I had my first drop of brandy for many years this week and I really enjoyed it. Since it's approaching Santa time I'm intending to treat myself to a bottle of really good stuff.
Anyone got any recommendations ?
I'm going abroad for a couple of days at the end of the month (EU) is it worth the hassle buying in the duty free shops?
Cognac
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mutanthalibut
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am
Re: Cognac
Neither of these recommendations are for mixing with coke etc, or you will be brutally guillotined.
1 Expensive - Hine Antique (?100 / bottle, awesome)
2 Budget - Metaxa 5 star (?15 / bottle, very enjoyable)
Hope that helps.
Forgive the spelling, I'm pissed (research you know) hic!!!
1 Expensive - Hine Antique (?100 / bottle, awesome)
2 Budget - Metaxa 5 star (?15 / bottle, very enjoyable)
Hope that helps.
Forgive the spelling, I'm pissed (research you know) hic!!!
Re: Cognac
I'm looking for the "good" stuff and to me good does not always equate to the most expensive.
I've set the budget at ?150 tops and on the rare occasions when the cork will be pulled it will be savoured in the neat state.
Thanks for the reply and I will be looking at what Hine has to offer.
I've set the budget at ?150 tops and on the rare occasions when the cork will be pulled it will be savoured in the neat state.
Thanks for the reply and I will be looking at what Hine has to offer.
Re: Cognac
My first taste of 'Brandy' would have been when I was about 9 years old, all my family were shooters but as I was the youngest and was not at that time allowed to carry a gun my job was to collect the shot birds. My elder brothers would come home from school at Christmas but my father would not let them take out any of the dogs, much to valuable he always said.
They were however allowed to take me out with them, and my job was to act as one of the dogs and flush out birds or ground game. After a particually wet and cold day my oldest brother offered me a drink from his hip flask, it would warm me up I was told. I took a deep swig which I swollowed and then passed out.
I never drank 'brandy' again for the next 18 years.
I am now pleased to say that my wife helped me get over that problem and introduced me to good quality alcohol, which I would now not be without. Hine Antique, Hine XO (always had adverts in Punch), and Remy Martin XO are great standards to work to. Another recomendation would be a top quality Armagnac, slightly different to Cognac but in my view a finer blend.
If you wait till your on mainland Europe and buy cheaper or even duty free, that way you can get a couple of 70cl bottles plus change out of your ?150.
They were however allowed to take me out with them, and my job was to act as one of the dogs and flush out birds or ground game. After a particually wet and cold day my oldest brother offered me a drink from his hip flask, it would warm me up I was told. I took a deep swig which I swollowed and then passed out.
I never drank 'brandy' again for the next 18 years.
I am now pleased to say that my wife helped me get over that problem and introduced me to good quality alcohol, which I would now not be without. Hine Antique, Hine XO (always had adverts in Punch), and Remy Martin XO are great standards to work to. Another recomendation would be a top quality Armagnac, slightly different to Cognac but in my view a finer blend.
If you wait till your on mainland Europe and buy cheaper or even duty free, that way you can get a couple of 70cl bottles plus change out of your ?150.
Re: Cognac
Thanks for that. I've been looking online and anything with XO seems to be worth a look. At the end of the day everybody has different tastes so I suppose I'll just buy whatever takes my fancy at the time but since Hine and Remy are probably more recognised, they could be favoured over more obscure brands.