Why is brandy cheaper than bourbon?

[McCall St. Brewer]

I am a little relaxed tonight after drinking a few brandy manhattans (the state drink in Wisconsin), and a thought just struck me: why is it that brandy is cheaper than the equivalent quality of bourbon? This seems especially strange when you consider that grapes are more expensive than corn.

Yet Korbel, the "top shelf" brand, is only about $12, while the same size bottle of Jim Beam bourbon is about 1 1/2 times that much. If you want MM, it's twice the price of Korbel (although the alcohol content is higher, too). Other excellent brands of brandy, such as Christian Brothers, are even cheaper.

I suspect it could be a supply and demand question. Traditionally, Wisconsin has consumed the lion's share of California brandy, while I suppose bourbon has a much more widely based market.

Then, too, Kentucky straight bourbon is made in, well, Kentucky. They don't have competitors in France, or anywhere else in the world. So, they can make premium brands of bourbon and sell them for high prices, whereas any U.S. brandy distiller has French cognac to contend with.

That doesn't really work either, though, as cognac to me is really not anything like California brandy. It is thicker and more syrupy and is meant to be drunk straight. If you try to mix it with anything other than coke it is pretty yucky (even the coke I don't understand at all).

 

[Pumbaa]

because your in Wisconsin . . . The the area of highest Brady consumption in the world. We drink lots of it so they send us lots of it. Law of supply and demand.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Brandy distilled twice is Cognac.

What's the price of Cognac compared the the JB?

 

[sause]

Brandy distilled twice is Cognac.

Nope. Cognac is a region of France where the drink originated. Just like Champagne but this time it actually stuck.

 

[Ryanh1801]

More expensive to produce? maybe

 

[ProfLight]

Could be aging... time=money.

Tony

 

[homebrewer_99]

Nope. Cognac is a region of France where the drink originated. Just like Champagne but this time it actually stuck.

...but it is brandy...that was the point of my comment.

 

[user 574]

I think because whiskey is more popular so what the market bears. I think time to produce is probably about equal. Whatever is in vogue. 'Cept if you live in WI where brandy is king; they should up the price up der hey . Obergut anyone? (Ok, that's probably not known but within my family but wtf)

 

[homebrewer_99]

...Obergut anyone? (Ok, that's probably not known but within my family but wtf)

Over good? Ausgezeignet! (Excellent)?

 

[zoebisch01]

Yet Korbel, the "top shelf" brand, is only about $12, while the same size bottle of Jim Beam bourbon is about 1 1/2 times that much. If you want MM, it's twice the price of Korbel (although the alcohol content is higher, too). Other excellent brands of brandy, such as Christian Brothers, are even cheaper.

Wow that's cheap! I know a good standard size bottle costs around 20$ + here.

Kinda ot but related...isn't it funny how Tequila used to be so little known and you had like 3 brands: Mezcal, Dos Dedos and usually some other thing. Once it became 'the thing to drink' a few years back (and then fell off) you saw like 15 to 20 brands. The top shelf stuff is 40$ and up usually.

A good supplier knows how to support their customer. I see the changes in our local distro's...especially one of them that is carrying more and better of the craft brewed beers.

 

[user 574]

Over good? Ausgezeignet! (Excellent)?

Used to call 2 parts brandee to 1 part creme de menthe on the rocks an Obergut. But for the life of me now, I don't know if that was just what my dad called it hence the siblings retained the name or if that is a real drink name in those parts. Good for cold nights. Think nyquil.

 

[pjj2ba]

Marketing too! Now there is a French vodka (Ciroc) made from grapes and sold at a premium price. I believe this would basically be pre-Brandy (or Grappa). So rather than distilling the product and then aging it in Oak casks to pick up flavors and earn the name brandy, just go ahead and bottle it, give it a fancy name, do some marketing and then charge extra for it.

 

[zoebisch01]

Marketing too! Now there is a French vodka (Ciroc) made from grapes and sold at a premium price. I believe this would basically be pre-Brandy (or Grappa). So rather than distilling the product and then aging it in Oak casks to pick up flavors and earn the name brandy, just go ahead and bottle it, give it a fancy name, do some marketing and then charge extra for it.

Lol, sad but true! Grappa, I haven't had that in a loooong time. We used to make those Grappa + Espresso drinks when my brother and I ran the restaurant.

 

[olllllo]

I can't do the Brandy Manhatten. Has to be Whiskey.
Anytime I go to an old man bar or VFW post, I order a Brandy Old Fashion.






Cus I need to establish my cred with homies.

 

[zoebisch01]

I can't do the Brandy Manhatten. Has to be Whiskey.
Anytime I go to an old man bar or VFW post, I order a Brandy Old Fashion.

Speaking of Manhattan's that was my Grandfather's daily drink. One a day at lunch time. Ponjola he called it lol, course he did grow up in Manhattan.

 

[olllllo]

Speaking of Manhattan's that was my Grandfather's daily drink. One a day at lunch time.

That's exactly where I picked up the habit. He had the same schedule as well. Different times I guess. I would gladly wear a fedora to work to bring that custom back!!

 

[Cheesefood]

I love Manhattan's. Can't remember when I had my first, but man do I love them. I'm a big-time bourbon lover.

Ciroc vodka is AWESOME.

It's amazing how distilling techniques have improved over the years. The stuff that's bein produced now is dramatically better than the stuff 10 years ago.

 

[cha ngo]

why is it that brandy is cheaper than the equivalent quality of bourbon?

Is it because brandy sucks?

 

[God Emporer BillyBrew]

Kinda ot but related...isn't it funny how Tequila used to be so little known and you had like 3 brands: Mezcal, Dos Dedos and usually some other thing. Once it became 'the thing to drink' a few years back (and then fell off) you saw like 15 to 20 brands. The top shelf stuff is 40$ and up usually.

Jose has been there for a long time, also. I don't remember Dos Dedos but definitely remember the Mezcal. I remember the cheap choice in Oklahoma about 18 years ago was two fingers.

I have to say though, I've enjoyed those other flavors coming into play. That $25.00 bottle of Sauza Hornitos has made it worth drinking Tequila again. Only now and then mind you, but it's not as poisonous tasting as Jose. The hangovers seem a little milder also.

D@mn, why does To-kill-ya F you up so bad?