You may be surprised to know that rum and whiskey have not always been the go-to spirits for these cocktails if you love Milk Punch, Mint Juleps, and Old Fashioned. Oftentimes, brandy was the star of the bar.  

Oftentimes, brandy is distilled from grapes. However, there are times it is distilled from other fruits such as pears and apples. Aged brandies are complex and rich liquors that show fruitier tastes compared to liquors created from grain. This includes types such as Armagnac and cognac. Aside from that, they stay as helpful if you’ve got a home bar like any other liquor that is barrel-aged – for both mixing or sipping neat.  

If you are ready to buy brandies from an online liquor store, here are several beginner brandies to consider: 

Camus VSOP Elegance Cognac 

Though a little costlier compared to other brandies, this brandy is worth the little increase in price. This is particularly true if you want to drink your spirits neat rather than mixing them in a cocktail. The individuals that make this brandy has been creating cognac for a lot of decades already. The expertise comes through in this greatly fruity and spiced cognac. There’s a honeyed sweetness that isn’t too overwhelming together with dried fruit flavors that encase you like a comfortable blanket. For the best night in, you can pair it with a chocolaty and rich dessert.  

H by Hine VSOP Cognac 

This is another beginner cognac that you should consider. For those who don’t know, VSOP cognacs are required to be aged for at least 4 years. This brandy is a combination of 20 various cognacs aged at least 4 years. It is the result of cooperative work between the Fresh Bartenders Association and the brand. This beginner brandy, which is aged more in a barrel, takes on even more of the stone fruit taste that you can find in brandies that are aged moderately. It also shows a range of floral and spice tones. This provides a bit of complexity. These flavor profiles exhibit well in a spirit-forward cocktail, such as the Old Fashioned.  

Bertoux Brandy 

California wine country offers enthusiasts a lot of cabernet and chardonnay sauvignon wines. However, the New World region also offers people with this cocktail-friendly brandy. This brandy was first released in 2018 and was made by a sommelier Thomas Pastuszak and bartender Jeff Bell. These two individuals decided on the last blend of 3 to 7-year-old pot distilled aged brandies. Thus, you know it is one of the best out there.  

Hennessy VS Cognac 

For those who don’t know, every cognac should be made within the French region. Also, it has to be made with particular types of grapes. In addition to that, it should be aged in oak barrels for a particular period. VS cognac is an ideal place to begin exploring cognac with its minimum aging requirement of 2 years. This brandy costs less than $30 and it is an easy brandy for beginners. This makes it an excellent addition for cocktails due to its fruity flavor.