Seven types of Brandy
Brandy is made all over the world from France to South Africa but these are the most common types you will encounter.
Jump to section
Author:
Reading time: 8 minutes
Cognac
The most famous brandy in the world. Made from grapes grown in the Charente region in western France. It is double-distilled, aged in oak casks, and usually sold under designations like VSOP (aged four years) or XO (aged 10 years). Famous producers include Courvoisier, Remy Martin and Hennessy.
Armagnac
France’s other great brandy. It is made from grapes grown in south west France and usually distilled just once in a short column still and aged in local oak. It is also sold under designations like VS (aged two years) but you often see vintage expressions.
Calvados
Calvados is made from apples and pears, not grapes, grown in the Calvados region in Normandy in the north east corner of France.
Brandy de Jerez
Spain’s great brandy is made from grapes grown in southern Spain, though not necessarily in the sherry region, but it has to be distilled and aged in the city of Jerez, usually in old sherry casks so it takes on the flavour of the wine.
Metaxa
One of Greece’s most famous exports is a mixture of brandy sweetened with local muscat wine. It’s perfect if you want a sweeter edge to your brandy cocktail.
Pisco
This is usually an unaged grape brandy made in Peru and Chile which tastes distinctly of the grape variety from which it is made such as muscat but you do also see examples aged in oak. Bolivia makes a similar spirit called singani.
Grappa
Grappa is a traditional Italian brandy made from the leftovers of winemaking such as the skins and stalks. It’s traditionally drunk after meals. Though to be called ‘grappa’, it must come from Italy, most wine producing countries make something similar like marc in France. Grappa is usually sold unaged but you do see cask-aged examples.
More Brandy guides
Find out about the different types of brandy, delicious cocktail recipes, and more...
