Last Updated on March 20, 2024 by Lydia Martin
Brandy is often described as the elixir of the gods, as it is filled with refinement and elegance.
Picking the best brandy for your home bar can be challenging, especially since it is one of the most diverse distilled spirits in the market today.
Here’s our curated list of the best brandy brands that you should take advantage of. Keep reading.
Table of Contents
ToggleTop 17 Brandy Brands You Need To Try
17. St. Remy
Average Price: Roughly $15.99-$31.60 (Drizly)
Average Alcohol Content: 40%
Why We Like It:
St. Remy is known for producing aromatic and elegant brandies. Its signature style is surprisingly rounded and subtle, with a long finish.
St. Remy XO is a crowd favorite, which is not surprising because it is a complex and rich brandy that remains true to the House’s signature style.
The rich palate of vanilla, wood, candied apricots, nuts, and figs is noticeable in every sip, especially when we tried it on the rocks.
16. Domaine de Pellehaut Armagnac
Average Price: Roughly $46.50 (Bitter & Bottles)
Average Alcohol Content: 43%
Why We Like It:
Domaine de Pellehaut uses two grape varieties, Folle Blanche and Ugni Blanc, to make their premium brandies.
The Pellehaut brandies are carefully aged on the lees and then distilled using traditional methods.
The Pellehaut is a solid choice because it is tasty, among other Armagnac. We have tasted their 1973 and 1989 vintage, which is truly a bang for your buck for its flavor profile and price point.
15. Philbert
Average Price: Roughly $59.99 – $99.99 (Drizly)
Average Alcohol Content: 41.50%
Why We Like It:
Philbert Cognac is a traditional cognac produced in France in limited quantities.
The cognac producer uses the oldest cognac-producing method to create the best-tasting brandy available in the USA and France.
Philbert brandy has hints of fudge and honey, and it has a rich, deep full-flavor brandy.
We tried it neat and we noticed the fine oak texture and smooth flow on the palate
14. Courvoisier
Average Price: Roughly $9.36 – $9,999.99 (Drizly)
Average Alcohol Content: 40%
Why We Like It:
Courvoisier has a boasting perfect balance of taste and aroma. Courvoisier from Charente, France, will give you a bold-tasting brandy experience if you have a soft spot for drinking brandy.
The line is the smallest and youngest of the big four cognac houses producing France’s best cognac.
The grapes used for the brandy are double distilled to ensure their smoothness and its aging makes it one of the best brandies in France.
13. Paul Masson
Average Price: Roughly $8.79 – $300 (Drizly)
Average Alcohol Content: 27% – 40%
Why We Like It:
If you are a wine enthusiast, we are sure that you came across a bottle of Paul Masson; after all, brandy is a distilled wine.
Paul Masson is a bang-for-your-buck brandy known for its low-cost but high-quality distilled spirit made in California.
The label offers different types of dried fruit flavor brandies and is known for its Pear brandy, Apple Brandy, Apricot Brandy, and Cherry Brandy.
However, Paul Masson VS cognac works best if you are looking for a brandy that goes well with candied orange, ginger ale, orange blossom, or lime juice.
12. Germain Robin
Average Price: Roughly $51.99 (Drizly)
Average Alcohol Content: 40%
Why We Like It:
Germain Robin is a classic California brandy with 40% ABV. It is a surprisingly great brandy made from top-notch wine grapes.
Unlike France with strict rules of production, Germain Robin has a libertarian attitude towards the production of the spirit [1].
Hubert Germain Robin, the master distiller, uses Colombard grapes for accessible flagship bottling and Pruhlo Charentais copper pot stills and limousin oak barrels for quality taste.
We like the rich, silky mouthfeel and dark cherry character of the Germain Robin XO. It has the right balance of oak and fruit and boasts vanilla and toast flavors.
