Distiller Notes
Brandy Sainte Louise is an elegantly harmonious blend of eaux de vie de vin, of a variety of ages, which showcases the true skill, art and tradition of the Cellar Master. Distilled in traditional Charentais pot stills, this fine Brandy is blended and aged in the Cognac region of France, which carries a rich history of expertise that has defined the highest standards for brandy production in the world.
Brandy Sainte Louise was developed to fulfill the desires of bartenders and drinkers searching for a classic, fruit forward brandy crafted in the traditional manner, and made popular by the essential and influential brandy-based libations of the late nineteenth century. Brandy Sainte Louise will bestow depth, texture and a marvelous balance of classic fruit structure to your preferred brandy-based cocktails.
Proof: 86
Brandy Sainte Louise was created to fulfill the desire of bartenders who have been searching for a classic, fruit-forward brandy, crafted in the centuries-old tradition of French negociants collaborating with a celebrated Cellar Master, Le Maitre de Chai. While researching historic late 19th and early 20th century cocktail recipes, spirits industry veteran, Jennifer Querbes, was inspired by the overwhelming proportion of early mixed drink recipes that include brandy as the primary base spirit. However, due to the few offerings of "cocktail-friendly" brandies and the relatively high cost of most cognacs, bartenders often neglect these timeless brandy-based cocktails, opting instead for base spirits that meet the desired price-to-quality ratio.
Leveraging her expertise and passion for cognacs and brandies, Jennifer made it her mission to create a superior spirit -- the type of high quality French brandy that was available decades ago -- at a price point that would allow bartenders to once again offer classic brandy-based cocktails.
Employing the tradition and process of the French brandy negociant, Jennifer began working with a French Cellar Master to achieve her vision. She proposed to the Cellar Master the challenge of blending the best regional eaux-de-vie of varying ages to produce a rich and balanced quintessential French brandy. The final blend was achieved with the help of numerous bartenders nationwide. Jennifer took her samples cross country, allowing bartenders to review and experiment with the brandy in a wide range of classic cocktail recipes.
The result of these collaborations is a unique blend of Charentais copper pot distilled eaux-de-vie, aged in French oak between 3 to 10 years in the Cognac region of Charente. The terroir and expertise in this region are legendary and have set the highest standards for brandy production throughout history.
Taking its name from the Dutch term, brandewijn, for burnt or cooked wine, in the broadest sense of the term, Brandy is any liquor made from the distillation of fruit wine. Though any kind of fruit may be used, wine grapes are the most common. Clear Brandy, commonly referred to as Eau de Vie, is unaged and bottled directly after distillation. Finer grape-based Brandies are often aged in oak barrels for anywhere from two years (VS) to six years (XO) or longer, gradually gaining color and complexity as they interact with the wood.
