In the US we have E&J Brandy, which is traditionally enjoyed room temperature, consumed directly from the bottle, under a bridge or in a homeless encampment.

Thanks for a wonderful video. I learned a lot. I grew up in Wisconsin, in the North-Central part of the U.S. and brandy was somewhat common. I used to have an English boss that loved to order Calvados at the end of a meal. Wonderful stuff. Then we moved to Arizona in the Southwest and people look at you sideways if you ask for brandy. It's a spirit worth exploring. Thank again for your cocktail recipes / demonstrations.

Heya Cara, awesome and informative video as always!! Two quick points… Armagnac has slightly different definitions than Cognac for its age statements, and In 2018 BNIC changed the definition of XO for Cognac to 10 years. You might have pulled your 6-year definition from an old source. Sorry for the corrections, and much

Thanks Cara fantastic idea to bring a focus back on brandies. As a grappa lover would like to see an eposode based on these brandies playing off of the different grape varieties found in the grappa world 😊

I love pisco, and would be happy to see more brandy-related content and cocktails.

Hi and thank you, Cara. Love the content! ❤

Your descriptions on how the flavours meld together have me craving the chance to mix all these myself. Thank you so much

I love brandy cocktails. Really brandy in general. I did myself a great service when I got away from drinking the big 4 cognac producers though. Harvard is a great drink! I don't feel the soda adds anything so I leave it out. Try it like this 2oz cask strength Armagnac 1 Averna 4 dashes orange bitters I call it a Clark

can't wait to try the Harvard! My fav Brandy cocktail is the Sidecar

I'm a whiskey loving person, and I think I would enjoy brandy and brandy-inspired cocktails so please do more videos. 😀

Yes please,more brandy cocktails. My favourite is the improved Japanese cocktail.

Had my first Side Car on a cruise two years ago..... Still like them ever now and then...

Very helpful! Everything about brandy I was afraid to ask. The cocktails look great! Thanks Cara!

It's funny. In my twenties I never liked brandy. Now, as I am approaching my fourties, it's become my go to drink. My favourite is Vecchia Romagna Etichetta Bianca, since I'm from Italy and this is the most common brandy to find in any supermarket. Not very complex, vanilla and sweet notes and a strong finale. It's not very aged, the Etichetta Nera is way more refined, but it's the simplicity of it that I like the most. After coffee, one or two dashes of brandy to clean the cup and mix the flavours of the brandy with those of the coffee...It's awesome!

All of these recipes sounded so delicious! I was most curious about your introduction, though. I didn't know that there was such a variety of brandies available. Peach brandy definitely sounds like something I would enjoy. In fact, I think I would like just a guide to different brandies!

A pisco video would be grand!

Side car for sure! So good

On my dinner night out I always enjoy a nicely made Sidecar. I use brandy in home made cocktails to soften the drink.

I made the Harvard last night and really enjoyed it. I did notice in the description the Brandy measure in oz should be 1 1/2, but is listed as 1/2 oz. Thanks for these great recipes!

my two favouritebrandy drinks would have to be the Alexander, and a simple lime and soda with dash of bitters. I must try these others.

I love whin I drinking brandy that’s my favorite drink 🍹

Cómo buen peruano, agradecería un video dedicado al Pisco. ¡Saludos y éxitos Cara!

I can appreciate how the clock in the background is set to 5 o’clock.

Between the Sheets is a favorite for my wife and I. The Harvard sounds good. I'll have to try it. Cheers!

As always, great content!

0:12 Don't forget the Saint Bernards! And yes, I'd love to see a video on Pisco one day.

The US has a whole State of brandy drinkers. Wisconsin.

This is great! I bought a bottle of some VSOP that ended up being used for cranberries, so I’ve been looking for another use or three. Wish I could find some green Chartreuse. I’ve heard it’s more readily available in Mexico than the US.

