Posted: 6/2/2015 5:01:47 PM EDT
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Looking for a sweet brandy in the $50/bottle range. Having i laws over and would like to sip some during the evenings
Thanks |
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See if you can buy/find some "Asbach Uralt"
Very classy German Brandy distilled from French wines. Treaty of Versailles prevents it from being called "Cognac" but short of a true Napolean, you won't find a better drinking brandy elsewhere. Spec's or Total should have it, or just call around to find it. $40 in my neck of the woods. |
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Spanish is the best value for the money. They tend to be spicier and with a heavier toast than French brandy, and less grape-y.
I prefer them, at least in terms of between brands of comparable quality, and most American whiskey drinkers would likely prefer Spanish brandy to French. Unless you are dealing with a seasoned Cognac, Armagnac, or Southern French Brandy drinker (who will have a very particular idea about what the spirit is supposed to be), Spanish is more than likely your best bet. Note that dedicated Cognac drinkers, while apparently popular in the 70s, are getting more and more rare nowadays as the bourbon movement is taking over. In the midrange for Spanish brandy, I'm particularly fond of brands from the Jerez region. Osborne is the biggest, and their Conte de Osborne is straight down the middle in terms of flavor balance between oak, fruit, spice, and alcohol. Not really overpowering in any direction, and very smooth for a sub-$30 bottle of booze. Alba is a little higher end, also Jerez, and goes more toward the oak/smooth side of the spectrum. More Scotch-like in some ways. It's a little more, the solera is like $35. You can get other non-French brands at decent prices as well. the German Asbach is decent, though it's not really my bag. South Africa produces Van Ryn, which I'm told is good but I've never had it. Personally, I would do everything I could to avoid buying French brandy, just because you're going to be overpaying. But that's your call. |