through a few of their brandy recommendations to see if you can find one that really strikes your fancy.

]]> by: Andy http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-2582 Mon, 20 Nov 2006 23:04:20 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/20/brandy/#comment-2582 Myself, I rather enjoy the nasal burn :-P I typically buy VS grade Cognacs and maybe a cheaper American brandy for a 'well' since mostly I use them all for mixing. I find that the VS also does decent double duty for after-dinner sipping, or for making a B&B, since I don't sip it neat terribly often. However, I have been enjoying Cognac this way more frequently of late and I was wondering if you could recommend a good value for a sipping-only cognac. I know there is quite a bit of good stuff out there, having had the priveledge of sampling from $280 bottles before but I'm not quite sure where to begin. -Andy Myself, I rather enjoy the nasal burn :-P

I typically buy VS grade Cognacs and maybe a cheaper American brandy for a ‘well’ since mostly I use them all for mixing. I find that the VS also does decent double duty for after-dinner sipping, or for making a B&B, since I don’t sip it neat terribly often. However, I have been enjoying Cognac this way more frequently of late and I was wondering if you could recommend a good value for a sipping-only cognac. I know there is quite a bit of good stuff out there, having had the priveledge of sampling from $280 bottles before but I’m not quite sure where to begin.

-Andy

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