I've always said i'm a 'Rum Drinker' when it comes to Spirits. I recently went to a Cognac Tasting evening hosted by the Cognac House Maxime Trijole. All spirits were poured before the tasting to let them breathe and were served neat without ice. I couldn't believe how easy and smooth Cognac is by comparison to most Scotch. I must confess I had overlooked Brandy as a category because i definately bought into its 'old & stuffy' image. What a misconception, i'd urge anyone to give it a go.

Bushmills Black Bush is my whiskey of choice if it's a Brandy time for Calvados

A Pisco episode would be great!

More brandy-based content plz ❤

i don't know where you're from, but I wonder if you have ever heard or tasted any other "eau-de-vie" from France / Belgium or "Obstwasser / Schnapps" from Germany / Austria ? They are usually clear fruit spirits (most of them are not aged at all) and you have A LOT of different flavours. I'd recommend Mirabelle (it's made from small yellow plums called Mirabelle as well), Kirsch (which is made from cherries), another well known is the "Poire Williams" which is a specific variety of pear used for making brandy, it usually have a whole real pear inside the bottle. Then you have it for almost every fruit grown in central Europe so, raspberry, plum, apple, apricot, blackcurrant, blackberry,.. You name a fruit, we've probably already made alcohol with it somewhere.. x)

The St Agnes VSOP is my go to. Would love to learn more. Thanks.

Would love to see some cocktails with calvados. :)

In South Africa brandy is more associated with rowdy and uncouth individuals and it's usually served with excessive amounts of mixer, most commonly coke. It is also probably our most consumed spirit but you so seldom that you see it in cocktails here unless you go to "nicer" establishments.

I love Brandy! Being a yank I do have a soft spot for Applejack. Is Brandy the original Barrel aged spirit?

I used to buy E&J

I used to think I didn't like brandy in cocktails. But then I made a sidecar using a California brandy instead of cognac, and I thought it was better. For my palate, I think the oak influence on the cognac -- which is better for sipping -- may clash with some of the other ingredients. Also, good article in The Guardian the other day.

Please do a Pisco episode!

I've always wished we produced more fruit brandies here in Scotland. I come from one of the fruit producing areas in Tayside now famous for berries but we used to grow all kinds of apples & pears. They find old abandoned orchards on a regular basis with unique cultivars all the time here... I know Lanarkshire is very good berry country too (and tomatoes), is there such a thing as strawberry brandy?

Thanks for video!! Would Cointreau work? Or Ferrand? To sub marionette also chartreuse so hard to find now!!!

I think that pronunciation of brandewijn was admirable. Dutchies shouldn't whine about it anyway because we clearly forgot how to make the stuff since coining the term.

Which brandy would you reach for to serve a Saratoga, Cara? In case there's more than one cocktail with that name, I mean this recipe: 30ml (1oz) Rye 30ml (1oz) Brandy 30ml (1oz) sweet vermouth 2 dashes bitters Lemon twist

Vs = Only 1/6 as old as I'd expect a scotch at this price-point.

*shouts in bri'ish* BRANDY!

Unfortunately a lot of brandies are very delicate in flavor profile as well as proof. Certainly there are great ones but I've found it hard over the years to find ones that stand up as well as (say for example) gin or whiskey do in cocktails.

0:52 'can't roll your R's' I thought Scots liked rolling their 'R's (my old man does)

So is the basic difference between St Agnes brandy and Hennessy cognac the region the latter is made in? I know there'll be quality, taste, maybe even process differences, but if it's going in a cocktail rather than sipping straight is cognac worth the doubled price?

Great, so no i know what to do with that old bottle of Hennesy cognac just sitting there and collecting dust.

not going to lie i went to a friend house and drank straight wiskey. Not sure im alive at the moment.

Leke brannas

As a dutchman: your "brandewijn" pronunciation was actually not that awful. The 'wijn' part translates to wine, and is pronounced a bit like the English word. Nice overview!

its 5 oclock somewhere? or it just died there. your clocks broke hun

If I'm completely unable to drink any kind of whiskey straight, is it likely to be the same with any kind of brandy? Or is it easier to sip like wine

So that's what vsop means .but what type is Napoleon