Brief introduction of whisky and brandy
Whiskey: It is a kind of strong distilled liquor brewed from barley and other grains, aged in oak barrels for many years, and blended to about 43 degrees. Such as Chivas Regal and Johnnie Walk.
Brandy: originally from Brandewijn in the Netherlands, it means "burnt wine". It refers to the high alcohol obtained by distillation of grapes and other fruits after fermentation and then stored in oak barrels. Such as Hennessy, Remy Martin and Martell.
The difference between whisky and brandy
Different places of origin: brandy originated in the Netherlands, and whisky originated in Scotland. Whisky can be divided into four categories according to the place of origin: Scottish whiskey, Irish whiskey, American whiskey and Canadian whiskey. Brandy is produced in many countries, but the brandy produced in France is the most famous, and among the brandy made in France, the brandy produced in Cognac is the most beautiful.
Different raw materials: the raw materials for brandy are grapes or fruits, and the fermentation is to use the juice water contained in the fruit; The raw material of whisky is barley or grain, and external water source is needed for fermentation. Although they use different fermented water, they all belong to liquid fermentation. The external water source used for whisky can be manually intervened, such as soft water or hard water, but the juice water used for brandy cannot be manually intervened. The water absorbed in the fruit depends on the mineral basis of the land of origin and other factors.
The process is different: Brando is made from fruit through fermentation, distillation and storage, while whiskey is made from grain through germination, saccharification, fermentation, distillation, aging and mixing. Whiskey and brandy are both distilled spirits, but the production process is slightly different. Their distillers are mainly made of copper. Whisky has been distilled for 2-3 times, and its body is much more delicate. Brandy is generally distilled continuously, and its body is rougher than whiskey, but some cognac is distilled twice.
Different degrees: Brandy and whisky are considered as high-alcohol liquor, the alcohol degree of Brandy is generally about 40-45 degrees, and the alcohol degree of whisky is generally about 40-60 degrees, depending on the degree of each brand.
Color difference: Brandy is golden and transparent, with strong fragrance. The strong fragrance of brandy comes from long-term brewing, and it will get a mellow taste. The color of whisky changes from five colors to amber in the aging process, because whisky is stored in oak barrels, and its color is directly related to the storage time. The best way to judge the age of whisky is that the darker the color, the longer the age.
How to drink whisky and brandy correctly
Whether to add ice or heat it
Whisky tastes mellow, but it needs to be drunk with ice cubes and soda water, so that it won't be very strong and has a mild taste. As brandy is made of fruit, it usually doesn't add ice, so as not to destroy the unique fruit fragrance. Just heat the cup with your hands when drinking.
Chosen cup
The glass used for drinking brandy is a tall glass with special specifications. When drinking brandy, use the middle finger and ring finger of your left hand to hold the tall foot of the glass, slowly shake it back and forth, and use the temperature of your palm to heat the wine evenly. A wide-mouthed glass is generally used for drinking whisky, because it is suitable for drinking with ice cubes after all, and a wide wide-mouthed glass will make the aroma looser.
Finally, it is concluded that drinking whisky and brandy is very particular, and drinking on different occasions also has different stresses. As a way of life, it is the embodiment of style and quality, and a person's comprehensive quality and social status can also be seen from drinking and tasting. Mastering the drinking method of foreign wine correctly is a necessary skill on the road to success.