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Mar 05
2010
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American Made: BrandyPosted by Brian Artis in Hey Bartender! |
A FEW MONTHS ago, I did a virtual tour of the Cognac region of France. In that post, I discussed the best known brandy in the world -- cognac. I also discussed the fact that in order for this eau de vie to be called Cognac, it must meet a strictly-defined set of regulations while being produced in certain areas in and around the town of Cognac. If it doesn't meet these criteria, then it's referred to as brandy. If you're following me so far, then you understand that all cognac is brandy, yet not all brandy is cognac.
As a refresher, let's define brandy. Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. That means that the first step is to ferment fruit. There are three basic types of brandy: grape, fruit, and pomace. Unless otherwise specified, the word brandy usually refers to a distillate produced from fermented grapes. Fruit brandies are those that are distilled from fruits other than grapes: apples, plums, cherries, elderberries, blackberries, raspberries, and apricots. Some notable fruit brandies are Calvados, Kirschwasser, and Poire Williams made from apples, cherries, and pears respectively. Pomace brandy is produced by the fermentation and distillation of the skins, seeds, and stems that remain after grapes have been pressed to extract their juices to make wine. The best known pomace brandy is Grappa, a product of Italy.
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So, what is rum? Rum is a spirit distilled from a fermented sugar cane product such as molasses or sugar cane juice. This distillate, a clear liquid, is then aged in oak barrels. Although light rums are commonly used in cocktails, golden and dark rums can be consumed neat. The origins of the word rum are unclear, but it has been suggested that it may have been derived from a British slang term for the best. So, I could consider writing my posts to be a rum time. The rum trade was so vital to the colonial American economy that the introduction of the Sugar Act in 1764 was one of the key factors in sparking the American Revolution. During Prohibition, rum runners competed with Canadian whiskeys to supply a booming underground economy. Today, Bacardi is a name synonymous with rum, but are there others? And if so, are there any made in America? The answer to both questions is yes. So, let's see what's out there.















