Brandy is a legendary alcoholic beverage with a history spanning more than half a century. According to one version, the life of this drink was given by Dutch shipping. The sailors stored up a very large amount of alcohol on the long voyage. But due to illiterate storage, part of the alcohol stock fell into disrepair. Therefore, in order to prolong the preservation of the precious liquid, the intoxicant was distilled. The alcoholic beverage that came out was called “burnt wine” or brandewijn.

Brandy is a strong alcoholic beverage, the degree of which can vary between 40-65%. Traditionally, it is made on the basis of fruits and berries; some manufacturers can add various herbs, nuts, spices and spices to the raw materials. This alcohol is widely recognized and is one of the most common. And with what do they drink brandy and how to eat it competently in order to get real pleasure from the unique aroma and sophisticated bouquet?

Brandy has a rich and long history

Studying the nuances of making this intoxicating drink, we can say that this is not even a drink of the same name, but directly the technology of making alcohol itself. The "brandy" class includes many varieties of strong alcohol made on a fruit and berry basis by double or single distillation of alcohol. It includes the following types of alcohol:

1. Cognac. Alcoholic beverage produced exclusively in France.
2. Sherry brandy. The pride of Greek winemakers.
3. Armagnac. Products of French winemakers, this name is due to the region of the same name in the south-west of the country.

In Russia, brandy has been familiar for over 100 years. Many of our citizens mistakenly classify brandy as cognac, and call any kind of brandy as cognac.

Basic rules for using brandy

To feel all the sophistication of this legendary drink, you should know how to drink brandy and what to eat. And for this you can arm yourself with ancient rules that have been tested over the years and are based on the experience of subtle connoisseurs of brandy and the cultural traditions of those countries where this drink was produced. So:

1. The temperature of the hot drink poured for consumption should not exceed + 20⁰С.
2. Many experts claim that the optimal temperature regime should be only + 15⁰С.
3. Better to warm up alcohol already poured into glasses. To do this, the glass should be carefully warmed up with a burning candle. But there must be a certain skill - if the drink is overheated, it will taste sugary and unpleasant.
4. It is not necessary to put ice on glasses. Remember that brandy is not drunk chilled - this way it loses the subtle nuances of its flavor bouquet.
5. It is better to taste the drink alone, so that nothing and no one distracts from acquaintance with this alcoholic legend.
6. When filling a glass, you should try to pour alcohol in such a way that the liquid creates small swirls (vortex).
7. Before you get acquainted with the taste of the drink, you should study its smell, taste the aroma.
8. They drink brandy slowly, savoring every sip and feeling how flavorful bouquets gradually unfold.
9. Many connoisseurs advise to consume this alcohol with a good cigar and expensive coffee.

Suitable snacks

It is imperative to find out what to eat brandy with, because this drink is very strong... Well, in addition to alcohol-rich alcohol, you just need to serve hearty dishes. And it would be better if it would be a perfect match for the legendary alcoholic snack.

Brandy is served with a variety of appetizers

A good snack with brandy will not only help to avoid quick and strong intoxication, but will also emphasize the entire aroma of alcohol - the unique taste sensations inherent in the drink.

What is advised to take with brandy? These are products such as:

• good cheese of the highest quality;
• nuts, especially walnuts or almonds;
• sweets, especially candies, cakes and biscuits;
• traditionally in many countries gourmet ice cream will be served with brandy;
• an excellent addition is roasted peanuts (but without the inclusion of salt);
• meat dishes (you can take both cold and fried foods), we traditionally take shish kebab or smoked meat;
• bitter chocolate, experts advise adding slices of lime or lemon to the bar (such an appetizer is especially popular in Western countries).

But seafood doesn't go well with brandy. Sea tributes will completely ruin the flavor bouquet of the drink and spoil its entire perception.

Nuances of apple brandy

Separately, it is necessary to dwell on this original type of alcohol. This strong drink is made on the basis of apples, one of the most common and famous apple brandies is Calvados, a traditional alcohol from the shores of Normandy.

