Knowing this bunch, I bet you can help me...

[JenniBugInPink]

Ok, so this is only marginally Disney related in that my friends are fellow WDW fanatics. I need to make Sangria, and all the "good" recipes call for brandy. When making it for me, I just leave it out cause I know nothing about brandy and would have no idea what kind to buy without breaking the bank which is literally strained to the point of no return with our upcoming trip to WDW (see, it is related to Disney, LOL!).

So, can someone point me to a good brand of brandy for between $10 - $15? Thanks for your help!!

 

[JenniBugInPink]

Oh, and one other thing - it needs to be widely available. I live here on the other side of nowhere. Actually, it's upper East TN/Southwest VA. As I said, the other side of nowhere, the buckle of the ignorance belt, land of guns & camo, and great barbecue but not gourmet. I can say nasty things about the area because I was born here, but let somebody else say something bad, and I'll stick up for the place like a crazy person; works sorta like family I guess. I can cuss 'em but you can't, LOL.

Thanks!

 

[timmac]

Ok, so this is only marginally Disney related in that my friends are fellow WDW fanatics. I need to make Sangria, and all the "good" recipes call for brandy. When making it for me, I just leave it out cause I know nothing about brandy and would have no idea what kind to buy without breaking the bank which is literally strained to the point of no return with our upcoming trip to WDW (see, it is related to Disney, LOL!).

So, can someone point me to a good brand of brandy for between $10 - $15? Thanks for your help!!

Many types of brandy (or more specifically, Cognac) are pricey due to their high quality for sipping. Where you're mixing it into Sangria, the uber-high quality isn't as important, and would--to be blunt-- be a waste of an expensive cognac.

I suspect you can just grab a basic brandy (E&J or Christian brothers comes to mind) and be fine. Alternately, a no-name cherry or blackberry brandy might do nice things for the flavor of the sangria, if you're up for some experimentation.

 

[Thumper_Man]

I've only tried E & J Brandy and think it's pretty decent.

Cognac is also pretty similar to brandy, but a little more on the expensive side. Hennessy and Courvoisier VS are really good, although I prefer Courvoisier the best. Can pick up a smaller bottle in your price range.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Alternately, a no-name cherry or blackberry brandy might do nice things for the flavor of the sangria, if you're up for some experimentation.

Good call on this. Hiram-Walker actually makes some pretty decent flavored brandy's as well. Forgot about those. She be easily available and they're rather inexpensive. Run about $10 a bottle in my area.

 

[JenniBugInPink]

Many types of brandy (or more specifically, Cognac) are pricey due to their high quality for sipping. Where you're mixing it into Sangria, the uber-high quality isn't as important, and would--to be blunt-- be a waste of an expensive cognac.

I suspect you can just grab a basic brandy (E&J or Christian brothers comes to mind) and be fine. Alternately, a no-name cherry or blackberry brandy might do nice things for the flavor of the sangria, if you're up for some experimentation.

I agree, the subtleties of a quality sipping Cognac would get completely lost in the sugar, wine, orange liqueur, blackberries, oranges, lemons, limes, etc. The big task of the brandy is soaking the fruit and sugar.

I've only tried E & J Brandy and think it's pretty decent.

Cognac is also pretty similar to brandy, but a little more on the expensive side. Hennessy and Courvoisier VS are really good, although I prefer Courvoisier the best. Can pick up a smaller bottle in your price range.

As I understand it, all Cognac is brandy, but most definitely not all brandy is cognac (e.g. in order to be a cognac, the brandy must be made in a very specific manner and a specific region, I believe, similar to champagne's requirements to be labeled "champagne"). Have I about got this figured out?

Thanks for your help!!

 

[jcb]

I am most disappointed in OP; anyone from upper ET should know that moonshine is the only appropriate additive for Sangria.

 

[JenniBugInPink]

I am most disappointed in OP; anyone from upper ET should know that moonshine is the only appropriate additive for Sangria.

What was I thinking? Of course I should have used shine. I must ask forgiveness of all Southerners everywhere, and every single one of my dead relatives. What have I done??? See that's what happens when ya' try and get above your raisin's.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

For the amount of brandy that is needed, you could also go with a couple airplane size bottles instead of a larger bottle. I use a blackberry wine for my sangria, Paul Mason Brandy, Peach schnapps and a variety of fruit. Only use about 2 oz. of each liquor so unless you plan on making a bunch in the future and investing in a large bottle makes sense, you could easily pick up a nicer brandy pretty cheaply in the airplane bottles.

 

[JenniBugInPink]

Thanks all! You just have no idea how hard it was to find ANYTHING at the 'local' liquor store. Note to self: drive to nearby town next time. I ended up with a tasty, really orangy orange liquor (just couldn't justify Grand Marnier). I also used a cherry brandy - don't ask the name, I'm too lazy to walk to the kitchen! It sufficed for fruit soaking, and the sangria was gosh darn tasty if I do say so myself. Thank heaven for South Carolina nectarines, cause it's just not the same without 'em. If only TN strawberries an those nectarines and Concord grapes could all be ripe at one time. Mmmmm.