Ever since the news of Everyday Drinking being awarded Substack’s Food Writers fellowship, we’ve had a bunch of new readers join the ranks. So I thought it might be a good idea to take a step back, and to talk about a topic that is near and dear to this newsletter: Brandy. Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados, eaux de vie, schnapps, Brandy de Jerez, you name it. Sure, we love rum and whiskey and many other spirits, but brandy is the one we’re always trying to make happen around here. Some even say Armagnac is The New Bourbon! (I, however, do not agree.)

To that end, I’ve also added a bunch of brandy content that will also be new to many readers who’ve been long-time subscribers. Additionally, I’ve added three primers on the major brandies: Cognac, Armagnac, and Calvados for paid subscribers.

So, please enjoy a deep dive into this collection of writing about my favorite spirit, perhaps while listening to the dulcet sounds the Yacht Rock classic “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” (Editor’s note: my brother Tyler, a Yacht Rock aficionado claims that this song is not “technically” Yacht Rock because it predates the genre.)

5 Brandy Reads

1. My Armagnac road trip (and my ode to The Sopranos’ Artie Bucco) inspired by the world's oldest brandy.

Everyday Drinking

An Armagnac Pilgrimage

Google Maps wasn’t wrong. But it wasn’t totally correct, either. We’d left the paved back roads of Ténarèze, in Armagnac, somewhere south of a town called Condom (yes, you read that right: Condom). Traveling along a gravel road through the vineyards, we could see our destination, the 17th century…

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9 months ago · 1 like · Jason Wilson

2. Brandy nomenclature is madness, with terms like XO, VSOP, VS, Napoléon, Réserve, Vieille Réserve, Extra, Extra Old, and Extra Extra Old. I take a crack at explaining and simplifying.

Everyday Drinking

XO Marks the Spot

In a world of bespoke barrel picks, this is maybe an unpopular take, but I don’t believe you’re a serious brandy person without an appreciation for at least a few XO bottlings. With Cognac and Armagnac, the concept of blending is the most difficult for Americans to wrap their minds around. In the world of craft spirits — especial…

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9 months ago · Jason Wilson

3. Brandy cocktails! When it comes to mixed drinks, brandy really doesn’t have that one popular, marquee cocktail that other spirits have: No Margarita, Manhattan, or Martini. But there are a number of classic and modern drinks that call for Cognac and we delve into them here.

EVERYDAY DRINKING

Cognac Cocktails Beyond the Sidecar

There’s been a lot of talk about expensive brandies in our little newsletter. And talk about pricey booze can get pretty intense, as we’ve experienced in recent weeks. This week, I want to take a break from the chatter about collector Armagnac, barrel picks…

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8 months ago · Jason Wilson

4. I wrote a travel guide to Cognac. Like Kentucky’s bourbon trail or Scotland's whisky circuit, this region (and city) in southwest France is a must-visit for the spirits aficionado.

EVERYDAY DRINKING

Cognac: A New-Wave Travel Guide

Note: Previously appeared in Travel + Leisure.EVERYDAY DRINKING is 100% reader-supported drinks writing. Please consider becoming a subscriber. “Welcome to the turn of the 20th century,” said my guide, Marielle Chopin-Pascaud, as I entered the tasting room of…

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a year ago · 2 likes · Jason Wilson

5. Finally, what about Spanish brandy? Its perception of sweet and cheap—not to mention all those cardinals and conquistadors on the labels—isn't exactly a recipe for success in 2022. Is there hope for Brandy de Jerez?

EVERYDAY DRINKING

Spanish Brandy Needs a Rebranding

There are many garish bottles on liquor store shelves, but none do more peacocking than Brandy de Jerez. Surely, you’ve noticed the bottles I’m talking about—even if, like most people, you’ve never bought one. Most Spanish brandies wear crimson or gold upon their labels. One dons a pretty ribbon, while a rival sports an intricate faux-gilded pattern. Som…

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7 months ago · Jason Wilson