11. Delamain
Average Price: Roughly $39.99 – $1,499.99 (Drizly)
Average Alcohol Content: 40% – 42%
Why We Like It:
Delamain is one of the best brandy brands from the Cognac Region in France and has been known to produce brandy since 1824.
The brand produces XO cognac (Extra Old) and above cognacs and is specifically produced in the Grande Champagne region.
Delamain boasts wonderful vanilla, toasted oak, and citrus notes with a noticeable long dry finish.
The brandy uses french oak barrels for maturity, and the cognac distiller is known for its centuries of wisdom and commitment to producing quality spirits.
But what are the top XO cognacs for the money?
10. Bertoux
Average Price: Roughly $42.99 (Drizly)
Average Alcohol Content: 40%
Why We Like It:
Bertoux is one of the best brandies from California, and it is known because it utilizes a Solera Style method for blending and aging the brandy.
Bertoux is a brandy that is best sipped neat but is widely used by bartenders for their signature cocktails.
Not all brandies are ideal for drinking with mixers, but Bertoux is a popular ingredient for fruit-based cocktails because of its natural sweetness.
If you are into brandy cocktails, Bertoux brandy is a great brandy you should try because it compliments well with other mixers too.
9. Torres 10
Average Price: Roughly $26.99 (Drizly)
Average Alcohol Content: 38%
Why We Like It:
Torres 10 is a well-recognized Spanish brandy because of its rich aroma and unique balance.
The Spanish brandy has a dark topaz color with hints of gold. In addition, it has intense aromatic notes of oak and warm hints of vanilla, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and cinnamon.
Torres 10 from Penedes, Spain, is considered the best brandy because of their over 80 years of expertise in producing distilled spirit drinks.
8. Bardinet Napoleon
Average Price: Roughly $14 (Wine Searcher)
Average Alcohol Content: 40%
Why We Like It:
Bardinet Napoleon is an internationally acclaimed French brandy and is ranked as one of the world’s internationally sold brandies.
Bardinet Napoleon produced their first brandy almost 150 years ago.
Grapes are carefully selected and crushed before fermented and undergo a distillation process in column stills. It is then patiently matured in oak casks and then blended before bottling.
We like the delicate and well-balanced flavor profile of the brandy especially when consumed neat. It is smooth with a touch of oak and vanilla essence.
7. Asbach
Average Price: Roughly $34.09 – $509.99 (Drizly)
Average Alcohol Content: 40%
Why We Like It:
Asbach is a German brandy produced by Asbach GmbH, and its history dates back to 1892.
The German brandy has an interesting heavy and fruity taste with almost the same profile as bourbon. If you are into Jack Daniels, you may want to try this smooth brandy.
Asbach is a budget-friendly brandy, and you can score a 750 ml bottle for roughly $30 only.
In addition, it has 40% ABV making it a good brandy for after-dinner and leisure purposes.
6. Darroze 40 Year Les Grand Assemblages
Average Price: Roughly $189.99 (Drizly)
Average Alcohol Content: 43%
Why We Like It:
Darroze 40 Year Les Grand Assemblages is an Armagnac, a delicious brandy with a richer, more textural, and rustic than cognacs.
This brandy goes through a single distillation in a simple column still.
Moreso, this 40-year-old Les Grand Armagnac comes with a fruity, nutty, citrusy, rich flavor, along with a smooth finish.
5. Barsol Pisco
Average Price: Roughly $13.89 – $55.99 (Drizly)
Average Alcohol Content: 41.3%
Why We Like It:
Barsol Pisco is the best brandy and is a pride of Peru’s Ica Valley. Its distillery is located at the Bodega San Isidro, which started in the 1800s.
Barsol Pisco uses grapes harvested at their peak of maturity and gently pressed to ensure it has a low tannic acid content.
Barsol Pisco, a South American brandy, is fermented naturally with wild yeast and is distilled once before aging in an inert vessel.
Like a fruit brandy, it has a very aromatic essence of grapes and has exceptional purity.
