Favourite Brandy?

[Vulcan]

I’m not normally a Brandy drinker but I got a taste for it on my last cruise. So far I’m liking Hennessy and Martell. I had a Courvoisier in the Indian the other night which wasn’t bad. What’s your favourite?

 

[Blackswanwood]

I like Castarede Armagnac - smooth but not cheap.

 

[Sideways]

Try a Diplomatico rum and go back to being not normally a brandy drinker

 

[Phil Pascoe]

https://www.vinissimus.co.uk/en/cog...yVKz3fN9DrMgUklNTocIPaSe1lqiCegEtVH_JDXmNb_pC

I had a couple of doubles in Harrod's front window at a Martell tasting. A thousand quid's worth at Harrod's bar prices 14 years ago.

Seriously, if I were to pay a lot of money I'd buy Armagnac rather than Cognac, although the Spanish Carlos1 is rather pleasant.

 

[recipio]

Hennessy XO is a little sweet but delicious. I'd love to try Churchills favourite - Hine - but can't find it anywhere.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Hine didn't market a 3* as Hine Signature was thought in the trade to be better than 3*.

 

[Chubber]

Remy Martin. The distillery is a lovely visit, too.

 

[Cabinetman]

Used to visit Spain a lot and got a taste for the Brandy there, it’s my spirit of choice, not that I drink very much now.
So cheap Spanish Asdas own it is. To be honest a lot of the more famous expensive ones catch my throat, this one is just “sweeter”?

 

[Dauph]

Personally I'd go for Armagnac over a Cognac.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

At the same price, yes.

 

[Berkshire Wood]

Oh there are some lovely Armagnac. I do like Remy Martin but costs have escalated significantly in past decades.
If you find yourself in the Balkans, Rubinov Vinjak is superb and €10 for a litre bottle (make sure you purchase from official retailer and look for revenue seal.

Plan B - and totally legal in Serbia - for personal consumption [NOT UK]. Sold in the Bosch, Dewalt and Makita distributor in Novi Sad. It is under £700 but think UK Customs may raise more than an eyebrow if I brought this back

 

[ColinDeVelen]

Cardenal Mendoza, Spanish, dark and caramely.

 

[Jester129]

Metaxa 12* - Doesn't have that 'catch in the throat' of most brandy types, it's a lot smoother and somewhat moreish! Lovely.

 

[Fergie 307]

I like Castarede Armagnac - smooth but not cheap.

Try a VSOP, smoother again.

 

[KeenToLearn]

If drinking on its own or with ice, any Cognac or Armagnac over brandy! Brandy is for cocktails/ mixers!!!

 

[Fergie 307]

Or for the Christmas pud

 

[Phil Pascoe]

If drinking on its own or with ice, any Cognac or Armagnac over brandy! Brandy is for cocktails/ mixers!!!

Cognac and Armagnac are brandy. Some top class brandies made in other Countries are better than poor Cognac and are perfectly fine neat. I've not come across a ropey Armagnac, though.

 

[KeenToLearn]

Although the line between cognac and brandy is blurred, not quite the same:

https://www.remymartin.com/en-uk/news/stories/cognac-vs-brandy-what-is-the-difference/

 

[Blackswanwood]

Try a VSOP, smoother again.

As a rule of thumb perhaps that may be the case. VSOP just signifies the youngest Armagnac in the blend has had 4 years in oak. My 1974 is much smoother than many VSOP’s

 

[KeenToLearn]

Bet that is nice!