Good and varied cocktails are made on the basis of Calvados

Such drinks require a special attitude towards themselves. In particular, if you want to recognize what Calvados is so famous for, you should know some of the features associated with its use:

1. Ideally, calvados are drunk exclusively in their pure form, but you can consider various desserts (except fruits) for an appetizer. True connoisseurs will find the fruit appetizer for Calvados the height of vulgarity. And the French traditionally offer bread, cheese and meat dishes to their national drink.
2. If the exposure to alcohol is short (no more than 4 years), then it is better to consume Calvados before meals or in the intervals between meals. For longer aging, apple brandy is best tasted after a rich and rich meal.
3. If the Calvados is very strong (more than 45% of the degree), connoisseurs will definitely offer it a good cigar and a cup of aromatic premium coffee.
4. Calvados is actively used to prepare a variety of cocktails. Apple brandy goes well with a variety of drinks.

What glasses to take

Complete observance of the tradition of brandy tasting requires the presence of certain dishes. Legendary, refined alcohol should have its own glasses. To taste such an intoxicating drink, several types of containers have been created:

1. Snifter. A glass with an extended base, rounded shape and a small stem. It is used exclusively for expensive types of strong brandy, aged for more than 5-6 years. This glass is not completely filled with the drink - brandy should make up about 25% of the total. After a spill, you should wait 1–2 minutes for the alcohol to absorb oxygen and fully reveal its bouquet. It is a kind of tubular snifter - a thin glass tube is soldered to such a glass from the side.
2. Wobble. It looks like a snifter in appearance, but it completely lacks a stand, so this glass always lies on its side. Due to the original structure, the alcohol poured there is always mixed, which allows all the nuances of the aroma to be revealed more strongly.
3. Tulip. Slim glass with an elongated stand. It is traditionally taken for young alcoholic drinks. It is this capacity that is most popular in continental European countries, in contrast to the snifter, which is considered a sign of the English prim style.

Traditional brandy glasses

Whether to dilute brandy

Connoisseurs of true alcohol of this level prefer to consume it exclusively in pure form, without even having a snack, being content with only a good cigarette and a cup of aromatic coffee. But for many, brandy, especially aged brandy, is too strong. For such people, to get real pleasure, you should know how to dilute brandy. Connoisseurs of the drink say that this alcohol goes well with:

• cola;
• tonic;
• soda;
• orange juice.

Brandy for women

If representatives of the male part of the population prefer to taste strong alcohol in its pure form, then women can be offered a variety of brandy-based cocktails. Fruit spirits are the ideal base for making delicious drinks. By the way, the ingredients that interfere with brandy can be completely unpredictable.

"Charleston"

We will need:

• lemonade: 50 ml;
• cherry brandy: 100 ml;
• orange liqueur: 50 ml.

Preparation:

Using a shaker, mix the cherry alcohol and liqueur. Pour the resulting drink into a glass and gently add lemonade and ice cubes to it. The cocktail is decorated with a lemon or orange slice.

Many great cocktails can be created from brandy

"Eggnog"

Ingredients:

• milk: 50 ml;
• brandy: 100 ml;
• granulated sugar: 50 g;
• one chicken egg;
• clean water: 50 ml;
• nutmeg: a pinch;
• dark rum: 100 ml.

Manufacturing:

First of all, you should prepare the caramel. To do this, sugar is poured into a small container and filled with heated water. The mass is brought to a boil and boiled over low heat until the mixture acquires a honey hue (but the syrup does not need to be brought to thickening).

Then the resulting syrup, egg and alcohol are mixed in a shaker. Stir thoroughly until a cool foam is obtained. The mass is poured into glasses, milk is added to the cocktail and nutmeg is poured on top. By the way, the Eg-Nog cocktail is the favorite drink of the British lords..

Brandy Sower

The name of this cocktail in translation sounds like "sour brandy". Such a drink is for a lover of sourness and freshness, connoisseurs advise to use it in a sultry season. The drink refreshes and cools well (therefore, it must be mixed with ice during preparation).

Components:

• brandy: 100 ml;
• icing sugar: a pinch;
• natural lemon juice: 50 ml.

Preparation:

All ingredients are mixed in a shaker and poured into glasses (where ice cubes are preliminarily placed). Glasses are decorated with pieces of fruit, berries. If the drink seems to be too sour, it can be slightly diluted with orange juice.

"Martini"

You will need:

• tonic: 100 ml;
• vermouth: 50 ml;
• brandy: 25 ml.

Manufacturing:

All components of the cocktail are mixed with a shaker simultaneously with crushed ice. Then the resulting alcohol is poured into glasses and drunk. This drink is considered one of the most delicious and enjoyable cocktails based on strong alcohol..