4. Giffard
Average Price: Roughly $13.64 – $51.49 (Drizly)
Average Alcohol Content: 25%
Why We Like It:
Giffard is another drinking brandy that has been produced in France since the 1800s.
The grape brandy has a unique flavor profile because of its aging process and additional distillation before bottling.
Giffard Vins Fins de France Eau de Vie is traditional brandy produced with slow maceration to ensure that it will not compromise the taste of the best brandy.
It is also a complex beverage, and unlike a fruity brandy, it does not have a consistent taste.
3. Martell
Average Price: Roughly $24.99 – $4,199.99 (Total Wine)
Average Alcohol Content: 40%
Why We Like It:
Martell brandy is considered one of the best brandy brands, and its distillery can be found in France.
The brand is also the first producer of cognac that exported the best brandy to the United States.
“From timeless classics to limited edition series, each Martell bottle has a unique character. Discover the different styles, tasting notes, and how to enjoy them, from simply neat to mixed in a variety of cocktails.” –
Christophe Valtaud, Cellar Master
Do you know that Martell has a secret cellar for older Eaux-de-vie? The Eaux-de-vie are stored in a secret cellar, including “Paradis” and other aged brandy dated 1830.
The brand sells budget brandy like the Martel VS Single Distillery and its most expensive L’OR De Jean Martell, roughly $4,000 per bottle in 80 proof.
2. Hennessy
Average Price: Roughly $6.49 – $6,499.99 (Total Wine)
Average Alcohol Content: 40%
Why We Like It:
Hennessy is one of the most famous brandy brands worldwide, and it is considered one of the oldest distilleries in France.
It is a type of brandy that uses grape varieties from the Cognac region of France and follows strict regulations in making Cognac brandy.
Hennesy is one of the best brandy brands widely used in classic cocktails.
The fermented fruit juice is distilled twice before aging in oak barrels and is aged for a minimum of two years.
There are almost ten types of Hennessy on the market, and Hennessy Paradis Imperial is its most expensive brandy bottle.
Also Read: Most Expensive Hennessy Bottles
1. Remy Martin
Average Price: Roughly $4.29 – $189.99 (Total Wine)
Average Alcohol Content: 40%
Why We Like It:
Remy Martin is a popular cognac house in France. Its flagship product, Rémy Martin Louis XIII, has a luxurious taste and an expensive price tag of around $2,000 per bottle.
Remy Martin produces cognacs, a type of brandy that has a strict requirement regulated by French Law that it should be produced from the Cognac region only [2].
The brandy they produced came from fermented fruit mash made from Ugni Blanc grapes, and it has almost ten bottlings.
Let’s compare Remy Martin and Branson cognac here.
Jurisdictional Requirements To Be Called Brandy
Brandy came from the Dutch word “brandewijn,” meaning “burnt wine” [3].
Like other liquors, it has jurisdictional requirements to be considered and is called brandy, which can depend on the location where it is made.
In the European Union, brandy, except “grain brandy,” needs to be produced and distilled using grape-based wine and aged for a minimum of six months in oak barrels.
In addition, the pomace brandy label should only be used in EU products.
In the US, it is required to clarify the type of brandy, such as “apple brandy or fruit brandy,” and it must be aged in oak for more than two years; if not, it should be labeled “immature.”
In Canada, brandy should be distilled from wine, aged for a minimum of six months (sherry casks or any wood casks), and flavorings are allowed.
Read: Recommended Cognac Brands Under $200
3 Main Types of Brandy
1. Brandy
Brandy is a distilled spirit made from fermented fruit, and while it is common to use grapes, you can use ripe pears, peaches, apples, and other fruits [4].
It has 40%-50% ABV, and its origin is in Spain, the US, France, Italy, and South America.
Read:Davidoff Cognac Price Guide
2. Armagnac
Armagnac is another type of brandy that came from Gascony, slightly farther south of France, and it uses different grapes like Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, Colombard, and more.
