Who It's For: Spirits drinkers, wine drinkers curious what happens when their favorite grapes hit a still, and anyone ready to give brandy the seat at the table.
Distill wine, put it in a barrel, and wait. That is the entire premise of brandy, and from that simple starting point the category branched into some of the most distinctive spirits in the world. France alone produces three separate traditions that share almost nothing in common except the base concept. Add in Spain, Peru, Chile, Armenia, and California, and the map gets much bigger than most people realize.
The class moves through the branches of the family that matter most. Cognac and its house-driven style. Armagnac and its farmer-distiller tradition. Calvados, where apples take the place of grapes. Pisco, made in a way that could not be more different from what happens in France. A few outliers that quietly rival the classics at lower prices. Expect the kind of side-by-side pours that make the differences unmissable.
Educator: Jordan Alexandria