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Brandy is a spirit distilled from wine made of grapes or of other fruit. The name comes from the word brandewine or Branntwein, translated burnt wine, a description of how brandy is made.

Brandy became known around 1622 in the days when English ships used to ply a regular trade between England and France for salt and wine. The wine was boiled to reduce its size, to save space, and to save on taxes. Once it reached its destination, the boiled wine was supposed to be restored by adding water, but the new spirit was preferred to the original.

From this happenchance, the worldwide trade in brandy had its beginning. Today, it is manufactured in most grape growing countries. The grape juice, fermented into wine, is distilled and aged in old, oak casts for at least three years, and sometimes for as long as 40 years. The master taster decides when the brandy has aged properly by sniffing at the spirit rather than by tasting. The aging process ceases when the brandy is bottled. In fact, brandy can begin to deteriorate in a bottle.

The different kinds of brandy are divided into two groups, those from grapes and those from other fruits.

Brandy or eau de vie, a French term applies to the spirits distilled from grapes. Cognac and armagnac are examples of very fine kinds of brandy. There is some confusion over the use of the word cognac. All cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac. Marc, another type, is made from the pomace, which is crushed pulp, rather than from the juice of grapes.

When fruits other than grapes are used to make the brandy, the label indicates the particular fruit used. These brandies are clear like water and have a distinctive flavor. Calvados is made from apples; apple jack from American apples; slivovitz from plums; framboise from raspberries; Mirabelle from yellow plums; quetsch from purple plums; poire from pears; and kirsch from cherries.

The major uses for brandy are as an alcoholic drink and as an ingredient in cooking.

All kinds of brandy are popular as after dinner drinks. Serve small amounts of the spirit in a large glass, such as a 6 or 10 ounce brandy snifter. This is done so the glass can be held in the palm of the hands to warm the brandy and release the full bouquet. With brandies made from fruits other than the grape, chill the glass by swirling a piece of ice in it and then discard the ice before pouring in the brandy. This cold glass mellows the strong alcoholic taste of the brandies.

Mixed drinks made with brandy are also popular. Some examples are the side car, stinger, Alexander, and milk punches.