Rules and traditions of brandy drinking

Drinking brandy correctly means fully enjoying its taste, understanding its advantages and disadvantages, comparing it with other alcoholic beverages. It would not be superfluous to learn more about brandy, to understand what kind of drink it is, how it is produced, what types, varieties and brands exist, to get acquainted with the traditions of its use in different countries and regions of the world.

Approximately 400 years ago, the enterprising Dutch came up with the technology of distillation of French grape wines for their more profitable transportation by reducing the volume. The resulting concentrate was used in pure and diluted form. From the Dutch name "brandwijn" (burnt wine) came the modern English brandy (pronounced - "brandy"). Now this word refers to all alcoholic beverages obtained by distillation of wine or fermentation products of fruits, berries, grape pomace. The fortress can vary from 35 to 90 degrees.

brandy king

The most famous type of brandy is cognac. The French are considered unsurpassed masters of winemaking, and it was they who secured the right to make true cognac. The raw material is white grapes from the Poitou-Charentes region, where the city of Cognac is located. Grape juice undergoes fermentation (fermentation) and double distillation. Then it is bottled in oak barrels, where it is aged for at least two years. The output is a transparent liquid of dark golden color, with a strength of 40 degrees.

The production technology, varieties and maturity of grapes, the design of bottle labels are patented and fully regulated by French law. There is even a standardized system for controlling the age of cognacs. For example, the legendary Napoleon cannot be younger than 6 years old. And collectible bottles of elite alcohol often have an exposure of more than 100 years. But the cost of one such bottle ranges from several tens to several hundred thousand dollars.

Other types

The difference between other grape (wine) brandies and cognac is also that no additives and impurities (sugar, caramel, spices, etc.) are allowed in the manufacture of the latter. The closest cognac in quality is Armagnac, produced in the area of ​​the same name in France. But it is distilled only once, and the aging period is at least 12 years.
Grape brandy is also hidden under such well-known names as:

• Greek Metaxa;
• Spanish Torres and sherry brandy;
• Bulgarian pliska;
• "White stork", "Kizlyar", "Ararat" and all other alcoholic products produced by cognac technology in the CIS. Now they have the right to keep the word cognac on the label only in Cyrillic transliteration and only for the domestic market, but they are exported as brandy.

Cheaper brandy is made from grape pomace - seeds, pulp, twigs left after pressing. Almost every state with a wine industry has such a drink. For example:

• Georgian chacha;
• Balkan brandy and stronger bakery;
• Italian group.

It is customary for many peoples to ferment and distill other fruits and berries. This way you get:

• South Slavic slivovitz and pear;
• Czech boletus from juniper;
• French apple calvados, raspberry framboise and peach eau de vie;
• german cherry kirschwasser.

Some of them after distillation are aged in barrels. Others may be consumed immediately after distillation.

Glasses and temperature

Wine brandy is a drink for respectable living rooms, cozy friendly gatherings by the fireplace, unhurried social conversations and business meetings in an informal setting. It is served in the so-called cognac glasses - snifters or tulip-shaped glasses on a high stem. In both cases, the shape of the bowl allows you to enjoy a noble aroma.

The optimum serving temperature is 15-17 degrees. It is widely believed that it is right to drink brandy, warming the glass in your hands. This allows you to reveal the best notes in the aroma and taste of alcohol. However, this approach seems unacceptable to the French, because when heated, the exquisite fruity-woody aromas evaporate, leaving only the smell of alcohol. They prefer to hold the glass by the stem and rotate it slightly while enjoying the smell.

Digestif or aperitif

The opinions of connoisseurs about brandy snacks differ. In continental Europe, it is a digestif, that is, it is drunk after a meal. You can eat it with chocolate, fruit or black coffee. A good addition to the glass is a cigar. True connoisseurs of the amber drink prefer to enjoy it without a snack at all.

Americans prefer brandy as an aperitif and drink it diluted with tonic, cola or water. It is served with cheese or cold cuts.

But a very common tradition of drinking brandy and eating it with lemon slices does not find support among connoisseurs. Lemon neutralizes taste and smell, which is blasphemous in relation to a noble drink.

All this applies to classic grape varieties. Differences in the ways of drinking other types of this alcohol are due to the traditions of the regions of its production. In different countries, local varieties of brandy are drunk chilled or heated, with sugar or spices, pure or diluted with water, wine or milk.

cocktails

Brandy is present in a variety of alcoholic cocktails. It goes well with:

• fruit juices and syrups;
• liquor;
• milk or cream;
• gin;
• whiskey;
• beaters;
• soda water;
• cola;
• eggs;
• sugar;
• mint.

In the arsenal of an experienced bartender there will always be such cocktails as:

Charleston

Mix orange liqueur with brandy in a 1:2 ratio, pour into a glass, fill the glass to the brim with lemonade, put a couple of ice cubes, garnish with a slice of citrus.

brandy sour

Alcohol with lemon juice. The proportions can be varied to taste, add a teaspoon of powdered sugar. Serve with ice. Decorate with fruit pieces.

Brandy Martini

• any tonic - 100 ml;
• brandy - 30 ml;
• vermouth - 50 ml.

Mix everything in a shaker with ice. The cocktail is ready.

Scorpion

Mix in equal proportions: brandy, dark and white rum, Cointreau liqueur, add lime juice, orange juice, ice.

brandy cola

Dilute alcohol with cola to taste, add ice.

Brandy with apple juice

Connect in any proportions. Can be served with ice.

"Sweet Gin!"

• brandy and lemon juice - 30 ml each;
• soda - 50 ml;
• gin - 40 ml;
• powdered sugar - 10g.

Mix all ingredients. Serve in a glass with ice.

eggnog

One of the oldest cocktails. In the UK and the US, it is customary to drink it at family holidays in honor of Christmas or New Year. Recipe:

• 100 ml. brandy and dark rum;
• sugar syrup - 2 tbsp. l.;
• low-fat cream - 50 ml;
• a pinch of grated nutmeg;
• 1 chicken or 4-5 quail eggs.

Mix sugar syrup, eggs, rum and brandy thoroughly, add cold cream, sprinkle with nutmeg crumbs.

Based on these short recipes, you can improvise with proportions and ingredients to find your favorite unique cocktail.

So, with all the variety of types and varieties, the main difference between this group of alcoholic beverages is high strength and rich taste, due to production technology. How, and in what company to drink brandy, how to eat it correctly, everyone will decide for himself.