Firelight & Brandy

There’s a reason brandy and cognac feel so at home in December. Long before they were sipped from crystal snifters, these “burnt wines” were practical. They were distilled so that delicate wines could travel without spoiling. Dutch traders carried these casks across Europe and into the New World, leaving their word, brandewijn, in our glasses and on our map in the Brandywine Valley. Even Tolkien’s hobbits cross the “Brandywine,” a reminder of how deeply these names echo in our imaginations.

Here are a few to sample this holiday season.

Heritage in the Kitchen

At the holidays, brandy often shows up in the glass and in the kitchen. A festive brandy punch, brightened with citrus and spice, takes a seasonal twist with America’s oldest licensed spirit, Laird’s Blended Applejack Brandy ($22.89). It’s a drink so impressive George Washington once asked the family for the recipe.

In the kitchen, cooks rely on brandy to soak dried fruit for fruitcakes, flame a plum pudding or deepen the flavor of French onion soup and sauces. The aromas — dried fruit, spice, caramel, oak — echo the seasonal scents of pine, citrus and firewood.

That’s what makes a fine bottle the perfect gift. It carries both heritage and pleasure, with a versatility that goes well beyond the after-dinner pour. Try Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal Cognac ($63.99) with aromas of plum and fig jam, rounded by toffee, brioche and a finish of butterscotch and dark chocolate. Cheers!

Cognac: The Jewel of Brandy

All cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac (it’s like all bourbon is whiskey, but …). Brandy is the umbrella term for spirits distilled from fruit wine — apples, pears, cherries or grapes.

Cognac, however, is the jewel of the category, crafted only in its namesake corner of France, under centuries-old rules. Its cousin, Armagnac from Gascony, offers a deeper, rustic style. Both rely on a humble grape, ugni blanc (kown in Italy as trebbiano).

To taste it before distillation, try Vigneti Romio Trebbiano Romagna ($9.99), a straw-colored white wine with intense flavors of tropical fruit and flowers, with hints of green apple and light grassy notes. In the right hands, this simple white grape becomes something extraordinary: amber in the glass, velvet on the tongue and a drink perfect for the season.

The King’s Request

Among the most recognized names, Hennessy remains the world’s best-selling cognac, celebrated for its approachable style and consistent quality. Hennessy Cognac VS ($39.99) delivers bright fruit and oak spice, while Hennessy Cognac VSOP ($65.99) adds deeper layers of vanilla, toasted almond and apricot — a gift that feels both classic and current.

“VSOP” itself dates back to 1817, when England’s future King George IV requested a “Very Superior Old Pale” cognac from Hennessy, a classification still used today for blends aged a minimum of four years.

Cocktails that Glow

Brandy isn’t only for sipping neat. It also shines at the center of holiday cocktails. The classic champagne cocktail (sugar cube, bitters, a splash of brandy, topped with bubbly) becomes a showstopper with Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne Brut ($63.99), Angostura Bitters ($20.49) and Courvoisier Cognac VS ($68.99).

The fusion of younger and older cognacs offers a fruity, delicate taste and a bouquet filled with ripe fruit and spring flowers. As an after-dinner treat, sip an indulgent chocolatey Brandy Alexander made with Christian Brothers Brandy VS ($12.99), Jacquin’s Creme de Cacao White ($13.99) and local farm-fresh cream.

If you’re all partied-out or nursing winter sniffles, nothing comforts like a hot toddy with a nip of Paul Masson Grande Amber Peach Brandy ($9.99).

Treasures for the Collector

For those who treasure the transcendent, Louis XIII Cognac ($4,799.99) is the pinnacle — a legendary blend of eaux-de-vie aged from 40 to 100 years in Limousin superior oak tierçons (wooden barrels holding 500 liters) that span generations and presented in a handcrafted, individually numbered crystal decanter with a distinctive 18k gold neck and spiked design.

For something a bit less extravagant, Courvoisier Cognac XO Royal ($284.99) builds on the XO house style with a blend matured up to 30 years, combining Fins Bois and Grand Champagne lots with toasty oak influence.

Another option, Rémy Martin Cognac XO ($245.99) showcases rich depth and complexity in a more accessible expression, marrying fruit, spice and refined warmth.

Heritage in the Holiday Glass

This season, whether poured neat by the fire, mixed into a festive punch or wrapped as a gift, brandy and cognac connect us to both history and celebration. They’re luxuries meant to be shared, warming hearts as well as our glasses.

Wishing you a warm and wonderful holiday season in your hearts and homes.

And please, always drink responsibly.

Liz Tarditi, WSET II, is an entrepreneur and classically trained chef with 35 years’ of culinary experience. She graduated from Villanova University and the Culinary Arts program at the Art Institute of Seattle. Liz has worked for Fine Wine & Good Spirits for several years, becoming a Wine Specialist in 2020. She enjoys pairing wine and food for special events and celebrations. See her at the Villanova Fine Wine & Good Spirits location.