Brandy has been made since the 12th Century but was originally only made by apothecaries and doctors and used as a medicine. Brandy may be added to other beverages to make several popular cocktails; these include the Brandy Sour, the Brandy Alexander, the Sidecar, the Brandy Daisy, and the Brandy Old Fashioned. These are best used for mixing as opposed to drinking neat. Become a Cocktail Expert Get our best cocktail recipes, tips, and more when you sign up for our newsletter. The drink can be enjoyed with some knowledge of its history, the types of brandy and the proper way to drink brandy. Hors d’age brandies are too old to determine the age of for some reason or another. On average, these brandies are usually actually 20 years old or more. The minimum specified aging period is six months in wood, although not necessarily oak (provision B.02.061.2). Do your research or be creative! To test the purity of the rectified spirit of wine, a portion was ignited. Approved. It is used to create a more intense flavour in some soups, notably onion soup. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Caramel, fruit, other botanical substances, flavourings, and flavouring preparations may also be included in a product called brandy (provisions B.02.050–059). Place the sugar and water in a tall glass or julep cup (traditional silver cup) and mix until sugar dissolves. It is also commonly used in drinks such as mulled wine, drunk during the festive season. Pour the ingredients (except the lemon twist) into a cocktail shaker with a few ice cubes and shake vigorously. VSOP (Very Special Old Pale) brandy is usually between 4 and a half to six years old. The brandy is considered to be one of the best home remedies for diarrhea. By the late 17th century rum had replaced brandy as the exchange alcohol of choice in the triangle trade.[7]. Choice of the apparatus depends on the style of brandy produced. [1] Brandy is traditionally poured over Christmas pudding and set alight. I recommend experimenting with different types to find the taste you like best. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Drink-Brandy-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Drink-Brandy-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Drink-Brandy-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1392798-v4-728px-Drink-Brandy-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"