Affordable, expressive, and full of flavour - these bottles are rewriting what brandy can be.
Brandy is incredibly versatile. Younger examples are fruit-forward and great for cocktails, while older expressions offer depth and complexity to rival whisky, often at more accessible prices. Yet despite all this, brandy is still misunderstood and often overlooked. Cognac dominates the conversation and is seen as expensive or out of reach, which leads people to assume brandy isn’t for them.
Unlike whisky, which is distilled from grain, brandy is made from fermented fruit, giving it a different texture, sweetness, and aromatic profile. It is often distilled from grapes but also apples, pears, plums and more. It offers a diversity of flavours and styles few other categories can match. It is made all over the world, reflecting regional traditions and character, from France, England and Spain to India. Producers work with local fruit and age their brandies in different casks to create distinctive and expressive bottles.
Brandy deserves far more attention than it gets because it has so much to offer and while other spirits have loyal followings, brandy hasn’t yet built that same loyal following, which is undeserved. If you’re curious about new flavours or simply want a taste of everyday luxury, brandy is worth exploring. The bottles below are just a glimpse of what is waiting to be discovered. With prices rising everywhere, the depth of flavour, craft and value in brandy are hard to ignore.
Avallen Calvados
Planet positive Calvados in a paper bottle, with one-fifth of the carbon footprint of glass, Avallen is made for eco-minded cocktail lovers. Born from a simple question: what’s the most sustainable ingredient for making alcohol? The answer was apples. Their practical approach to sustainability is innovative and inspirational, pointing towards future possibilities for the drinks industry more widely. Produced in Normandy, France, under strict Calvados regulations, including a ban on artificial irrigation, it develops deep roots and complex flavours. Aged 2–3 years and designed for mixing, Avallen is bright, modern, and approachable. Fresh apple notes balance sweet and tart, with hints of almond and a gentle pepper prickle, bringing crisp lift to cocktails. Its fruit-forward style shines in the Avallen Appletini, an easy way to bring vibrant Calvados character into your home bar.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find Here: £34.99
Carlos I Pedro Ximénez Cask Matured
Rich with coffee, dates and dark chocolate shaped by Pedro Ximénez casks and solera aging, Carlos I is a standout Spanish brandy that shows the depth and diversity of the category. This Brandy de Jerez Solera Gran Reserva, one of Spain’s most famous brandy styles, is produced in the Jerez region of southern Spain under its Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) rules. It is aged in American oak casks seasoned with sherry for a minimum of three years using the traditional solera system, where older and younger brandies are gradually blended for balance and complexity. The result unites Spain’s brandy and sherry traditions. Notes of medjool dates, maraschino cherry, dark chocolate and cigar box are a natural fit for a Manhattan cocktail, making it a decadent after-dinner serve where the herbal and bitter vermouth elements enhance the PX richness.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40.3%
Find Here: £41.49
Marquis de Montesquiou VSOP
For those who enjoy richer, more rustic flavours, Armagnac offers a distinct take on French brandy. Marquis de Montesquiou VSOP delivers the bright, fruit-forward character of a VS (Very Special, aged at least two years) with some of the deeper complexity you might expect from an XO (Extra Old, aged at least ten years). Produced in the Armagnac region of southwest France under strict regulations, it is distilled only once in a continuous column still known as an Alambic Armagnacais. In classic Gascon style, it shows notes of caramel, apricot, orange peel, tobacco and ginger. Its depth makes it an ideal choice for a Metropolitan cocktail, a rich after-dinner serve where the Armagnac’s dark fruit and spice notes shine.
Size: 500ml
ABV: 43%
Find Here: £42.70
Burnt Faith Bourbon Cask
Burnt Faith, based in Walthamstow, London, is reimagining what brandy can be for the 21st century. Inspired by the craft and heritage of Cognac, they embrace the tension between tradition and innovation, recognising that the former can sometimes limit creativity. They explore a wide variety of grapes and casks, creating new flavour profiles that push the category forward. Their Bourbon Cask release, aged in barrels that previously held bourbon whiskey, is a prime example, with notes of vanilla, banana foam sweets, cinnamon and sweet toasted oak. These bourbon cask influences make it a natural fit for a brandy Old Fashioned cocktail, where its rich, rounded character blends seamlessly with bitters and sugar for a contemporary twist on the classic.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find Here: £60
Somerset Cider Brandy 10
Somerset Cider Brandy Company has revived the ancient tradition of producing apple brandy in the heart of Somerset. Their commitment to craft and heritage has earned Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, recognising the exceptional terroir of the region, a rare distinction for brandy in the UK. Fittingly, Somerset, with its rich cider-making history, is the natural home of Cider Brandy. Its character comes from ancient orchards, unique soils, and the county’s mild, damp climate. The trees are never sprayed with insecticides, creating a haven for owls, bats and songbirds, and underlining the sustainability of this apple brandy. Expect rich notes of stewed apples, orange blossom, hazelnuts and cinnamon. Enjoy a glass alongside a slice of tarte tatin for the perfect end to a great meal.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find Here: £57
Hine Rare VSOP Cognac
Hine Rare VSOP Cognac is an elegant brandy with personality and wide availability in the UK. Cognac is a type of brandy made in the Cognac region of France, where production follows strict standards to protect quality. Hine crafts this soft, fruity VSOP using grapes from Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, the top two growing areas. VSOP means Very Superior Old Pale and indicates the brandy is aged at least four years, though Hine Rare tastes as though it contains far older Cognac. Expect notes of apricot, orange, toffee and praline with a hint of ginger. It has the depth and finesse to elevate a Champagne cocktail into something truly special.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find Here: £60
Paul John XO Brandy
Best known for their award-winning Indian single malts, Paul John brings the same care to this expressive XO brandy. Paul John XO is an Indian brandy produced in Goa. Paul John has crafted a delicate, balanced spirit that feels familiar to brandy drinkers, and yet intriguingly different. Made in their tropical, coastal climate, the brandy blends the traditional French grape Ugni Blanc with Bangalore Purple, a juicy, sweet table grape grown widely in southern India. This gives the brandy a distinctive character that reflects European tradition and Indian heritage. Matured for over 10 years, Paul John XO delivers notes of coconut palm sugar, juicy strawberries, apricot, butterscotch and warming spice from the oak. It pairs well with chocolate desserts such as a chocolate and fig tart.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find Here: £98.25
Looking for more exciting bottles to try? If so, make sure you check out these 7 unique bottles.
