The Proper Way to Drink Brandy

Part of running a successful bar is keeping your liquor shelf well stocked with a wide selection of beverage options for any occasion. Brandy is a sophisticated liquor that is perfect for any bar, pub, or hotel lounge. Below, we’ll show you how to properly serve and drink brandy so you can make a good impression on your customers and boost your sales.

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What Is Brandy?

Brandy is a hard liquor made from distilled, barrel-aged fruit wine. Brandy is typically made from fermented grapes but other fruits, like peaches, apples, blackberries, and pears can be used to create unique flavor profiles. Brandy can be served directly after the distilling process for mixed drinks or aged in wooden barrels for a richer color and more complex flavor to be enjoyed straight. The word “brandy” comes from the Dutch word “brandewijn” meaning “burnt wine”. It is often used to make fortified wine.

How to Drink Brandy

There are three distinct ways to drink brandy that impact how it is served and enjoyed.

  1. Neat - Drinking brandy neat means that it is enjoyed straight, without ice or any additional mixers.
  2. On the Rocks - Drinking brandy on the rocks means that the liquor is served with ice.
  3. In Cocktails - Brandy can be paired with mixers and syrups to create a variety of brandy cocktails.

It is important to consider all three brandy drink styles when setting drink prices in your bar or restaurant. Be sure to ask your customers’ preference if they do not specify, as each person may have their own opinion on the best way to drink brandy.

How to Serve Brandy

Watch our video tutorial to learn the easiest way to serve brandy.

Best Way to Serve Brandy

Serving brandy to your customers is not just about pouring liquor into a glass. This intricate spirit calls for the same showmanship in the serving process as it does in the drinking process. Use the following steps to properly serve brandy in your bar:

  1. Pour immediately. Although brandy is made from fruit wines, it does not need to breathe before serving. Brandy can be poured immediately after the bottle is opened.
    2. A wide bowl glass ideal for serving brandy
  2. Choose the right brandy glass. Brandy should be served in brandy snifters (also known as a brandy inhaler) to provide the optimal drinking experience. The wide bowl allows the customer to swirl and warm the liquid in the glass, while the tapered opening directs the aromas to the customer's nose and intensifies the flavors in the brandy.
  3. Fill glass at an angle. Turn the brandy snifter horizontally and pour the brandy into the bowl until the liquid touches the rim. Pouring your brandy at an angle not only provides an eye-catching presentation to impress your customers, but it also provides you with an even pour every time. From the bottom of the bowl to the rim, a 9 oz. snifter glass will measure out a 1.5 oz. portion when held horizontally.
  4. Serve your customer. Once the shot is poured, place the brandy glass in the palm of your customer's hand so their palm can begin warming the brandy.

How to Drink Brandy Straight

Hand holding a glass of brandy, preparing to drink

Most high-quality aged brandies are recommended to be enjoyed straight. When drinking brandy neat, there is a process you and your customers can follow to get the most out of the experience, similar to how you would taste whiskey.

  1. Warm the glass in your palm. The heat from your hand will open up the molecules in the liquor and release the aromas in the drink. Some brandy connoisseurs may even heat the brandy over an open flame to speed up this process. You can warm the glass with warm water before serving. However, it's important to dry the glass before pouring the brandy or else the water droplets can change the flavor profile of the liquor.
  2. Swirl the liquid. By moving the liquid in the glass, you can warm it more evenly and open up the bouquet of aromas.
  3. Observe the color. The longer a brandy ages in a barrel, the darker the color will become and the richer the flavor.
  4. Hold the glass at chest height. Smell the brandy through your nose at this distance to see what subtle aromas you can get initially.
  5. Hold the glass at chin height. Smell the brandy through your nose at this closer distance to catch more of the complexities in the aroma of the brandy. You’ll most likely smell the fruit in the brandy at this point.
  6. Raise the glass to your nose. With the glass at your nose, take a breath in first through your nose then through your mouth to catch the aromas of spices and fruits in the brandy.
  7. Take a small sip. The first sip of your brandy should be a very small one, enough to wet your lips so that the alcohol doesn’t overwhelm your taste buds.
  8. Take larger sips. The next few sips should slowly increase in size as your taste buds acclimate to the flavor and explore the intricacies of the brandy.
  9. Add a drop of water (optional). Once you have appreciated the brandy’s natural flavor, you can add a few drops of water to mellow out the alcohol content and see if other flavors in the brandy become more notable.

Impress your customers and encourage repeat orders by guiding them through this brandy drinking ritual.

How to Drink Brandy with Ice

Although some may consider it offensive to add ice to a brandy, others find it to be the perfect touch depending on the brandy’s age and flavor. A brandy that has been aged 2 to 6 years may benefit the most from this drinking method. Use the following tips if you plan to sip your brandy on the rocks or serve it chilled to your customer.

  1. Try it Neat. Before you add ice to a brandy, become familiar with what it tastes like on its own. Follow the process of warming, swirling, observing, and smelling the brandy so that you can compare the flavor differences between drinking it straight to drinking it chilled. If your customer orders brandy on the rocks, allow them to sample the brandy straight before chilling it for them.
  2. Use a large single cube. Instead of adding various small cubes that may water down the brandy, use a silicone ice mold to create large cubes that will evenly chill the brandy without melting too quickly.
  3. Let it cool. If the brandy is consumed immediately after the ice cube is added, it will not have enough time to chill thoroughly and may still carry that potent alcohol flavor.
  4. Sip slowly. Brandy should be enjoyed slowly to allow time for the taste buds to acclimate to the flavor and fully enjoy its complexities.

Types of Brandy

Three different types of brandy in low glasses

Now that you’re familiar with the proper brandy drinking method, it is time to explore the different types of brandy available to you for your to stock your bar shelves.

  • Cognac - Cognac is a brandy that is strictly made in the Cognac region of France. It consists of only three types of grapes that are specifically grown in that region. Cognac is then distilled twice and aged for at least 2 years to bring out its rich fruity and oaky flavors.
  • Armagnac - Armagnac sources its grapes from and is produced in the Armagnac region of France. Armagnac features a fruity taste with hints of toffee, and it usually has a higher alcohol content than Cognac.
  • Brandy de Jerez - Brandy de Jerez is made in the Jerez region of Spain and matured in sherry casks using the solera system (a blending process that mixes a type of liquid with varying aged versions of the same liquid). It is usually distilled from grapes but can be made with cherries, peaches, or apples. Being aged in sherry casks, it takes on a red hue and full-bodied flavor.
  • Calvados - Calvados is an apple brandy produced in the Calvados department in Normandy, France. It is a distilled apple cider that is aged in oak casks for at least two years.
  • Pisco - Pisco is a Peruvian brandy made from fermented grape juice. It uses grapes grown in Peru and Chile’s wine country. It is typically light yellow to amber in color and features a high alcohol content.
  • Fruit Brandy - Fruit brandies are named after the main fruit used to make them and can be served relatively young in age. Some of the most common fruit brandies include peach brandy, apple brandy, pear brandy, and cherry brandy.

Brandy Ages

After categorizing brandy by type, it is then sorted by ages. Young brandy is usually used for cocktails, while older brandies are generally enjoyed straight. An older brandy will have a darker color and it will take on more the flavor of the aging barrel. Below are acronyms a brandy bottle may bear to indicate its age:

  • A.C. - Aged 2 years in wooden barrel (excluded from Cognac labels, since Cognac’s minimum age is 2 years)
  • V.S. - “Very Special” or “3-star Brandy”; Aged at least 3 years in wooden barrel
  • V.S.O.P. - “Very Special Old Pale” or “5-star Brandy”; Aged at least 5 years in wooden barrel
  • X.O. - “Extra Old”; Aged at least 6 years in wooden barrel
  • Vintage - Stored in wooden barrel until bottled, bottle must then reflect the bottling date, most common with Armagnacs
  • Hors d’Age - “Of the Ages”; considered too old to determine the age, usually at least 30 years old, typically reserved for Cognacs

Use this brandy alphabet on your drink menu to help your customers choose the best brandy for their taste preferences.

Brandy Cocktails

Brandy drink in a cocktail glass

Younger brandies can be paired with a variety of cocktail mixes to create a versatile drink menu for your bar. Most brandy cocktails are made with a brandy that is aged 3 years or less. Here are some brandy mixed drinks to consider:

  • Brandy Sour: Cognac, lemon juice, sugar syrup, bitters, and pasteurized egg whites
  • Brandy Highball: Cognac, ginger syrup, and sparkling fruit juice
  • Brandy Sidecar: Cognac, triple sec, and lemon juice
  • Metropolitan Brandy: Brandy, sweet vermouth, simple syrup, and bitters
  • Sangria: Dry wine, brandy, orange juice, fruit, and sugar

Whether you’re just opening a new bar or looking to shake up your liquor menu, brandy is an excellent spirit with a variety of types and age options for you to choose from. Boost your bar’s appeal by offering brandy tastings and impress your new customers by demonstrating the right way to drink brandy.