Unlike other brandies, Armagnac is distilled once in column stills making it more aromatic and lively.
It has a lower ABV and is a little rougher due to its distillation process but is considered a bold yet balanced expression.
3. Cognac
Cognac is a type of brandy made from Saint Emilion grapes or Ugni Blanc, and by law, it should be distilled twice and matured for at least two years in a barrel.
The premium white grapes are pressed and fermented before distillation and blending.
Different lines produce cognac, and some of the most popular are Hennessy, Remy Martin, and Courvoisier.
Read:
- Cognac & Brandy Comparison
- Our Favorite Brandies For Sangria
- Our Favorite Brandies For Eggnog
- Our Favorite Cognac Brands For The Money
- Our Favorite Cognac Brands Under $50
Grading System
XO
XO or Extra Old means the brandy is aged for a minimum of ten years in barrels before bottling.
Previously, XO was aged six years, and this grading system was scheduled for implementation in 2016.
However, due to inadequate stocks, it was increased to 10 years last April 2018.
VSOP or Five Stars
VSOP stands for Very Superior Old Pale, and it is designated to be a blend of brandy that is matured for at least four years in a barrel.
When it comes to cognac, the youngest blend must be four years, while for Armagnac, it should be five years.
The term old pale came to refer to the caramel coloring of the brandy and is considered a five-star brandy.
VS or Three Stars
VS stands for Very Special, and it is often referred to as a three stars brandy.
VS Cognac is the youngest brandy that only requires two years of maturation inside the casks before blending and bottling.
It is the youngest of all the brandy types that meet the requirement of being a cognac.
Hors d’âge
Hors d’âge means “beyond age.” This type of aging statement indicates older and premium releases of brandy brands.
When it comes to cognac brandy, Hors d’âge has an average of 30 years and above blends, and it can be up to 100 years old.
Learn how to make cognac at home here.
FAQs
Which brand of brandy is good for health?
Remy Martin is the brand of brandy that is good for your health, especially the XO series. The eau de vie has ellagic acid, a potent antioxidant good for your health.
In addition, it neutralizes free radicals in your body plus prevents poor vision, aging, and cognitive issues.
Is it alright to drink brandy every day?
Yes, it is alright to drink brandy every day but make sure to limit yourself to one standard drink (women) and two standard drinks (men).
While brandy gives health benefits, it may impose potential health risks if you drink too much. Excessive drinking may put you at high risk of liver damage and many more.
What is the difference between brandy and cognac?
Brandy is a distilled fruit juice while Cognac is a specific type of brandy with additional qualifications [5].
Unlike the typical brandy, cognac should come from the Cognac region only.
What is the best way to drink brandy?
The best way to drink brandy is by consuming it neat. Also, you can use a brandy snifter for a more enjoyable drinking experience [6].
Which is the smoothest brandy?
Remy Martin is the smoothest brandy you should try. It has a mellow and smooth flavor profile that is great on its own.
Which brandy is best for mixing?
Our team considers Bertoux to be the best brandy for mixing. We like how its natural sweetness complements different mixers.
What is the best brandy for beginners?
St. Remy XO is the best brandy for beginners in our opinion. Aside from its affordability, it has approachable tasting notes that can be enjoyed by beginners.
Best Brandy Brands
The best brandy brands you may want to add to your collection or get to try for any occasion are listed above. Hennessy, Martell, and Giffard are great brandy brands to try.
But if you want to try the best brandy brand, you will never go with a bottle of Remy Martin.
It has a perfect harmony of elegant and powerful aromas as well as smooth and well-balanced tasting notes.
References:
- Germain-Robin’s Artisanal Brandy Is A Classic California Spirit
- Cognac
- How to Drink Brandy
- What Is Brandy?
- What’s the difference between cognac and brandy? How cognac differs from other types of brand