The Most Wished For Brandies Last Week

Hennessy's XO first debuted in 1870, crafted by Maurice Hennessy for friends and family. The blend incorporates over 100 eaux-de-vie with ages up to 30 years. It's said to be the first XO ever released, with Hennessy dubbing that name himself. According to the brand, that's why the full name is technically Hennessy The Original X.O.

Mistral's Pisco is distilled from Pedro Jimenez and Muscat of Alexandria grapes in Chile's Elqui Valley. It is aged in American oak barrels and bottled at 92 proof.

Singani is a spirit that has been produced since 1530. It has its own DO (denomination of origin) and GI (geographical indication) and can only be produced in the Bolivian Andes. The grapes (of which only muscat of Alexandria can be used) must be planted at a minimum of 5250 feet (1600 meters). As Singani is not recognized as its own spirit category in most of the world, it can only be described as a brandy, but it is better to think of it as an eau-de-vie. This Singani is the first to be available in the United States and for that you can thank director, Steven Soderbergh and his blood, sweat, and tears (and money).

The E & J in question are Ernest & Julio Gallo, the brothers who in 1933 founded their namesake winery, a giant still to this day in the world of wine-making. Their VSOP has no age statement (but is slightly older than their VS bottling). It is produced, bottled, and blended in California from a variety of grapes.

Ernest & Julio Gallo are the namesakes for the E & J Brandy portfolio. Their first brandy sold was in 1938, but their VS was released in 1975. The VS is the youngest in their brandy portfolio and is at least 2 years old. Bottled and blended from a variety of grapes in California.

The term "VS" is meaningless to determine age with American brandy. The brandy does, however, have a small age statement: "aged three years in oak" listed on the front of the bottle. Paul Masson was one of the pioneers in the California wine making world back in the 1890's and created and popularized the first American sparkling wine. This brandy has Californian origins, but is bottled and blended in Bardstown, Kentucky.

Camus VS Cognac is part of the core range of cognacs from the largest family-owned cognac house. All cognacs from the house include at least some eaux-de-vie from the Borderies region. The VS is part of its collection of intensely aromatic cognacs. The wines are distilled on the lees and a technique called "Instensity" is used in the distillation process where the "heads" that present the best aromatic qualities are selected rather than being redistilled and set aside. The eaux-de-vie is matured in small, lightly toasted fine grain French oak. Aged a minimum of 2 years.

Dudognon is a grower-producer cognac house with the family having grown grapes on their estate since 1776 in what is now known as the Grande Champagne region. This Heritage bottling is aged up to 40 years in cask, but remains somewhat translucent which is attributed in large part by the fact that zero additives are used. No boisé, no caramel, and no sugar syrup is used; a rarity in the world of cognac today.

Dating back to 1724, Rémy Martin has a long and storied history in Cognac. This marque, 1738 Royal Accord, pays tribute to one of Rémy Martin's earliest accolades when the French King Louis XV bestowed a reward of excellence on the distillery. A blend of various eaux-de-vie, this Fine Champagne Cognac is a step up from Rémy's flagship VSOP.

Camus (pronounced "Kah-moo") is a five-generation cognac producing family that traces its roots in the business back to 1863. Their estate vineyards in the Borderies cru, an area within Cognac, is the primary source of wine that serves as the base for their spirits with additional eaux-de-vie sourced from all six areas within the Cognac region. For the VSOP Elegance, Maison CAMUS selects aromatic eaux-de-vie partially distilled on the lees, including some from the Borderies cru. It is aged in specially selected and seasoned barrels.