Is Brandy Whiskey

Is Brandy Whiskey?

Liquor and spirits connoisseurs and aficionados can easily tell the difference between Brandy and Whiskey.

On the other hand, casual drinkers may be perplexed by these two smooth spirits and the means of differentiating them, while some people completely ignore the fact that they are actually different.

Indeed, many people believe that brandy is whiskey and while there might be some truth in that, it is important to make clear that brandy and whiskey are two different spirits.

So, in this article, we will look into the differences between whisky and brandy to help you better understand why each one of these spirits deserves to be differentiated from the other.

What Is Brandy?

Brandy originated in the 15th century when vintners attempted to apply the distillation process to their wines in order to reduce shipping and transportation costs.

Brandy is derived from the Dutch word “branwijin,” which translates as “burnt wine” and alludes to the distillation phase of the spirit.

Grape brandy continues to be the most popular type of brandy nowadays. It is produced by distilling fermented grape juice or a grape-derived wine.

The distilled fluid is then aged for a minimum of two years in wooden barrels which give it its unique taste, with Cognac being exemplary of the quality and taste of brandy.

Produced in France’s Cognac region, this brandy, just like many others, follows strict guidelines, including a requirement that it contains a minimum of 90% Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, or Colombard grapes

Brandy made from other kinds of fruit is another common type of brandy you can find on the market, and it is made by distilling those fruit juices together with wine that’s, however, not made from grapes.

Its color is determined by its age, fermentation procedure, and distillation. Generally, though, the more aged a brandy is, the darker its color will be.

Furthermore, the age of the brand determines its quality, with 2 years of aging being essential for it to taste as it should.

What Is Whiskey?

Whiskey is made from grain mash that has also been under a fermentation process, but it is typically made from grains such as corn, wheat, or rye rather than fruits and wine.

Whiskey is traditionally distilled two times, in either pot or column stills, and once filtered, it also goes into a wooden barrel and is left there to age.

Just like brandy, the more time whiskey is left in the barrel, the darker the color it will have, but to be considered mature, all whiskeys need to age for a minimum of three years.

The flavors of whiskey vary greatly depending on the type of whisky consumed. Regardless of that, the flavor is never sweeter than that of bourbon, making the distinction quite clear.

So, Is Brandy Whiskey?

So, Is Brandy Whiskey?

No, brandy is not the same as whisky. Even though these two distilled spirits are fermented, which means that sugar turns into alcohol, they have substantial differences.

Their fermentation process determines the alcoholic percentage of both whiskey and brandy, so this is another factor that helps differentiate them.

Brandy is a distilled spirit made from fruits, particularly grapes, which is why you can consider it a distilled wine. Apart from grapes, apples, and peaches, but also apricots are also frequently used when making brandy.

Moreover, while brandy typically contains an alcoholic content of around 35-60%, the whisky’s range will be a bit higher, with the ones with the lowest alcohol content starting at around 40%.

As we said, brandy is also noticeably sweeter than whisky, thanks to the fruits used to make it which are naturally much sweeter in comparison to the grains used to make the whiskey.

With regard to where they are produced and sold, both can be found in most supermarkets and liquor stores around the world.

However, whiskey is a prominent drink mostly known as being manufactured in countries like the U.S., Ireland, and Scotland, with the latter being the number one country of whiskey production.

On the other hand, bourbon can only be made in one specific state of the U.S.: Kentucky. By law, it must be distilled from grains containing a minimum of 51% corn, although most bourbons contain more than 70%.

How To Enjoy Brandy And Whiskey

While you can drink your brandy and whiskey neat or “on the rocks,” these are two hard liquors that not everyone can easily drink without anything added to them.

Therefore, if you want to make your drink easier to enjoy in case you are not a big drinker, you can always try some brandy-based and whiskey-based cocktails.

For a brandy-based one, you can go with a classic Sidecar, which also has orange liqueur and lemon juice.

If you are a whiskey fan and don’t like sweeter flavors, then you can go with a classic Old Fashioned, which despite the syrup or sugar added remains quite balanced thanks to the addition of angostura bitters.

Another option is the other classic cocktail, Manhattan, with sweet vermouth and angostura bitters which, again, create the perfect balance in combination with the orange peel which is absolutely essential to this drink.

The Bottom Line

Brandy should certainly not be considered a type of whiskey as it is not. Made with different ingredients and with a different flavor, it is a distinct type of liquor that you can, however, enjoy in the way you enjoy whiskey: neat, with a mixer, or in cocktails.

These two spirits are made using the same fermentation process and they are both distilled, while both of them are also necessarily aged.

Moreover, both of them seem to have been made for the first time during the 15th century, but that is all they have in common.

So, next time you hear someone calling bourbon and whiskey “the same thing,” you know how to respond to that!

Share this article:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.