LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2021

BRANDY IS BACK

Sniff test A brandy snifter is a large balloon glass with a short stem. Warm the bowl under hot water before pouring, or in your hands once poured, to activate brandy’s complex aromas and flavours.

King of brandies The region of Cognac in southwest France, just north of Bordeaux, is the home of fine French brandies. Cognac that says Grande, Petite or Fine Champagne on the label has nothing to do with the famed French sparkling wine region; here, Champagne refers to the very best grape-growing parcels in Cognac. Artfully blended and long-aged, Cognac is a holiday sipping treat that unfolds in layers of flavour.

Martell VS Fine Cognac LCBO 108100, $68.95

Hennessy VSOP LCBO 43703, $109.35

Rémy Martin XO Excellence LCBO 583468, $309.75 The rich and decadent style of this Cognac house shows particularly well in an XO bottling, full of nutty nuances and buttery texture.

One of France’s oldest Cognac houses is known for a lighter, fruity, elegant style: This young single-distillery bot- tling is crisp, with apple and pear.

Known for a richer style, the house uses more than 60 blending compo- nents to create vivid honeyed and spice notes in this Cognac.

Brandy gets saucy Soft, sweet Maple-Fig Brandy Butter (served with French toast, warm gingerbread or bread pudding) and warm Pepper- corn Brandy Sauce for saucing meats are holiday classics. Find the recipes at lcbo.com/fdholiday21

What’s age got to do with it?

On Cognac labels, Very Special (VS) denotes at least two years of ageing; Very Superior Old Pale (VSOP), four years; Napoleon, six years; and Extra-Old (XO), a minimum of 10 years. Other brandies use similar systems.

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HOLIDAY 2021 FOOD & DRINK