Brandy vs Cognac
Brandy and cognac are often confused due to the popularity of the cognac brand. However, technically speaking, cognac is a type of brandy. The key difference between the two lies in their production process and origin.
What is Brandy?
Brandy is a distilled wine that originated in the 16th century when a Dutch shipmaster concentrated wine by removing most of the water to save space during transportation. The taste of this concentrated wine became popular, and it eventually became known as brandy or burnt wine. Brandy is made in various regions and comes in different versions, with some aged for a longer period and being more expensive, while others are less expensive due to a shorter aging time.
What is Cognac?
Cognac is a specific type of brandy that is produced in the Cognac region of France. It has become popular worldwide due to its rich taste and aroma, possibly due to the fertile soil of the region or the method of processing the brandy. Cognac is made by distilling wine in copper pots twice and aging it in wooden casks for a minimum of two years.
Key Takeaways
- Brandy is a distilled wine, while cognac is a type of brandy produced in the Cognac region of France.
- Brandy can be produced anywhere in the world, whereas cognac can only be called cognac if it is produced in the Cognac region of France.
- Cognac is generally more expensive than brandy due to its controlled production process and minimum aging requirement of two years.
