Introduction to Brandy

Course information

The styles of brandy are vast and complex, encompassing a diverse collection of spirits made from grapes, pears, stone fruits, and berries. Although we commonly associate brandy with Cognac, there are many other brandies worth knowing. The complexity of brandy makes it an ideal spirit to sip, and while it doesn't have the conventional reputation as a spirit used in cocktails, it gives standout qualities to drinks like the Sazerac, Pisco Sour, Brandy Crusta and Jack Rose cocktail.

This Introduction to Brandy course will explore the fundamentals of brandy and how it emerged as a popular spirit. To do this, this course looks at:

• A brief history of brandy in Europe and the Americas
• The styles of brandy including grape-based brandies, apple and pear brandies, stone fruit brandies, and berry brandies
• How brandies are made
• Popular brandy cocktails and how to recommend brandy cocktails to guests

Let's start learning about brandy!