Brandy (You're a Fine Spirit)

Your reminder that, around here, we love Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados and all the other brandies.

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.)

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4 Brandy Reads

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

Channeling My Inner Artie Bucco

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.

XO Marks the Spot

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.

Cognac Cocktails Beyond the Sidecar

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.

Cognac: A New-Wave Travel Guide (Updated)