299238 Wed Nov 17 12:37:45 -0800 2004 11 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1656899 My mother is coming for Thanksgiving and likes brandy. I'd like to surprise her with a bottle, but have no idea what is good. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Wed Nov 17 12:37:45 -0800 2004 0 Emily 1 1656904 Price Range ? I like Courvoisier VSOP and XO. I have never purchased XO, but VSOP is ~$50, I would guess XO is ~$200. The number one selling brandy on the West Coast is probably E&J, ~$8. Wed Nov 17 12:45:59 -0800 2004 1656899 0 Alan408 2 1656906 Of course, I should have posted price. I was thinking $20 - $40, but wouldn't mind stretching to $50. Thanks for the suggestions! Wed Nov 17 13:01:16 -0800 2004 1656904 0 Emily 3 1656909 It should bring you right up to your "stretch" limit, but my favorite at that price point, by far, is Hine Rare & Delicate, which I believe is now marketed simply as "Rare". Technically, it's a VSOP, but I don't believe they use that term on the bottle. The quality difference between a VSOP and an XO is huge, by the way, but it really is a big step up in price. Wed Nov 17 13:08:31 -0800 2004 1656906 0 FlyFish 1 1656907 Germain-Robin, up in Ukiah, makes lovely Alambic Brandies! Truly exceptional quality and, because they are from the area, a great gift idea. Elegant packaging too. Their XO is available all over, should be fairly easy to find. Not sure of price...not cheap, maybe $85? Link: http://www.germain-robin.com/ Wed Nov 17 13:03:15 -0800 2004 1656899 0 Absonot 1 1656918 Most of these folks are telling you about cognacs. Brandy is completely different. Go to a good spirits store and ask. Wed Nov 17 14:37:53 -0800 2004 1656899 0 RichK 2 1656920 Well... that's not quite true. A brandy is a drink made from distilled grape, Cognac certainly qualifies. There are fruit Brandies other than grape, but let's stick to the grape definition. Cognac is a brandy specifically from the Cognac region in France. Almagnac is from nearby regions. An earlier poster mentioned a Californian, Germain-Robin, which is certainly not a Cognac - although it is in the same Alambic style - but it is nevertheless a brandy from California, not Cognac. It is excellent - and altbough it's been a little while, I used to buy the bottles at $35, not $85. Another good choice would be the Spanish brandies of Jerez made from Port. My favorite is Gran Duque D'Alba gran reserva. This is a bit more $, but well worth it. Wed Nov 17 14:51:46 -0800 2004 1656918 0 applehome 3 1656965 All cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac. Spain makes wonderful brandies, including the Duque, but note these are not in any way related to Port or based on Port grapes. Most are based on the grapes of Jerez, which should include the Palomino. They are usually warmer, toastier, and a bit richer than Cognac, but not always cheaper at certain price levels. Thu Nov 18 09:54:34 -0800 2004 1656920 0 bob oppedisano 4 1657031 Thanks for the correction. I don't know where I had picked up the port connection. Thu Nov 18 23:55:59 -0800 2004 1656965 0 applehome 2 1656921 Brandy is not "completely" different. Brandy and cognac are both distilled wine. Cognac is simply brandy that comes from the area in southwestern France that is entitled to use that name. It tends to be a better product than generic "brandy" but there are some brandies - such as the U.S. Germain-Robin mentioned earlier - that equal the great Cognacs. Also some Argmanacs, which are again brandies from a specific area of France. Wed Nov 17 14:53:55 -0800 2004 1656918 0 FlyFish 1 1656926 We love Korbel Brandy. We have toasted with it for years and it did bring us good health! Long's Drugs had it on for $9.99 1.75, $3.00 under Costco. We figured somebody goofed. We bought a bunch. Wed Nov 17 15:35:59 -0800 2004 1656899 0 Wylie 1 1657043 Just for the record...the french "brandy" beginning with "A" that has been alluded to here is neither Almagnac or Argmanac. It's Armagnac. And a good one is a thing of beauty. Fri Nov 19 08:34:21 -0800 2004 1656899 0 GG Mora