Brandy

Lore & Background

The origins of brandy are tied to the development of distillation. While the process was known in classical times, it was not significantly used for beverage production until the 15th century. In the early 16th century, French brandy helped kickstart the cross-Atlantic triangle trade when it took over the central role of the Portuguese fortified wine due to its higher alcohol content and ease of shipping. Canoemen and guards on the African side of the trade were generally paid in brandy. By the late 17th century, the cheaper rum had replaced brandy as the exchange alcohol of choice in the triangle trade. Initially, wine was distilled as a preservation method and to make it easier for merchants to transport. It is also thought that wine was originally distilled to lessen the tax, which was assessed by volume. The intent was to add the water removed by distillation back to the brandy shortly before consumption. It was discovered that after being stored in wooden casks, the resulting product improved over the original distilled spirit.

Reader's Guide

Brandy's significance lies in its historical role as a trade commodity and its evolution into a diverse category of spirits. In the early 16th century, French brandy became a key currency in the triangle trade, paying canoemen and guards on the African side, until cheaper rum replaced it by the late 17th century. The distillation process, initially for preservation and tax evasion, led to the discovery that aging in wooden casks improved the spirit. Brandy production varies regionally, with high-quality varieties like Cognac and Armagnac from southwestern France using batch distillation in pot stills, while many American brandies use column stills for continuous distillation. The chemistry of brandy includes ethanol, esters, aldehydes, and tannins from wood aging. Brandy is traditionally served neat at room temperature and is used in cocktails such as the Brandy Sour and Brandy Alexander, as well as in culinary applications like deglazing pan sauces and flavoring Christmas foods. Its legacy includes the establishment of notable brands like Ararat in Armenia and David Sarajishvili's factory in Georgia in the late 19th century.

Did You Know?

• In the early 16th century, French brandy helped kickstart the cross-Atlantic triangle trade, paying canoemen and guards on the African side.
• The gunpowder test was used to test the purity of brandy: the liquor was good if gunpowder could ignite after the spirit was consumed by fire.
• Winston Churchill was so impressed with Armenian brandy Dvin given to him by Joseph Stalin that he asked for several cases to be sent to him each year.