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Brandy Varieties

Derived from the Dutch word brandewijn, which means roasted or boiled wine, in the broadest sense of the word, cognac is any liquor made by distilling fruit wine. Although any fruit can be used, wine grapes are the most common. Clear brandy, commonly referred to as Eau de Vie, is aged and bottled immediately after distillation. Finer grape brandies are usually aged in oak barrels for two years (VS) to six years (XO) or more, gradually acquiring color and complexity as they interact with the wood.