While brandy is yet to take off in the same way as other categories, producers are finding ways to innovate with interesting products. We present our pick of the best value for money brands on the market.

SB reveals the best value for money brandies on the market

The Spirits Business held its annual Brandy Masters last month, where an experienced panel of judges recognised the best bottlings in the business.

Looking across multiple categories, from Armagnac and Pot Still releases to Blended expressions, a wide range of brandies were awarded the top accolades of Master and Gold medals for their quality.

The individual scores of each entrant have not been revealed, however these are five of the highest rated medalists in the competition, in no particular order.

While some expressions are not standard priced, our judges have given each brandy listed here the seal of approval for offering excellent quality within their respective price categories.

Click through to the following pages to view the five best value for money brandies of 2018.

Martha’s Aguardente Bagaceira – Fine Digestive

Price: £16.00

In the Other Region flight, a Gold was awarded to Martha’s Aguardente Bagaceira – Fine Digestive.

The expression is made by distilling high quality grapes and then maturing in wood. It is recommended served on its own as a digestive or served cold with a cigar.

Judges found “fresh bread” and “nutty” aromas on the nose, with “Earl Grey tea” and “vine leaves, pears and apples” on the palate.

Ableforth’s Cherry Brandy

Price: £34.95

The only Master medallist in the competition was bestowed upon Ableforth’s Cherry Brandy.

The expression is made with sweet cherries, sour Morellos and Premier Cru VSOP and XO Cognacs.

“It tastes genuinely of cherries, has real complexity and there’s cherry tartness to balance the liqueur level of sugar,” one judge said.

Oude Molen VSOP Cape Brandy

Price: US$29.00

Oude Molen VSOP Cape Brandy was praised for its “floral elegance” on the nose, which led to “vanilla and honey” on the palate. The expression, which secured a Gold medal, is matured using the Spanish Solera method.

According to the company, all VSOP grade cape brandy must be matured in oak barrels for at least five years. The brandy used in Oude Molen VSOP is often older than this, making it an “exceptional example of the VSOP grading”. 

Joseph Barry XO Cape Brandy

Price: US$58.60

A Gold medal was awarded to Joseph Barry XO Cape Brandy in the South African – Pot Still Aged 10­-12 Years, which was praised for its complex flavours of “crystallised pineapple, lychees, cinnamon and brown sugar”.

One judge noted: “I got the classic tropical fruits like you get from an Irish pot still, and the palate had a golden syrup feel – I’d be happy if I bought this.”

Distilled at the Barrydale Distillery in South Africa, the expression has been aged in French oak for a minimum of 10 years.

Ladismith Cape Brandy

Price: US$36.99

Gold medallist Ladismith Cape Brandy impressed judges with its “elegant” liquid, “vanilla” aromas and “tropical and wood” notes on the palate.

The expression is produced with grapes from the Klein Karoo region on the Cape South Coast of South Africa. The wine is then double-distilled in a pot still and aged in small oak barrels for a minimum of eight years. When it is deemed ready, the final blend is released in limited quantities of 1000 bottles per year.