The Best Brandy: From Strong to Candy

The diverse and exquisite world of fruit spirits is situated at the delicate intersection of sophistication and indulgence. The category can transport both eager newcomers and seasoned connoisseurs through stories of terroir, craftsmanship, and centuries of heritage. Navigating the world of brandy can be a journey to taste some dramatic distillates and discover uniquely nuanced notes.

While one article could never encompass the broad scope of brandies, below is a selection of fun, approachable, under-the-radar brandies, spanning the spectrum from robust and powerful to delicately sweet and aromatic. From historic distilleries to innovative newcomers, each selection offers a glimpse into this underappreciated and often misunderstood spirit category. If you prefer the warming intensity of a strong eau de vie or the smooth decadence of a sweetie delight, there's a perfect bottle for your desired experience. 

STRAWBAR ORIGIN

Starting strong. Eau de vie are fruit brandies that are usually unaged and can taste very hot or harsh when enjoyed neat. Strawbar Origin is a strawberry eau de vie made from 100% fermented strawberries. Traditionally fruit eau de vie is made through macerating a less sugary fruit in spirit for the flavour. But Strawbar uses only a special variety of wild strawberry from the Florina region in Northern Greece. This strawberry, known as Alpine strawberries - or more formally, Fragaria vesca - are a varietal known for their delicious, aromatic taste. They are small, flavourful, and luxurious. Unlike their larger grocery-store counterparts, alpine and woodland berries haven’t been bred for size. These are then hand harvested and handled delicately by analytical and organic chemists to create Strawbar’s signature pillars of flavour: strawberry, caramel, compote, & smoke. While somewhat intense on its own, it is magical in many cocktails that use clear spirits. 

Size: 500ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £39.00

DAMPFWERK BARRELED GRAPE IMMATURE BRANDY (aka “Ivey”)

For US brandy enthusiasts, a special selection is this Minnesota-based distillery owned by a German family dedicated to quality products. Grape brandy produced in the United States is typically made from the distillation of fermented grape juice or wine similar to production of the Piscos of Chile and Peru. The Dampfwerk Barreled Grape Immature Brandy is distilled from a skin-on-fermentation using whole fruit imparting additional flavour and texture to the resulting product. It’s then distilled in a copper pot still with four plates. The makers describe the process as “expensive, arduous, and messy, but it provides a full-bodied fruit brandy that we are proud to sip eau de vie style, or barrel aged.” Strong in ABV but packs a punch in deliciousness as well. 

Size: 375ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: $38 (around £30)

G.E. MASSENEZ POIRE WILLIAMS 

G.E. Massenez Poire Williams is well-renowned as a masterpiece of French distillation. This pear brandy captures the essence of bright, ripe pears in every drop. Its unparalleled smoothness and delicate fruit expression make it a standout choice for anyone in search of a refined and unforgettable drinking experience. Traditionally enjoyed neat as a digestif, gifted to a pal in need of escape, or used to elevate cocktails and desserts, G.E. Massenez Poire Williams never fails to impress with its impeccable balance and lingering, peary finish. This spirit has the ability to transport the drinker to the orchards of Alsace with each sip of this extraordinary brandy. A perfect middle ground for this scale. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £35.99

PÉRE MAGLOIRE FINE VS CALVADOS

Pére Magloire Fine VS Calvados is crafted using traditional methods of apple brandy production. It begins with the fermentation of apple cider, which is then distilled to create a clear apple spirit. The spirit is made from single continuous distillation in copper stills to concentrate the apple aromas. The flavour is then blended with the fruitiest cuvées and aged in barrels made of century-old oak. This Calvados offers a taste of the rich apple-growing traditions of Normandy, showcasing the unique terroir and craftsmanship as the flagship of the extensive Pére Magloire collection of apple expressions. A beginner’s guide to smooth and fruity flavours, it’s a great brandy to get someone into brandy. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £33.24

BARDINET COFFEE

Finishing off sweet and easy. Winning Gold at the World Brandy Awards, Bardinet Coffee is a brandy-based coffee liqueur produced by Bardinet, a renowned French spirits company with a strong heritage dating back to 1857. Bardinet Coffee is a premium coffee liqueur and is lauded for quality and richness. After Arabica beans are roasted to specification, they are distilled to extract the essence of the coffee, resulting in a concentrated coffee distillate. This liqueur mixes the coffee distillate and the Bardinet brandy with a balance of the right amount of sweetness and complexity. Its velvety texture and good solid coffee flavour make it delicious over ice, added to any coffee beverage morning or night, and a sweetened delight in any coffee liqueur cocktail. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 28%
Find here: £13.02

By Zach Sapato

A 150 year birthday for Hennessy Cognac

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Hennessy Cognac has existed for a while and its XO Cognac has also been around in its own right for a very long time. This year saw its 150th birthday. To mark the occasion, a special bottle has been designed by a very special man.

Frank Gehry is a superlative architect. Having designed incredible buildings including the Guggenheim in Bilbao, asking him to design the bottle for this anniversary seems like a great choice. And it is. The result is stunning. The classic XO bottle has been draped in a crinkled sleeve of 24 carat, gold dipped bronze which makes the bottle look like it is standing under a waterfall of gold. 

The inspiration comes from the twisted vines and the Charente river that runs through the estate. The decanter is encased by a fractured glass case that enhances the ideas of water and light. Frank said, "I wanted to bring it to life, and so I took inspiration from its birthplace and used this crumpling effect of the material that gives it a feeling of movement." He adds, "The materials I've chosen catch the light and make this a really beautiful object on its own, but then you realize it is a bottle of Hennessy XO."

The XO was first created by Maurice Hennessy and the cellar master Emile Fillioux in 1870. When first created, the “Extra Old” was meant only for their close friends and family. however, 150 years on, it is the best-selling cognac in the world. This happened more quickly than one might imagine. It was exported to the USA as early as 1870 and to Asia in 1872. Renaud Fillioux de Gironde, the eighth generation Master Blender for Maison Hennessy said, “Hennessy XO is the cognac for every occasion. Its timelessness – the fact that its inspiration never changes and never bends to the whims of trends means that it exists in a realm beyond fashion. As time goes by, we have noticed that people are appreciating a wider array of moments for tasting than they ever have before. Its versatility is what I think makes Hennessy XO so contemporary and relevant today.”

The carafe that we all recognise as Hennessy XO was created in 1947 by Gérald de Geoffre, who was a member of the family. Whilst the design has been adapted in small ways over the years, it essentially remains the same, although this stunning new limited-edition design from Frank Gehry is certainly different. The cognac in the bottle remains the same XO as always. There are only 150 of these bottles created, named “Masterpiece”. There will also be a limited run of bottles worldwide with a design by Frank Gehry to expand on the design and the birthday celebrations. 

Speaking about the collaboration Frank Gehry said, "It was an honour to be asked to celebrate this milestone for Hennessy X.O. While I was excited, it was also daunting because a bottle of cognac is already a work of art — one you can smell, taste, and feel — it doesn't need embellishment as it’s already there. We are showing how we can be creative within that language. There's such a powerful history and a serious emotional commitment from the people that make this product. It has a resonance that's interesting to tie into and become a part of."

Hennessy celebrated its 150th Anniversary on 25th September 2020, marking the occasion with a series of festivities in Cognac. The Masterpiece and limited-edition Frank Gehry XO decanters are available exclusively from Harrods and Clos19.com with the “Masterpiece” priced at £15K and the limited edition by Frank Gehry at £178.