As many varieties of cognac and brandy look and taste quite similar, it is not surprising that many people do not know the difference between the two. The short answer is that cognac is actually a type of brandy that is produced within a particular region of France. Yet there are more precise differences between cognac and brandy. Manufacture of cognac is governed by laws set by the French government, meaning that all cognacs are made from specified varieties of grapes and follow a prescribed production process. Brandy production, on the other hand, is not regulated by such strict laws, and therefore the ingredients, production process, and resulting quality of brandies can vary widely. Many historians believe that brandy was created out of the need to conserve space when shipping wine overseas in the 16th century. Enterprising merchants concluded that distilling wine, or heating it until some of its water content evaporated, would reduce the amount of space it occupied, thus lowering shipping costs. These merchants originally planned to dilute this concentrated wine with water once it had reached its destination. After tasting the concentrated wine, however, the merchants found that the distillation and aging processes had transformed it into a unique beverage which could be enjoyed without the addition of water. Thus, brandy was born. METAXA Metaxa is a distilled spirit made in Greece from brandy and wine from sun-dried grapes, blended with Muscat wine. It has been made since 1888 and is exported to over 60 countries. The spirit is a brown, rich, and earthy beverage made using a complex, secret recipe featuring Greek grapes and spices. It is usually served on the rocks, neat, or mixed with sours. The Metaxa distillery was founded by publican Spyros Metaxas in 1888, and the spirit was first exported to the United States in 1900. The bottle celebrates Greek culture with its amphora shape and its label featuring the image of an ancient Greek warrior that was found on a coin during the excavation for the first Metaxa factory. Metaxa is now a part of the French Rémy Cointreau group, which also includes Rémy Martin cognac, Cointreau, Mount Gay rum, Passoã, and Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck champagnes. Metaxa is made from three separate blends that are mixed together to create the final product. A brandy is distilled from the wine of various sun-dried grapes, including Black Corinth, Rhoditis, Savatiano, and Sultana, and aged in new, handmade French oak barrels. Aged Muscat wine is made using barrels left over from the brandy. The third blend is a secret mixture of Greek spices and herbs, including rose petals, with distilled water. The three blends are combined with a young Muscat wine to produce a more mellow final product.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 21:37:02 +0000