Brandy / Cognac

Simply put, brandy is grape must (the stems and seeds and bits the winemakers don't want) distilled with spirit then aged in oak. Cognac, from the Charentes region in France, is known as the world's finest brandy, and in both cases the mellow, alluring amber glow comes from that ageing process. From VSOP (Very Special Old Pale) to XO (Extra Old) and beyond, age confers quality, and quality dictates price.