"Scorpion"

We will need:

• brandy: 50 ml;
• lime juice: 20 ml;
• orange juice: 40 ml;
• liqueur (it is better to take Cointreau): 50 ml;
• dark and white rum: 50 ml each.

Preparation:

All alcoholic ingredients are mixed and poured into glasses. Juices (orange and lime) are carefully added to them. Additionally, the drink can be decorated with crushed ice.

Let's summarize

Brandy is a unique, legendary alcohol with a long history, steeped in myths and interesting events. It is believed that this is not even the name of a particular alcohol. Brandy is a huge alcoholic world, which includes a lot of spirits created on various fruit, berry and nut bases. To get real pleasure from this intoxicating drink, you need to know all the nuances of the culture of drinking.

Having discovered all the tricks of an intoxicating drink, having learned how and with what it is better to mix it, consume it correctly, make cocktails, you can proudly call yourself a subtle connoisseur of strong alcohol. But do not forget about the strength of the true brandy. To experience its true taste, you should consume it slowly, in small doses.... Only then can you get real pleasure from this legendary representative of the world of alcohol.

Many people have long tasted such an alcoholic beverage as brandy. It appeared in the depths of Spanish wine cellars when a new method of aging refined distillates was introduced in the early eighteenth century. This drink is the fruit of the work of distinguished master winemakers and gradually it was enriched with more and more new flavors. However, not everyone knows the culture of drinking this drink. But the correct use of brandy, like other high-quality alcohol, is a guarantee that the whole bouquet of aroma will be revealed, you can feel all the nuances and enjoy the drink to the fullest.

Brandy is made from fruit juice, by fermentation or distillation. There are several varieties of this alcoholic drink:

1. Grape. It is obtained by distilling fermented grape juice.
2. Fruit. Made from apples, peaches, blueberries, cherries, raspberries. Sometimes flower petals or coffee beans are added.
3. Brandy from grape press.

Culture of use

Over the years, true connoisseurs of an alcoholic beverage have figured out how to drink it correctly:

Wineglass

By tradition, brandy is poured into a tulip-shaped glass at the level of its wider part. Such glasses are called "snifters". Connoisseurs say that this is how the taste is fully revealed and you can catch all the notes of the aromatic drink.

Optimum temperature

There is no single opinion here. Some people believe that it will be right if you warm a glass in your hands or even warm it up with a candle flame. So the drink will fully reveal its flavor bouquet. Others, on the contrary, like to drink this alcoholic drink chilled, even with the addition of ice, since saturated alcohol vapors seem unpleasant and pungent to them. Proponents of compromise prefer to use brandy as a cold aperitif, and as a digestif (after meals) exceptionally warm. And manufacturers advise to drink brandy chilled. They assure that its taste becomes velvety and deep at a temperature of 15-16 degrees.

Use

You need to drink brandy correctly in small sips and no more than 40 grams. It is precisely this amount of this alcohol that will not allow turning a friendly party into a pleasant pastime, a gourmet delight, and not into an ordinary booze, which will not allow you to appreciate the taste and quality of the drink.

Combinations

Brandy can be drunk with natural Turkish coffee. This alcoholic drink goes well with hot meat dishes. If brandy is consumed before meals, then it is drunk with orange juice, tonic, soda, cola.

How to define quality?

Three waves of scent

1. At a distance of 5 centimeters, you can feel the subtle notes of vanilla.
2. Fruit and floral aromas emerge at the rim of the glass. If the brandy is of high quality, then it exudes the aroma of violets, roses, lindens, apricots.
3. On the third wave, complex aromas appear, similar to the aroma of port.

The aging of the brandy can be determined as follows: you begin to rotate the tulip glass along the axis and watch how it flows down the walls of the snifter. If the droplets flow down within five seconds, then the drink is about three to five years old, if they stay on the walls of the glass for fifteen seconds, then the age is at least fifteen years.

Brandy is a drink for friends who want to while away the evening in a cozy company with a pleasant conversation. Observing the culture of consumption, you can enjoy it, gradually revealing all facets of aroma and taste.

