Brandy & Armagnac General

Question 1

Laird’s Apple Brandy

Answer 1

This Straight Apple Brandy has been aged for at least four years in oak and is bottled at 100 proof.

Question 2

Cherry Heering

Answer 2

The daddy of cherry brandies, made to a recipe dating from 1818 and matured for three years before bottling. One of the original ingredients in the first Singapore Sling created at the Raffles Hotel.

Question 3

How is brandy defined by the EU?

Answer 3

As a distillation of wine, not pomace
-minimum abv of 36%
-min oak agin of 6 monts

Question 4

What are the three regions of Armagnac?

Answer 4

Haut-Armagnac
Bas Armagnac
Armagnac-Ténarèze

Question 5

How is Armagnac distilled?

Answer 5

Typically one distillation in a simple continuous still, but may be 2x in a Charentais pot still.

Question 6

What % of Armagna is distilled once in a continuous still?

Answer 6

95%

Question 7

What is Blanche Armagnac AOC, and when did it gain status?

Answer 7

A clear spirit of Armagnac bottled 3mos after distillation.

2005

Question 8

Previously, what were the aging requirements for Armagnac?

Answer 8

VS (Very Special): 2 years
VSOP (Very Special, or Superior, Old Pale): 5 years
XO (Extra Old): 6 years

Question 9

What are the current requirements for aging Armagnac? When did this change?

Answer 9

VS / ***: 1-3 years old
VSOP / Napoléon: min 4 years old
XO: min 10 years old
Hors d’Age: min. 10 years old
XO Premium: min. 20 years old
2013

Question 10

What is the minimum abv for Armagnac?

Answer 10

40.00%

Question 11

What organization oversees production of Armagnac?

Answer 11

Bureau National Interprofessionel de l’Armagnac (BNIA)

Question 12

Who are two major Armagnac producers?

Answer 12

Larressingle

Château Laubade

Question 13

How long must vintage Armagnac age before release?

Answer 13

10 years

Question 14

What is the alternative name for the continuous still used in Armagnac?

Answer 14

Alembic Armagnacais

Question 15

Other that VS, what term indicates an Armagnac of 1-3 years of age?

Question 16

Other than VSOP, what term indicates an Armagnac of at 4-9 years of age?

Answer 16

Napoléon

Question 17

Other than XO, what term indicates an Armagnac of at least 10 years of age?

Answer 17

Hors d’Age

Question 18

What does XO Premium indicate on a bottle of Armagnac?

Answer 18

Minimum 20 years aging.

Question 19

What grapes are used for the production of Armagnac?

Answer 19

Ugni Blanc
Colombard
Folle Blanche (called Picpoul locally)
Baco Blanc (hybrid)

Question 20

What and where is the only hybrid grape authorized in any French AOC?

Answer 20

Baco Blanc in Armagnac

Question 21

What is Weinbraund?

Answer 21

Germany brandy, produced by Asbach in a Charentais pot still using Cognac base wine.

Question 22

What is Brandy de Jerez?

Answer 22

Brandies distilled from Airén and Palomino grapes, aged in solera.

Question 23

What are the copper stills of Spain?

Answer 23

Alquitaras

Question 24

How long do Solera labeled brandies age?

Answer 24

1 year

Question 25

How long do Solera Reserva labeled brandies age?

Answer 25

3 years

Question 26

How long do Solera Gran Reserva labeled brandies age?

Answer 26

10 years

Question 27

What is Pisco?

Answer 27

A brandy produced in Chile and Peru, not aged in wood.

Question 28

What are the Pisco DO’s of Peru?

Answer 28

Lima Ica Arequipa Moquegua Tacna (north to south, all on the coast)

Question 29

What varieties are used for Pisco in Peru and Chile?

Answer 29

PERU Aromatic: Italia, Albilla, Moscatel, Torontel Non-Aromatic: Quebranta, Negra Criolla, Mollar, Uvina CHILE Muscat of Alexandria, Pink Muscat, Torontel, Muscat of Austria (Torrontes Sanjuanino), Pedro Jimenez There are 13 allowed varieties; these are the top five.

Question 30

What are the differences between Peruvian and Chilean pisco in terms of production?

Answer 30

Peruvian pisco is distilled once in a pot still, and may not be cut with water. Chilean pisco may be distilled in either a column or alembic still, and may have water added.

Question 31

What are the three classifications of Peruvian Pisco? What is the required alcoholic strength?

Answer 31

Pisco Puro: single varietal Pisco Acholado: base wine blended from different varieties Mosto Verde: made from partially fermented must from either a single variety or a blend. Blends are labeled Mosto Verde Acholado. All Peruvian Pisco must be between 38 and 48% abv.

Question 32

What are the classifications and labeling terms for Chilean Pisco?

Answer 32

Pisco Tradicional: Min. 30% abv Pisco Especiale: Min. 35% abv Pisco Reservado: Min. 40% abv (aged in wood) Gran Pisco: Min. 43% abv (aged in wood) Pisco Guarda: 180 days of aging in new French or American oak Pisco Envejecio: Aged for 1 year in new oak Transperante: unaged pisco. Also called Pisco Blanco.

Question 33

What are the French AOC’s for Marc?

Answer 33

d’Alsace de Bourgogne du Jura