Any Brandy Connoisseurs out here?

[SilthDraeth]

I bought a bottle of cheap brandy, $10. It came with a stainless steel flask. I really bought the gift box for the flask, since I always wanted a flask, and most flasks I had seen where at least $10 as well. So I figured I bought a flask, and got a free bottle of brandy.

I don't want to mention the brand, though I am sure some of you will guess it anyways.

It claims to be a VSOP brandy, extra smooth, etc. I took a sip, and I don't know what to think, having never really drank brandy before, except some apple brandy my sister actually made at one time.

So if any of you have sampled a good array of cheap brandies, and maybe some of the better stuff, can you please share your experience.

After a few replies I will tell you all what I got. Thanks.

 

[MixMasterTang]

I only drink Brandy & Cognac on occasion, but I do like to drink scotch and single malt whisky's! I would say the more you drink it and the better bottles you get the more you will start to like it. At first you aren't able to pick out the good traits of the drink, but after drinking it more often you will start to crave it on on cold winter days.

So now for the guess: Christian Brothers?

 

[SilthDraeth]

Anyone?

 

[SilthDraeth]

Heck, I am impatient. E&J VSOP Superior Reserve Brandy.

I searched on Google, and I found a review of regular E&J which I guess goes for about $5 a bottle, and basically it was considered complete trash.

Though this stuff doesn't make me puke or anything, I am not sure if it tastes "good". I just keep trying sips. BTW are you supposed to sip straight Brandy, or take it in shots or drink it like you would a glass of orange juice?

 

[MixMasterTang]

Yeah, you are always suppose to sip. Like I said I usually drink scotch, so I don't know if this applies to Brandy, but most people drink the cheaper stuff on the rocks. In the scotch world once you get something like a good 18 year old you would never want to dilute it and drink it on the rocks, but anything cheaper than that is up to you.

 

[PhoenixOrion]

if you want to venture and try out some other stuff look into french brandy.

here's a wiki for ya.

 

[JLGatsby]

Comes with a flask, classy.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

First, don't expect real brandy to be anything like apple brandy, blackberry brandy or any of that ultrasweet syrupy stuff that high school kids buy. The aging and distilling changes it vastly and the taste will vary from brand to brand. Some might have a fruity characteristic similar to wine mixed with other tastes that it picks up from the wooden casks and some will be more like a whiskey. You might taste nuts, spices, wood or almost anything else mixed with the fruit and you might not even notice any fruit at all.

 

[SilthDraeth]

Gag, yeah, the apple brandy wasn't bought, it was made, and it sat for like a year in wood. Now I don't know all the details, my older sister made the stuff with her SCA friends back in Arizona, and when she came out to visit me in GA she brought me a bottle. It tasted good.

Supposedly the stuff I have has a flavor of oak in it. It does have some spices. I don't taste any fruitiness though.

I guess I should compare it to the normal E&J. But there is no way I can justify throwing $100 dollars or more at a bottle of the stuff, unless it tastes like bottle heaven. And if it is that good, I am afraid I might like it to much.

Thanks for all the replies right now. Has anyone actually had the stuff I bought?

 

[BillGates]

Wisconsin drinks a lot of brandy, and Korbel is the top seller here. Nothing too fancy but it's decent.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

The value of a bottle of booze is how good it tastes TO YOU, not to other people. So what if something is rated as complete trash? If you like it, buy it. If you don't like it don't buy it no matter what kind of reviews it gets. Most people who like "real" beer think that Bud is complete trash (which it is), but that doesn't prevent it from being #1 in the USA. I think decent cognacs are okay, but would never buy the stuff for myself. I keep a bottle of the good stuff onhand in case a guest asks for it. I'd rather have a good bourbon.

 

[spacelord]

I have never had straight brandy, but I like good cognac. If I like VSOP cognac, will I like VSOP Brandy or is there no comparison?

 

[SilthDraeth]

I guess the problem Gag, is I haven't drank any other brandy. I just want to know if anyone has tried this stuff the normal E&J and maybe some expensive stuff, and can compare them.

Thanks.

 

[uberman]

Of any of the distilled liquors, brandy is my choice. I'm pretty familar with them, not with cognac.

E and J or Christian Brothers - a good choice and more pleasant than the more pretentious brand, Korbel. Korbel has an aftertaste. Korbel does make great champagne.

St. Remy - a nice French Napolean Brandy with a good taste.

Hiram Walkers Flavored Brandies - these are flavored sweetened brandies, about 70 proof, flavors like blackberry and coffee are great. Shoot some blackberry brandy and then breathe in the smell of fresh blackberries. Chasing it with milk is pleasant.

Ashbach Uralt - a German brandy I have not tasted.

Metaxa - a Greek brandy I have not tasted.

Presidente - A Mexican brandy, middle of the road.

Don Pedro - An excellent Mexican brandy, that I believe should get 9 stars out of 10. Very smooth, my favorite.

Rahnal - harsh IMO, a different flavor that many people like.

Avoid cheap brandies; however the first two mentioned are inexpensive and quite palatable.

 

[Indolent]

Originally posted by: BillGates
Wisconsin drinks a lot of brandy, and Korbel is the top seller here. Nothing too fancy but it's decent.

Yup, my grandpa drinks it all the time. He got me into mixing it with coke or seven up. Both are pretty good, especially for how cheap it is.

 

[Red Dawn]

Actually E&J is ok and inexpensive, that's why it's so popular. It's much better than any other brandy in it's price range or even a little more expensive. It also mixes well with Amaretto.