Check out one of the most common brandy-based cocktails in the video:

Drinking elite alcohol is in many ways different from a banal home feast, where hardly anyone thinks about etiquette or traditions. An expensive brandy, the strength of which is close to the degree of good vodka, needs a special approach. Only strict adherence to all the rules of the process of drinking a bottle of this amazing liquid will allow you to fully experience all the notes of this alcohol.

Right? First, let's define the alcohol itself. It has a lot of differences from cognac. Therefore, one should not draw an analogy between them. Brandy is made from special raw materials. In addition, the technology for creating this noble drink is truly unique. That is why it is easy to recognize by the characteristic tart aroma and unique fragrance from the glass. From what dish is it better to drink it?

The brandy glass should be low and with a neck that is much narrower than the base. It is called a sniffer and can be used for cognac as well. In this case, the brandy is poured in such a way that the amber liquid vibrates exclusively in the wide part of the glass. If you fill the container completely, you will lose the opportunity to enjoy the amazing bouquet of aroma.

It is not recommended to use brandy in a noisy company or at a party. This alcohol requires a calm and peaceful atmosphere. It is designed to bring blissful relaxation with it. If you are tired after a busy day at work and want to rest a little, now you know exactly how. They also drink brandy in a narrow circle of close people. The main thing in this business is focus on the drink and slowness. They drink brandy exclusively in small sips, pre-rinsing the mouth with liquid. This is the only way to capture the maximum information about the rich bouquet of this alcohol.

As a rule, brandy is drunk without any snack, so as not to be distracted by extraneous ingredients. However, this drink is quite strong and at the same time has a very tart taste. Therefore, not everyone dares to sip even a quarter of one glass in its pure form. How do you drink brandy with a snack? Opt for a few fresh lemon wedges. Chocolate also goes well with the drink. The latter is recommended to take exactly bitter. In combination with strong alcohol, this dessert takes on a completely new flavor.

Before you start drinking brandy, warm the glass in your palms a little. The drink should be at room temperature (not warmer). After that, you can safely enjoy the aroma and unique taste.

How is brandy drunk in cocktails? First, you need to remember the basic fact. Only inexpensive varieties are used for cocktails. The top luxury brandy cannot be mixed with anything. Every connoisseur will call it a real blasphemy. Good neighbors in a brandy cocktail will be fresh orange juice without pulp, medium-fat cream, various fruit syrups, milk and even ice cream.

Many connoisseurs of good alcohol of this type prefer to drink it on ice. In their opinion, this makes the scent much softer and more delicate. After all, not everyone will like the rich astringency.

The perception of any alcoholic beverage requires the selection of a suitable snack to complement the taste. Failure to observe this rule, you risk spoiling the impression of even the best alcohol. We will consider what to eat and drink brandy with in different situations. The information will be useful for novice tasters who are just getting acquainted with this drink.

1. Light snacks. Suitable if you plan to drink brandy during a buffet table, after a feast, or try an expensive long-aged drink with an original taste and persistent aroma.

During the buffet table, you can limit yourself to cold cuts, for example, ham or low-fat sausage, sandwiches with red fish or caviar, high-quality varieties of cheese and vegetables: sweet bell peppers, tomatoes, olives.

For dessert, brandy is served with fruits (white grapes, apples, pears, bananas), unsalted peanuts, walnuts, ice cream and dark chocolate. In many regions of Russia, it is customary to drink brandy with sweet chocolate and lemon, but in most European countries and the United States, this combination is considered unacceptable, since lemon and chocolate neutralize the taste of the drink.

When tasting an expensive brandy, they try not to eat it at all. Elite varieties are drunk from cognac glasses (snifters), adhering to the rule of three C: Cafe, Cognac, Cigare. First, they drink a cup of coffee, warm up a glass of brandy with the warmth of the palm, slowly drink 50-80 grams and smoke a cigar. The ritual is repeated several times.

2. Hearty snacks. At a large feast, brandy is eaten with hot meat dishes (preferably low-fat), salads, boiled and fried potatoes. It is not superfluous to put meat and cheese cuts on the table. A good addition will be the dishes of the traditional cuisine of the area where the brandy is made. The main thing is to avoid fish dishes (except for shrimp and lobster), as they spoil the taste of the drink.

3. How to drink brandy. To reduce the strength, brandy is diluted with non-carbonated mineral water, tonic, orange and grape juices. The optimal proportion is one to one. Grape brandy can be paired with a cup of coffee or strong black tea.

