A Question

I’m looking forward to participating in my very first Mixology Monday in a week or so; the topic this time around is Brandy (you’re a fine spirit), and I think I’ll enjoy trying to put together a new drink or discovering an old one.  A question, though:  what brandy to use?  I feel like I have a semi-decent handle on what brands I prefer for a lot of other spirits, but I feel like I’m clueless when it comes to brandy — and for some reason, the various guides to brands that I’ve seen around don’t seem to ever include brandy. 

What I’ve been doing so far:  standing blankly in front of the shelves at my local liquor store (which is both well and peculiarly stocked), pondering for a while, and then grabbing a VS cognac more or less at random.  It seems to work out okay, and I like my Sidecars just fine, but:  is this overkill?  Should I be looking at Armangnacs, other Cognacs, or other brandies?  Talk to me.


Comments

9 responses to “A Question”

  1. I live in Wisconsin, which has the highest per capita brandy consumption in the US, but I’m afraid that people’s taste in brandies in my neck of the Northwoods are fairly plebian.
    You definitely don’t want to waste a good Cognac in a mixed drink. I use Christian Bros. VSOP for standard cocktails, and Marie Brizard Blackberry Brandy in tropical libations. I have no complaints.

  2. I live in Wisconsin, which has the highest per capita brandy consumption in the US, but I’m afraid that people’s taste in brandies in my neck of the Northwoods are fairly plebian.
    You definitely don’t want to waste a good Cognac in a mixed drink. I use Christian Bros. VSOP for standard cocktails, and Marie Brizard Blackberry Brandy in tropical libations. I have no complaints.

  3. Also, if you’re looking for a very unique brandy-drinking experience, pick up a bottle of Chilean Pisco grape brandy in the Easter Island statue decanter.
    http://www.mrbalihai.com/goof/2007/03/cocktail_of_the_jaguar_gods.html

  4. Also, if you’re looking for a very unique brandy-drinking experience, pick up a bottle of Chilean Pisco grape brandy in the Easter Island statue decanter.
    http://www.mrbalihai.com/goof/2007/03/cocktail_of_the_jaguar_gods.html

  5. You should choose brandy as you would any other spirit. I keep a big bottle of Masson for workhorse (and party) (and cooking) purposes, just as I do Maker’s Mark. But some cocktails (and smaller quantities of them) really do call for a finer brandy or cognac. Start with the cocktail you have in mind and buy the brandy that seems right for it.
    Which reminds me, I do need to buy some more cognac….

  6. You should choose brandy as you would any other spirit. I keep a big bottle of Masson for workhorse (and party) (and cooking) purposes, just as I do Maker’s Mark. But some cocktails (and smaller quantities of them) really do call for a finer brandy or cognac. Start with the cocktail you have in mind and buy the brandy that seems right for it.
    Which reminds me, I do need to buy some more cognac….

  7. The idea of “workhorse” brandy, logical as it sounds in context, still makes me laugh a little bit.

  8. The idea of “workhorse” brandy, logical as it sounds in context, still makes me laugh a little bit.

  9. pisco, yes. chilean? hell, no.
    pisco comes from peru. the peruvian customs form tells you so. pisco made outside peru is forbidden!
    personally, i’d recommend anything made by biondi, followed by ocucaje. if a pisco sour is what you want, choose the acholado.

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