1901
Gran Duque d'Alba Solera Gran Reserva
Spanish — Jerez, Spain
Reviewed
September 16, 2019 (edited March 23, 2020)
First off, I’m not a brandy drinker. I have very limited experience save for an occasional celebratory glass of Hennessy with a Hamlet cigar at faculty balls, graduation ceremonies and such like during my college years. Oh, how we thought we represented the very definition of cultured sophistication despite our poor facial hair and ill-fitting, rented tuxes.
While in Spain I picked up a sample of this Brandy de Jerez, as I had seen it recommended by @The_Rev. With apologies to that knowledgeable gentleman I could not find within my glass the array of pleasures he chanced upon.
The nose was very amiable: prunes, raspberry, musty leather and oak. Initially, I found the taste smooth with little heat at all. Then, as I continued to sip, it became cloying with sickly syrupy flavours of brown sugar, prunes, soaked raisins (like for a Christmas cake), sticky toffee pudding and an off-putting hint of anise (a personal aversion). Altogether it was overly sweet.
I wouldn't rule out whiskey based on one dram so I’m not writing off brandy just yet. I just need to get more acquainted and I'll happily take any brandy recommendations for the whisk(e)y lover....
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@PBMichiganWolverine yeah, when I think of brandy I mean grape brandy. But @Soba45 is right, it can be any fruit. Apart from a few bits gleaned articles and reviews on this site, that's about the full extent of my knowledge though.
@cascode @The_Rev thanks for the tips. I've added them to my wishlist and hope to sample them if I get the chance.
@1901 "Brandy" covers a lot of territory, just as "whisk(e)y" does, and Jerez brandies are a thick, sweet style unto themselves. For a whisky drinker I'd recommend Camus "Ile de Re" cognac as something maybe more agreeable. It has an almost briny, dry profile and is not overly expensive. Maybe also try an armagnac? One of the lower priced Delord, Castarede or Tariquet expressions would be a great introduction. Once in a blue moon I get a craving for a cognac or armagnac instead of whisky but I don't keep more than one open bottle, and none in storage.
Hey, to each their own...and it’s definitely sweet stuff. I have to be in the right kind of mood for it, or anything else in the brandy world for that matter. My best “brandy for a whiskey lover” recommendation is Remy Martin’s 1738 Accord Royal...not quite as sweet, and has some flavor notes a bit more reminiscent of a whisky.
@PBMichiganWolverine Yeah, distilled fruit wines to be exact. Armagnac and Cognac are from grape wine but also to be called either they need to be from specific regions in France. Otherwise it's (usually) called brandy (there are other regional specific varieties e.g. Pisco from Peru or Chile).
@Soba45 so brandy is just distilled fruits. But from grapes, it gets a special nomenclature like Armagnac or cognac
@PBMichiganWolverine It can be made from any fruit. Cognac is an example (only from a certain region)
I don’t think I’ve ever had brandy in my life. It’s from grapes..like Armagnac ?