Archive - Brandy Advocate of EVERYDAY DRINKING

My bottle picks at all price points, as well as some favorite cocktails.

Jul 21

Chasing the Unicorn Barrel Watch now (58 sec) | Cognac's big-brand bling is old and tired. The real energy, and value, lies in the region's smaller artisan producers.

Jul 19

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

May 5

The perception of sweet and cheap—not to mention all those cardinals and conquistadors—isn't exactly a recipe for success in 2022. Is there hope for…

Jan 31

As a taster, I finally decided to put my money where my mouth is. The journey toward selecting my very own barrel in the cellars of Armagnac. One you…

Jan 9

Napoléon, Réserve, Vieille Réserve, Extra, Extra Old, Extra Extra Old. It's madness, but it's important to understanding brandy.

Dec 8, 2021

Inspired by the world's oldest brandy, I went deep

Dec 1, 2021

Like Kentucky’s bourbon trail or Scotland's whisky circuit, this city in southwest France is a must-visit for the spirits aficionado.

Sep 22, 2021

The bourbon-ification of Armagnac is a terrible trend.

Jun 11, 2021

Eau de vie means "water of life," but will it ever take off in this lifetime? A look at fruit brandy, along with how to use it in cocktails.

Apr 30, 2021

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts