Buy Fine  Cognac  Online

Cognac, Armagnac and Brandy are three popular names of a number of spirits produced by distilling wine. Brandy is an all-encompassing name that includes Cognac, Armagnac, as is Eaux de Vie and some brandies are produced by distilling fruit rather than grapes.

Brandy (brandy wine) is made from early cropping bitter in taste grapes in order to achieve a higher concentration of acidity, which helps both in the distillation process and brings out the desired brandy style of spirit prior to the finishing and aging process.

The most acclaimed brandies are of course Cognac and Armagnac, although today Italy, Spain, South Africa and a number of other counties around the world do produce some exceptional wine based brandies. On the other side of the coin, France and a few other countries do produce in large quantities wine based Brandies of a basic nature which do fill an important position in the market place.

At Alexander Wine Merchants, Southampton, Hampshire, UK we do focus on cognac and fine brandies from Europe ranging from good quality VS to exceptional marques and old vintages of cognac. A superb cognac being Leopold 10 Carats as is Cognac Gautret XO

We are also very proud of our selection of Spanish brandies namely from the Spanish regions of Brandy de Jerez and Brandy del Penedes. We can certainly recommended Sandeman Imperial Spanish Brandy and Carlos 1 Imperial XO 15 Year Old Gran Reserva Spanish Brandy.

A good quality cognac or brandy should be drunk neat, preferably in a brandy style glass or some in Spain prefer a sherry type copita glass. Make sure the brandy is at room temperature and one’s glass should ideally be warm. Pour one or two measures, swirl and bring to the nose to smell several times, then sip very slowly and savour in the mouth for as long as possible before swallowing. Practice and Brandy will be your friend for life.