Brandy vs. Bourbon: What You Need to Know

Brandy vs. Bourbon…what the heck is the difference between the,?

If you’re confused, don’t worry. This is common because there are definitely some similarities between these spirits.

But at the same time, they are very very different and are best enjoyed in specific circumstances (especially if you’ve never had either before).

This article has all the information that you need to know about this age-old question: which is better? 

Here, we’ll discuss the basics of both drinks, their flavors, and their origin. 

We’ll also compare their alcohol content and how much they cost.

Brandy vs. Bourbon: The Key Differences

What is Brandy?

Brandy is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from any type of fruit wine.

It is produced by distilling fermented fruit juice (can be pears, cherries, berries, or apples). Some are then aged in an oak barrel, but this isn’t a requirement. Brandies are initially clear in color, but acquire color from the barrel or addition of caramel, burnt sugar, or other coloring agents.

Brandy can be enjoyed neat (i.e. straight) or on the rocks in a cocktail or mixed drink. It’s usually between 70 and 120 proof.

Types of Brandy

– Cognac: Made from white wine and aged in French oak barrels for at least 2 years.

– Armagnac: Made from high acidity white wine, traditionally distilled once but can be double distilled, and then aged in oak barrels.

– Calvados: Made from cider apples or pears.

– Grappa: Unaged grape brandy.

– Pisco: Unaged grape brandy from Argentina or Chile

– Applejack: Similar to Calvados but is made from Winesap

History

Brandy started being distilled in France circa 1313 and was used as medicine. The physicians named it “the water of life”…so I guess they must have liked it quite a bit. 

Initially, wine was distilled as a preservation method to make it easier for merchants to transport but it was discovered that once it was stored in wooden casks it turned into a new type of spirit (what we call Brandy today).

What is Bourbon

Bourbon is a type of whiskey that’s made in the United States. It’s distilled from corn, rye, and barley, but must have at least 51% corn in the mashbill. 

The distillate then must be aged in new charred oak barrels. There isn’t a time requirement unless it’s labeled “straight bourbon whiskey” (2 years) or “bottled-in-bond” (4 years) but most bourbons are at least 2 years old.

Bourbon has a distinct flavor that’s different from other types of whiskey. It has a sweet taste with hints of vanilla and caramel due to the corn in the mash. The alcohol content usually ranges between 40% and 65%. A 750 ml bottle of bourbon costs around $20 to $30 on average, but can the rare bottles can be thousands.

History

This drink has a history dating back to the 17th century, where it was called “white dog” because it had no color. 

The name “bourbon” comes from Bourbon County, Kentucky, where it was first produced in the 18th century. Bourbon has since been the official beverage of Kentucky.

Today, bourbon is produced all over the country and is growing in popularity exponentially.

Bourbon vs. Brandy: How they Taste

Bourbon

Bourbon is often described as being sweet and aromatic because of its high concentration of sugars that come from the fermentation process. Bourbon also has a smooth finish with hints of vanilla, caramel, and honey.

Brandy

While strong, brandy is known for having a sweet, fruity profile (since it’s made from fruit). It’s hard to assign a specific flavor profile to it, though, because it’s made with so many different types of fruits and varieties. Additionally, some brandies are aged and some aren’t. But in general, Brandy has a soft flavor, usually described as nutty or woodsy. The specific tasting notes can vary from dry to sweet depending on the brandy’s origin (pear, cinnamon, vanilla, leather, caramel, and pretty much any kind of sweet fruit note).

Brandy vs. Bourbon: Which Is Better?

This completely depends on your taste preferences, your desired use, and which bourbon or brandy you’re planning to use.

If you like things on the fruity side, pick a brandy made from a fruit of your choice. You have tons of types of fruit brandy to choose from—ranging from peach to blackberry.

If you like a more robust, rich flavor that’s still on the sweeter side, go for bourbon. The traditional bourbon profile is sweet with vanilla and caramel.

If you’re looking for a tasty cocktail and don’t like old fashioneds, go for something with brandy in it.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for a new liquor for a party, a gift for a loved one, or just desire to broaden your liquor collection, you can’t go wrong with bourbon or brandy.

We recommend checking out our posts on the best bourbons under $30, $50, and $100 to find the best bottle for you.

Since this isn’t a brandy site, we, unfortunately, don’t have a list of the best brandy. So here’s one for you, my friend.