01
Cognac
France • Charente • Grape
Twice distilled in copper pot stills from Ugni Blanc wine, then aged in French oak. Graded V.S., V.S.O.P., X.O.
- Floral
- Vanilla
- Polished
- Elegant
THE FIELD GUIDE VOL. VII
122 Brandies, Decoded
Historic fruit eau-de-vie, Armagnac continuous stills, Jerez Spanish Solera brandies, and cellar master traditions.
THE FIELD BOARD
The Oldest Distilled Spirit of Europe
Brandy Types Explained
02
Armagnac
France • Gascony • Grape
Usually distilled once in a continuous alembic armagnacais, which leaves a rustic, more textured spirit than cognac.
- Prune
- Rustic
- Full bodied
- Vintage dated
03
Calvados
France • Normandy • Apple & Pear
Cider brandy from Normandy. The Pays d'Auge appellation requires double distillation in pot stills.
- Baked apple
- Orchard fruit
- Dry
- Fresh
04
Brandy de Jerez
Spain • Andalusia • Solera Aged
Aged in seasoned sherry casks using the solera system, which fractionally blends young and old spirit.
- Raisin
- Sherry cask
- Sweet
- Nutty
05
Pisco
Peru & Chile • Grape • Unaged
Peruvian pisco is distilled to bottling strength with no water, colour or additives permitted, and never touches wood.
- Grape blossom
- Aromatic
- Clean
- Floral
06
Grappa
Italy • Pomace Brandy
Distilled from grape pomace, the skins and stems left after pressing, rather than from wine.
- Grape skin
- Sharp
- Perfumed
- Digestive
07
Fruit Eau-de-Vie
Alsace • Germany • Switzerland
Clear brandies distilled from whole fermented fruit, bottled unaged so the fruit aroma stays intact.
- Pure fruit
- Dry
- Unaged
- Perfumed
08
Rakia & Slivovitz
Balkans & Central Europe • Plum
Home-distilling tradition across the Balkans, most often from plums, sometimes rested in wood.
- Stone fruit
- Robust
- Warming
- Often high proof
09
Metaxa
Greece • Brandy Blended with Wine
Aged grape distillate blended with Muscat wine and a botanical infusion, so it is legally its own category rather than a plain brandy.
- Honeyed
- Rose petal
- Sweet
- Soft
Quick Comparison
| Type | Base Fruit | Country | Ageing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognac | Grape (Ugni Blanc) | France | French oak |
| Armagnac | Grape | France | French oak, often vintage |
| Calvados | Apple, pear | France | Oak |
| Brandy de Jerez | Grape | Spain | Sherry cask solera |
| Pisco | Grape | Peru, Chile | None (Peru) |
| Grappa | Grape pomace | Italy | Usually none |
| Eau-de-vie | Orchard fruit | Alsace, DE, CH | None |
| Rakia | Plum and others | Balkans | Optional |
| Metaxa | Grape + wine | Greece | Oak |
Myth vs Fact
MythBrandy always means grapes.
FactBrandy simply means distilled fruit. Apples make calvados, plums make slivovitz, pears make Poire Williams, and grape pomace makes grappa.
Did You Know
All cognac and all armagnac are brandy, but the reverse is never true. Both are protected appellations with fixed regions, grape varieties, distillation methods and minimum ageing.
Behind the Bar
Unaged fruit brandies work like aromatics: a small measure of kirsch or calvados can redirect a whole drink. Barrel-aged styles behave like whisky and sit comfortably in stirred, spirit-forward builds.