Brandy at times conjures up images of St. Bernard’s running through the woods with a barrel around it’s neck. Christian Brothers Brandy VS is priced in a way that you could let a dog run up a mountain with it and not worry about spilling it. But will the receiver enjoy it once the dog gets there?
Christian Brothers Brandy VS
Christian Brothers Brandy VS is made from grapes using a copper pot still. It’s aged for two years in ex-bourbon barrels to create the flavor profile. Then the important bit, they blend it to create a particularly stable flavor profile. At under $10, is it worth it?
Sight: An orange-gold.
Smell: It would be remiss not to note the alcohol hiding around many of the aromas. That said, it does hide decently well behind a creaminess and notes of grapes and caramel. Touches of vanilla and oak come in as well. Despite the persistent burn, it’s pleasant.
Sip: The body is light, but oddly syrupy. There’s a subtle touch of sweetness that runs length, with a gradually building heat. Notes of oak, hints of nuts, touches of vanilla, and caramel all layer with touches of dried fruit. A little bit of bitterness hides toward the back palate.
Savor: The ending picks up a bit of that bitterness, but many of sugary flavors and dried fruit notes are present.
Christian Brothers Brandy VS is simple, unrefined, and easy going. There is some burn here, and the simplicity is to a fault. There’s something slightly strange about the texture, but it isn’t unpleasant. It isn’t the kind of bottle you’re going to pour yourself a nice healthy pour of over an ice cube, but it does have many other better applications.
In Cocktails
Christian Brothers Brandy VS does alright in cocktails. The problem it has it’s never quite strong enough on it’s own, and then it never quite carries through in a cocktail either. While it does work to make a serviceable sidecar, the result is a little lacking on brandy flavor. This same result is why it also works well for liqueurs or flavor extraction, but it’s not going to add a lot of personality.
On a side note, it makes a delicious pan sauce with Pork Chop when you deglaze with it.
Christian Brothers Brandy VS Overall
Christian Brothers Brandy VS is a workhouse spirit for the bar. It works well enough in cocktails, but doesn’t add a lot. It’s a good extractor, that works for creating liqueurs. At the price, it’s a no brainer if you need to keep a cheap bottle of brandy around for cooking or simple cocktail duty.
Want more info, check out Christian Brothers’ website.
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