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	Did You Know? — Normandy is one of the few regions in France that does not have a substantial grape wine industry. Instead it is apple country, with a substantial tradition of producing hard and sweet cider that in turn can be distilled into an Apple Brandy known as Calvados.
	Did You Know? — Grand Marnier is a Cognac-based orange liqueur that was invented in 1880 by Louis Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle. Both Grand Marnier and Calvados would be an excellent addition to your bar's stock?and just think, you'll have some trivia to serve up along with these fine digestifs.

Brandy- and Cognac-Inspired Drink Recipes

What Is Brandy? Brandy is a spirit made by distilling grapes to a higher proof than they achieve with wine. Though some brandy may be made from the pulpy mixture of stems and seeds left after grapes are pressed, most is made from actual grape wine. In fact, the word brandy means fire (or burnt) wine.

There are three main types of brandy: 1) Grape — produced by the distillation of fermented grape juice 2) Pomace — produced from fermented grape pulp, seeds and stems that remain after the grapes are pressed for their juice and 3) Fruit — distilled from fruits other than grapes.

What Is Cognac? Cognac is the best known type of brandy in the world — the benchmark of brandy. The primary grapes used in making cognac are Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard, and the wines made from these grapes are thin, tart and low in alcohol — not so great for making wine but perfect for cognac.

The unofficial grades used to market cognac include:

• VS (Very Special) or ***(three stars), where the youngest brandy is stored at least two years.
  
• VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale), or Réserve, where the youngest brandy is stored at least four years.
  
• XO (Extra Old), Napoléon, Hors d'Age, where the youngest brandy is stored at least six years.

Both brandy and cognac are primarily consumed as after-dinner drinks, and remember that all cognac is brandy — but not all brandy is cognac.

Enjoy these brandy- and cognac-inspired drinks:

Pear Brandy Champagne Cocktail
Sidecar
Brandy Alexander
Homemade Blackberry Brandy Liqueur
Café Brulot
Pisco Sour
Brownie Cognac
Earthquake
Flying G-Mo

Popular brands of brandy and cognac include Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell and Remy Martin.

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