How to drink brandy

Brandy is divided into three basic types - grape, brandy from the fruity and fruitybrandy. All types of brandy are usually consumed after a meal as a digestive. However, the use of each type of brandy has its own characteristics. Let's talk about how to drink brandy of each type.

Perhaps the most common type of brandy is grape, it is obtained by distilling fermented grape juice. We have grape brandy used to call cognac, but in fact this name applies only to brandy produced in the French province of Cognac.

Other types of grape brandy - it's French armagnac, Spanish sherrybrandy (sherry-brandy), Greek metaxa, Armenian cognac (arbun), Moldovan divin, Bulgarian slab. Produce grape brandy in other countries (USA, China, Mexico, South Africa), where it is called simply brandy.

How to drink brandy of this type? Basically, culture of the use of any grape brandy not too different from the culture of cognac, but just in case we repeat the general rules.

Brandy is served in glasses on a short stem with a wide bottom, tapering from above (cognac glasses, or sniffers). Armagnac and aged cognac served in glasses for Armagnac, having a slightly more elongated shape.

The drink is slightly cooled (up to 16 degrees), canhe also has room temperature. Before you drink brandy, hold your glass in your hands for a bit - this will enhance the flavor of the drink. Do not rush, drink in small sips. To swallow a drink it is necessary not at once - hold it a little bit in your mouth for better taste.

Brandy from the flesh made from pulp, seeds and stems,remaining after the squeezing of the grape juice. The most famous examples of brandy from the squeezes are Georgian chacha, South Slavic raka, Italian grappa. Usually brandy from the squeeze is chilled, not mixing with anything. However, rakiyu in winter drink heated, seasoning caramel, cinnamon or cloves and orange peel.

Fruit brandy most often made from plums, apples, cherries,Peaches, blueberries, raspberries and apricots. The most famous examples of fruit brandy are calvados (from apples), kirschwasser (from cherry), slivovitz (from plums), Framboise (from raspberry), Poire Williams (from pears).

How to drink brandy from fruit? Unlike grape, it is usually served to the table, pre-cooled or added ice. Fruit brandy is also used to make a huge variety of cocktails. So, kirschwasser, for example, is well combined with liqueurs, champagne and vermouth.

By the way, light cocktails with brandy can be served not after eating, but before, as an aperitif. In this case, brandy is usually combined with carbonated water, tonic, orange juice.

Whether to bite brandy? Grape brandy (including cognac) can bedrink without snacks. But it is acceptable to combine it with chocolate, nuts, cheese, as well as coffee or a cigar. Strong brandy of the ointment is a bite to eat, because otherwise very quickly comes intoxication.

As you can see, it's quite difficult to answer the question "How to drink brandy?" the name "brandy" refers more to the technology of the production of a drink, than to its specific variety.

Therefore, the main thing is to remember the most important rule: brandy - not a drink, it is not drunk during a meal. So drink brandy should either be before meals as an aperitif in a diluted form, or after a meal as a digestive in its pure form. And do not rush: brandy is savored.