Classic Brandy

This title in Prion's series on classic drinks brings the reader into the world of Cognac and Armagnac, grappa, marc and all other brandies made from grapes. First of all comes Cognac, maker of the finest brandies in the world, an area replete with brands such as Martell, Courvoisier, Remy Martin and Hennessy. What is the secret of Cognac's unique prestige, what are its techniques, its major markets, its oldest and most renowned examples? Armagnac has great numbers of admirers though its brands are not as famous as Cognac's. Spain has several famous brandies such as Fundador and Lepanto while Germany, Italy, Cyprus, America, Australia, Israel, South Africa and many other countries have substantial brandy industries with many devoted drinkers round the world. French marc and the increasingly fashionable Italian grappas are also tasted and discussed.