The history of brandy is tied to the emergence and development of distillation. The process can be traced back to classical times, but it wasn’t used for beverage production until the 15th century. Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. The spirit typically contains 35-60% of alcohol by volume.
Brandy’s distillation process was created by accident. It was created because back in the 15th century, wine was initially distilled as a preservation method and a way to make it easier to transport. After some time, it was discovered that after having been stored in wooden casks, the product had improved over the original spirit.
Though the process removed the water, the distillation process led to the formation and decomposition of aromatic compounds. This altered the composition of the distillate from its source, resulting in a different taste from the original spirit.
Most brandies are distilled from grapes from different regions of the world. The liquor has a variety of uses, including those in the culinary arts. Brandy can be used in deglazing liquids, flavoring, and flambé. Here are the top nine best-selling brandy brands in the world.
DETAILED LIST OF THE 9 LARGEST BRANDY IN THE WORLD
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Hennessy. Cognac, France
2019 Case Sales (by nine-liter case sales): 8.0m
Established in 1765, Hennessy is one of the most well-known brandy brands in the world. Hennessy constitutes half of the world’s Cognac supply, selling 50 million bottles per annum.
The drink is classified as cognac and is described as a sweet yet spicy, fruity, yet dry twice-distilled French oak barrel-aged brandy. Hennessy’s cognac is casked in oak barrels, whose wood is sourced from Limousin or Troncais, where you will find perfect wood for the Cognat due to its dependably low resin content.
Hennessy has been around for centuries, having touched the lips of French revolutionaries, Russian oligarchs, Southern freedom fighters, kings, queens, and many others throughout history. Hennessy product prices can vary greatly, from $60 a bottle to $2500 a bottle.
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Old Admiral Brandy. Utter Pradesh, India
2019 Case Sales (by nine-liter case sales): 3.8m
Old Admiral Brandy is produced by Radico Khaitan, a pioneer in the spirits industry and among the oldest and largest manufacturers in India. The company was earlier known as Rampur Distillery and began operations in 1943.
They produce other well-known products such as Rampur Whisky, 8PM Whisky, Magic Moments Vodka, and Contessa Rum. After Radico Khaitan’s flagship brand, 8PM Whiskey, was launched in 1999, it sold one million cases in the first year.
This was a record for Indian brands operating in India and put them in the Limca Book of Records. Old Admiral Brandy was launched in the state of Kerala in 2002 and was introduced in Andhra Pradesh markets to great success.
When COVID-19 brought Indian businesses to a halt, the company’s ENA was partially operational as the company began production of sanitizers to support the nation’s fight against coronavirus. In 2020, the company was ranked as the number one mid-cap company in Fortune India’s The Next 500 that rank India’s midsize companies.
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Dreher. Milan, Italy
2019 Case Sales (by nine-liter case sales): 2.8m
Dreher is a Brazilian brandy that features a full-bodied amber color. The liquid is distilled and produced with cane sugar and natural vegetable extracts. The brandy is slightly sweeter than the typical cognac style of brandy.
Dreher is the most popular brandy brand on the Brazilian market. It was established in 1910 in the Southern region of Bento Gonçalves, which is the best area for wine production in Brazil.
Dreher is owned by Gruppo Campari, which is one of the top ten alcohol producers in the world, with over 50 premium and super-premium brands on a global level.
Other notable brands include Aperol, Appleton Estate, Campari, SKYY, Wild Turkey, and Grand Marnier. They are headquartered in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, with over 20 plants worldwide.
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Martell. Cognac, France
2019 Case Sales (by nine-liter case sales): 2.6m
Founded in 1715 by Jean Martell, Martell is one of the oldest Cognac houses in the world. Martell produces, exports, and markets cognacs and brandies that are internationally renowned for quality and taste.
Their products are sold in five main markets, including China, World Duty-Free, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and the United States. Since 2001, Martell has belonged to the French spirits group Pernod Ricard. Martell also has a sponsorship with the Palace of Versailles, which was renewed in 2010 and began in 2007.
Martell was a supporter of the restoration of the Queen’s antechamber. For its wide variety of products, Martell selects crus from the Cognac region of France, including Les Borderies, Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, and Fins Bois.
