Brandy Tasting 101
April 2025 • Hong Kong
Introductory workshop on Cognac and Armagnac production, aging, and evaluation techniques. Designed for beginners, this session demystifies the world of brandy and provides practical tasting skills.
← Back to EventsEvent Overview
Hosted at United Spirits’ tasting room in Central, this workshop welcomed newcomers to the world of brandy. Led by a certified brandy educator, the session covered the history of Cognac and Armagnac, the distillation process, and the impact of aging on flavor. Guests sampled three expressions, learning how to evaluate color, aroma, and taste.
Key Highlights
The highlight was a “nose training” exercise, where guests identified common aromas found in brandy, such as vanilla, oak, dried fruit, and spice. The educator also demonstrated how to read a brandy’s label to understand its age and origin. Guests received a branded tasting notebook and a set of aroma cards to continue their education at home.
Featured Products
The tasting featured these expressions:
- Honney Conti VSOP Classic - The entry point, aged 4 years in French oak
- Honney Conti Napoleon VSOP - A step up, with more complexity and depth
- Honney Conti XO Royal - The pinnacle, aged 20+ years, for comparison
Future Initiatives
United Spirits will launch a “Brandy Academy” series, with monthly workshops on different aspects of brandy appreciation. The next session, “The Art of Blending,” will explore how master blenders create signature expressions. A digital “Brandy Aroma Wheel” will also be developed, allowing users to explore and identify flavors in their favorite brandies.