Today, Spain produces about 80 million bottles of brandy. Three-quarters is consumed domestically, the balance is exported around the world. Mexico and the Philippines are the largest foreign consumers of Spanish brandy. The larger brands of Spanish brandy are generally available in the US, but unknown to most consumers. It’s a pity, as Spanish brandy represents exceptional values and quality. In Jerez, the “age” of a bottling refers to the weighted average of the spirit in the solera. A Spanish brandy labeled a 20 YO, for example, would typically incorporate brandies ranging from four to 50 years in age. 20 years is the weighted average of the age of the different brandies in the solera. This is different practice than say the Scotch whisky industry where the stated age on a bottling is the youngest component of the blend. Likewise, with Cognac, the different classifications are based on the youngest component of the blend, even though those blends could incorporate spirits that are far older. On the nose, there is an intense sherry cask aroma of raisin, prune and sweet almond. The palate features a pronounced weight with dried fruit, along with some coffee notes, orange zest and cinnamon. The finish, which is very rich and satiny smooth, emphasizes sweet almond notes, with a hint of bitterness on the end. To many, the best brandy feels like a spirit of a bygone era. Something your grandparents drank or at most something that was prescribed by a doctor to fight a cold decades ago. It feels like there’s no place for brandy in the contemporary spirits world, but the spirits experts at Man of Many are here to show you why that’s not the case.

Torres 30 Jaime I Brandy : The Whisky Exchange Torres 30 Jaime I Brandy : The Whisky Exchange

Spanish brandy is mostly based on the Airén grape; a variety that can tolerate heat and drought. It is mostly grown for brandy production in La Mancha and Valdapeñas in central Spain. Palomino, a grape variety used in sherry production, is also used for producing Spanish brandy. In Penedès brandy producers use Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada, the same grape varieties used to produce Spanish Cava. They also use Ugni blanc, the same grape variety used in Cognac. Normally drink VSOP brandy but got this as a gift. It’s brandy, right, so should be good. It has a high note aroma that reminds me of something medicinal. Keep up with the latest trends, best stories, and crucial updates from Man of Many direct to your inbox. Shop at Bardinet Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at Woolworths Barsol Quebranta Pisco | Image: Supplied 7. Barsol PiscoThis is similar to the Scotch whisky industry’s preoccupation a generation ago with kilts and bagpipes in marketing Scotch whisky. Spain’s brandy producers need to market their product to appeal to a more cosmopolitan buyer, while still preserving its essential Spanish character. One of the first innovators in the California wine world, Paul Massin emigrated to the US from France in the late 1800s. He made many wines (including the first sparkling wine in America) but is today well-known for his brandy. It’s still made the same way over 100 years later. The most well-known expression is Paul Masson VS. Made the traditional way and aged in oak, it carries notes of caramel, vanilla, dried fruits, and rich oak. Shop at Camus Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at The Whisky Exchange How Man of Many Chose the Best Brandy Brandy de Jerez is classified into three categories: Solera, Solera Reserva and Solera Gran Reserva. Solera is typically a mix of 50% holandas and 50% aguardiente and is aged on average for one year. It must have a three-month minimum aging. Solera Reserva is a mix of 75% holandas and 25% aguardiente and is aged for an average of three years. It has a minimum aging of one year. Solera Gran Reserva is 100% holandas and is aged for an average of 10 years, with a minimum aging of three years. To be called a Brandy de Jerez, the brandy needs to be matured within the sherry triangle in casks that previously held sherry and utilize a solera system for aging. It does not, however, need to be distilled in Jerez or use grapes grown there.

20 Best Brandy Brands to Sip Right Now | Man of Many 20 Best Brandy Brands to Sip Right Now | Man of Many

Lepanto is the only brandy distilled in the city of Jerez from locally grown Palomino grapes, the same variety used to produce sherry. The brandy is double distilled in Charentais pot stills, originally from Cognac, and is aged in solera for an average of 12 years. The first nine years in barrels that previously contained Tío Pepe and a further three years in casks that previously held 30 YO sweetOlorosoMatusalem sherry. Brandy bodegas in Jerez are required to utilize a solera system of fractional blending. The solera consists of a series of barrels called criaderas (nurseries in Spanish). Each criadera is numbered. It can consist of one to hundreds of barrels. All the barrels in a criadera hold brandy of the same average age. A bodega may have anywhere from three to as many as 45 different criaderas. The oldest criadera is called the solera. These are the barrels from which the brandy destined for bottling is extracted. Pot still produced spirit must have an alcohol content (ABV) of between 40% and 70%. This spirit is known in the brandy trade as “holandas.” It is only distilled once, although there are a few producers who double distill. Spirit produced from column stills has to be between 70% and 94.8% ABV, and is termed “aguardiente.” The “date” of the solera is based on the year it was established. The barrels from which the saca is extracted would consist of a blend of brandy from each of the prior years that the solera has been maintained.

If you’re a brandy fan and you’ve never tried pisco, you’re really missing out. If you want to try one, we suggest Barsol Pisco. This small batch, estate bottled pisco is distilled in Ica, Peru. Its Barsol Puro Quebranta is made from wine made with 100 per cent Quebranta grapes and is distilled to bottle-proof. It’s well-known for its fruity, citrus, and slightly nutty flavours. Another one of the most well-known cognac houses, Martell is also the oldest. Founded in 1715 by Jean Martell who was originally from the island of Jersey. While the brand makes myriad well-known, award-winning cognacs like the highly acclaimed Martell Cordon Bleu, we prefer the unique, boundary-pushing Martell Blue Swift. Aged for a minimum of four years in French oak casks before finishing in Ex-bourbon barrels it’s known for its flavours of dried fruits, vanilla, and wintry spices. An aromatic brandy that has been aged for 10 to 12 years in butts that previously held Oloroso sherry. It offers notes of prunes, raisins and dates, along with hints of roasted nuts and old leather. The brandy is smooth, with a pronounced palate weight, with flavors of dried fruit, caramel and vanilla. There is also an 18 YO XO expression that is finished in sweet PX sherry cask and a 20 YO Oro expression matured in dry, Palo Cortado sherry casks.

Exploring The World Of Spanish Brandy - Forbes Exploring The World Of Spanish Brandy - Forbes

While brandy can be made anywhere in the world (and is), it’s difficult to dispute the level of cognac made in France. There’s a reason even novice drinkers know the names Martell, Hennessy, Courvoisier, and Remy Martin. If you only try one type of brandy in the world, make it cognac. You won’t be disappointed. Torres is based in Penedès, in Catalonia. The Hors D’Age is an ultra-aged brandy, averaging 20+ years. It is based on Parellada and Ugni blanc grapes and is matured in French Limousine oak barrels. This is the most Cognac-like of the Spanish brandies, and far better priced. The brandy has a deep, rich color, offering notes of fresh grapes and ripe pears, along with raisins, dates and figs. There are additional notes of candied citrus, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon and other wood spices. The Torres 20 has won more than 69 awards in international competitions. Cardinal Mendoza is aged for an average of 15 years in a combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. The brandy is named for Cardinal Don Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza. The cardinal was an advisor to Ferdinand II and Isabel I, and was instrumental in persuading the Spanish monarchs to support Christopher Columbus’s first voyage to the new world.WARNING: Drinking distilled spirits, beer, coolers, wine and other alcoholic beverages may increase cancer risk, and, during pregnancy, can cause birth defects. An aged brandy distilled from the Parellada and Ugni Blanc grape varieties. Both varieties are distilled separately twice in traditional stills.