Due to the fullness and richness of the taste, brandy is unacceptable to mix with other alcoholic beverages, an exception is made only for cocktails.

Brandy cocktail recipes

1. "Separator"

• brandy - 20 ml;
• cocoa liqueur - 20 ml;
• cream - 30 ml.

Preparation: Put a few large ice cubes in a glass. Add all ingredients and stir.

2. "Harakiri"

To fully experience and enjoy the taste of this drink, you need to know how and with what brandy is drunk. There are relatively few rules about how brandy is drunk, so it's easy to remember them in order to discover the full aroma and taste of alcohol. —Brandy— is a drink for an evening in a small friendly company so to make your evening the best you can, figure out how to drink brandy and what to eat.

First you need to understand what kind of brandy drink it is, and then it will become clear how to drink it. This type of alcohol arose due to the fact that the wine popular during the days of navigation could not be stored for a long time, and there was too much spoiled alcohol to throw it away. Then seafarers and came up with the idea of ​​distilling wine again to save expensive product and save space in the hold. So today brandy is made from grape wine, fruit or berry mash. It turns out quite strong, from 40 to 60 degrees, alcohol, in which notes of fruits or berries are revealed.

• To reveal the whole aroma and taste of alcohol, it it is customary to serve and drink from cognac glasses and fill in only its wide part.
• Having poured into a glass, you must warm it up in your hands so that it gives off all the flavor.
• It is best to use it not at noisy parties, but in the circle of close friends to fully enjoy the alcohol and atmosphere of the evening.
• True connoisseurs do not eat or drink this drink, but adhere to the rule: coffee brandy cigar... That is, first they drink a cup of coffee while the alcohol is warming up in their hand, then they slowly drink 50-80 ml of brandy and smoke a good cigar. This is repeated several times.

What brandy is drunk with

Most often, it is customary to serve dark chocolate or lemon with brandy as an appetizer so as not to interrupt the taste of the drink. Taking sweet chocolate is not recommended. If you are wondering how to drink a certain type of brandy, such as Torres brandy, you can go deeper and look for variations, but a safe bet is to drink it neat... You can also add ice to the glass to reduce the strength, and wash it down with coffee or black strong tea.

What else can you eat

There is a fairly large selection of snacks for this drink that can emphasize, rather than overshadow, its sophistication. So by choosing the right snack, you can enjoy it to the fullest.

Light salty snacks

• For strong alcohol, a good snack would be regular sausage cuts but without fatty varieties, sandwiches and canapes.
• Cheese plate also goes well with the taste of the drink.

• You can also serve vegetables, but it is better to give preference olives, small tomatoes, or bell peppers.
• You can still submit shrimp or lobster meat, but other fish dishes will be superfluous.

Light sweet snacks

• Often seen as a snack ice cream or dark chocolate.
• You can submit walnuts, almonds, or unsalted peanuts.

• Fruits It goes well with strong alcohol, so you can chop apples, bananas and pears with it, as well as serve sweet grapes.

Hearty meals

• Very often on big holidays you can see that brandy is served with low-fat meat dishes, salads and potatoes, which is also quite appropriate.
• It can also be a meat platter.

• If you were served a fish dish, then it is better to set aside the drink for now, because you still will not feel all its taste.

How to drink brandy

Most often it is not washed down, but interfere with grape or apple juice, still water or tonic. You can just put ice in it to soften the taste. But if you still want to drink something, then it is best to use good coffee or a cup of strong black tea for this.

Other options

There are a lot of recipes — brandy cocktails — because it is a good basis for them. Many people prefer to drink cocktails in which they add liqueur, there are also combinations with —vodka—, —calvados— or —rom —. But sherry brandy is best mixed with juices to get a long drink for a large company. If you already have no more of it, then you can find a replacement in “good cognac”, which, although it differs in taste, is perfect for cocktails. Or, at the very least, you can make —coffee with cognac— to relax after a hard day.

Brandy is a great drink for a quiet, cozy evening in a company or even for meditation alone, which is difficult to replace with analogues. It is suitable for true connoisseurs of comfortable rest and good alcohol. If it is not principled for you, then you can buy a good cognac, but it cannot completely replace the aroma and taste of real brandy. How do you like the drink? What appetizer did you choose for him? Let us know how you feel in the comments.