Posted in: Bars & Breweries|By Janine Jones
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What Does Japanese Whisky Taste Like? Smooth, balanced, delicate notes of smoke, floral, or citrus Japanese Whisky Brands: Yamazaki, Suntory, Nikka Japanese Whisky Cocktails: Japanese Highball, Mountainside, Mizuwari 8. White Whiskey White whiskey is an unaged whiskey that remains clear and never ripens to a caramel color from years in a wooden cask. Formerly, white whiskey had to spend some time in a wooden barrel to be labeled as “whiskey”. Distillers got around this rule and kept their whiskey clear by using uncharred barrels. Now, the labeling requirements are being loosened and the term “white whiskey” can be used to label unaged or slightly aged whiskeys. Since the aging process is what creates the layered complexity of whiskey, why would anyone want to order unaged white whiskey? Also called fresh whiskey, white whiskey retains the bright flavors of the grains used in fermentation. White whiskey made with corn tastes like corn, pure and simple. This makes white whiskey an interesting ingredient to use in craft cocktails. Whiskey vs Moonshine White whiskey and moonshine are both clear and unaged, but they aren't the same thing. One small detail sets the two spirits apart. Real bonafide moonshine is produced illegally to avoid taxation, and it's usually made in outdoor stills that are hidden from sight. White whiskey is made in legal, licensed distilleries. That doesn't mean that some moonshiners haven't crossed over into the world of law-abiding whiskey distillers. Now you can find white whiskey made by former moonshiners from traditional moonshine recipes. Try serving your white whiskey cocktails in a mason jar glass as a nod to the infamous spirit. What Does White Whiskey Taste Like? Strong and bright with flavors of fresh-cut grains like corn, malt, or barley White Whiskey Brands: Buffalo Trace, Death's Door, Koval White Whiskey Cocktails: White Whiskey Punch, White Whiskey Margarita, White Dog Sour Back to Top Whiskey can be a complicated subject to navigate, especially when you factor in the different styles and their devoted fan bases. Now you should be armed with enough information to stock your bar with the finest whiskeys and make educated recommendations to your guests. Printable Version

  • Manhattan Cocktail Recipe

    Manhattan cocktails are a versatile classic. You can alter their flavor by using different types of whiskey, vermouth, or bitters. Traditionally, bartenders serve Manhattans in martini glasses garnished with maraschino cherries. Mixologists who want to serve Manhattans on the rocks opt for lowball or coupe glasses. Whichever serving vessel you choose, the Manhattan cocktail recipe is an easy-to-make classic that has satisfied customers for over a century. Shop All Martini Glasses How to Make a Manhattan Cocktail Video Use the following video to learn how to make a Manhattan cocktail: <iframe itemprop="embedURL" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2bUmyu4RHTI?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Manhattan Recipe This manhattan cocktail recipe makes 1 drink. Prep Time: 5 minutes Manhattan Cocktail Ingredients 2 1/2 ounces whiskey 3/4 ounces sweet vermouth 1 dash of Angostura bitters 1 maraschino cherry Directions Add whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters to a mixing glass. Stir the mixture to combine ingredients. Strain the cocktail into a chilled martini glass or a lowball glass with ice. Garnish with maraschino cherry and serve. What Is a Manhattan Cocktail? The Manhattan is one of the oldest known cocktail recipes, with origins dating back to the late 1800s. It has remained one of the most popular cocktails in the U.S., even through the Prohibition era. This cocktail has a perfect balance of flavors as the sweetness of the vermouth, the booziness of whiskey, and the sharpness of the bitters combine to create a rich palatal impression. Which Fruit Is the Traditional Garnish for a Manhattan Cocktail? Maraschino cherry is the traditional garnish for a classic Manhattan cocktail. Many bartenders also like to include an orange peel. History of the Manhattan Cocktail The true origins of the Manhattan cocktail are shrouded in mystery, and no one is positive where or when the cocktail emerged. One of the most popular stories surrounding the creation of the drink is that it originated in New York City's Manhattan Club circa 1874. Legend has it that the cocktail was concocted at a party thrown in honor of politician Samuel J. Tilden by Jennie Jerome, a socialite who would become the mother of Winston Churchill. They held the party at the Manhattan Club, so the cocktail took the name of its birthplace. While this theory is popular, it has been debunked over the years because, at the time of the supposed party, Jennie Jerome was in Europe, pregnant with her first child. Now, many historians believe the drink originated in the 1860s, but the exact date and place are still unknown. Although the true origins of the Manhattan are a mystery, the recipe has survived and is still one of the most popular cocktails today. The Manhattan is a timeless cocktail people drink in bars, country clubs, cigar lounges, and banquet halls across the world. Since there are only three ingredients in the recipe, your bartender can pour these drinks out fast and keep the service moving. You can also reinvent this simple mixed drink and offer creative twists on the classic Manhattan cocktail.

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