Brandy: A Global History

Description

Made from distilled wine, brandy has a long, noble tradition of refined consumption, but it has also recently experienced a surge in popularity thanks to new cocktail trends. Brandy chronicles the history of this very popular spirit, traveling from medieval alchemists to present-day drink mixologists and exploring brandy’s production and consumption from the Middle Ages to today. Delving into brandy’s fascinating story, Becky Sue Epstein reveals that many cultures have contributed to the history of the beverage, from the Dutch calling the drink “burnt wine” to the Spanish colonials in Peru and California who produced the first brandies in the New World. She also explores the distillation and aging processes, and she discusses the spirit’s many varieties, including the elegant, amber Cognac and the more overlooked Armagnac. In addition, Epstein offers advice on buying, storing, and serving brandy, while also providing recipes for both classic and new cocktails. Taken neat or mixed in a sidecar, Brandy is a tasty book for both connoisseurs and first-time drinkers to enjoy. Cover......Page 1 Brandy: A Global History......Page 5 Imprint Page......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Introduction: Luxury Cognacs, Alluring Brandies......Page 9 1. Alchemy: From Classical Civilizations to Cognac......Page 17 2. Producing Brandy: Distilling and Ageing......Page 24 3. Cognac Becomes World-famous......Page 33 4. Armagnac and its Noble History......Page 43 5. Illustrious Brandies of Europe and the Caucasus......Page 56 6. Great Spanish and Latin Brandies......Page 71 7. Australia and South Africa......Page 85 8. Brandy Made in America......Page 93 9. Everything You Need to Know about Cognac......Page 101 10. Cognac Cocktails and 21st-century Trends......Page 112 11. Small-batch Brandies and Cognacs......Page 119 Recipes......Page 129 Select Bibliography......Page 138 Websites and Associations......Page 139 Acknowledgements......Page 142 Photo Acknowledgements......Page 144 Index......Page 145