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Rémy Martin. Cognac, France
2019 Case Sales (by nine-liter case sales): 2.2m
Rémy Martin prides itself on being the only Cognac house founded by a winemaker. Founded in 1724, this French organization primarily produces and sells cognac today. Rémy Martin is one of the world’s largest cognac producers in the world and is also part of the Comité Colbert, an association that helps promote luxury brands.
Rémy Martin is a high-quality cognac achieving the Cognac Fine Champagne appellation, meaning it is crafted exclusively from a coveted blend of Eaux-de-vie (a clear, colorless fruit brandy) from the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne crus.
Rémy Martin uses traditional distillation methods. Aging takes place in oak barrels from Limousin, where the alcohol evaporates and makes the walls of the cellars black. Today, the House’s Cellar Master is Baptiste Loiseau, who took on this position in 2014 at the age of 34.
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Courvoisier. Charente, France
2019 Case Sales (by nine-liter case sales): 1.4m
Courvoisier is a brand of cognac owned by company Beam Suntory, a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings in Japan. However, the production of this brandy resides in Charente, France. Originally established in Paris in 1835, Emmanuel Courvoisier established a wine and spirits company.
Their goal was to distribute the finest cognac, and so they relocated to France, where they became producers of brandy. This process has not changed in over 200 years. Today, Courvoisier is run from the original Château the founders moved to in the 1800s.
The Courvoisier Château also has a boutique and museum which offer private tastings and exclusive tours to those interested in visiting the grounds and tasting their products.
Courvoisier is heavily accomplished in France, being awarded the “Prestige de la France” in 1984 for their high-quality product. To this day, it remains the only cognac house to receive the award.
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Old Kenigsberg. Kaliningrad, Russia
2019 Case Sales (by nine-liter case sales): 1.3m
Old Kenigsberg brandy is popular in countries like Russia. The drink is aged in barrels, specially ordered in Limousin, France. There are no fragrances or flavors added to the drink. The price of Old Kenigsberg depends heavily on how long it has aged.
A three-year drink will be cheaper than an eight-year drink. Price may also differ by the bottle. The bottle is important in that it protects products from falsification. The business’ most popular brandy is Old Kenigsberg, 4 Years Old, boasting a light, elegant aroma of flowers with dominant violet and vanilla notes.
According to fans, “Old Kenigsberg” is easy to drink, warms in winter, and does not cause headaches or hangovers.
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Torres Brandy. Barcelona, Spain
2019 Case Sales (by nine-liter case sales): 1.3m
Torres Brandy is made with grape varieties that are grown in Penedès. These grapes are used in the production of sparkling cava, double distilled in copper pot stills, then aged in oak barrels.
The company has been crafting brandy since 1928, when Juan Torres Casals began to age distilled wines. Torres is a progressive company committed to sustainable farming. The business is still family-owned and has been for five generations.
Torres brand is a key part of Spanish brandy’s traditions which dates back to the 13th century. Juan Torres Casals’ son, Miguel Torres Carbó is credited with introducing Torres 10. His legacy was sealed when he rescued barrels of brandy from ruin during the January 20, 1938 bombing of the winery during the Spanish Civil war.
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McDowell’s No. 1 Brandy. Karnataka, India
2019 Case Sales (by nine-liter case sales): 1.3m
McDowell’s No. 1 Brandy is an Indian brand of spirits manufactured by United Spirits Limited, also known as USL. The liquor was launched in 1963 and was the first McDowell’s No. 1 branded product.
This product was the first of many “No. 1” brands that the company launched in later years that sit under the “No 1 Celebration” brand umbrella. This specific type of brandy is a blend of imported Indian-style brandy.
The McDowell’s brand also sells whisky, rum, bottled water, and soda. The name McDowell came from Angus McDowell, a Scottish man who founded the company in India.
McDowell’s has seen success advertising through Bollywood and cricket as well as sports and music events to reach its audience. The brand has associated itself with a variety of Bollywood films.
Author
Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research. Caitlin holds a degree in English from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.
