Since 1889, our Sonoma County winery has been producing award-winning California brandy. Handcrafted in small batches at our artisan distillery using only the finest California grapes, Korbel California brandy is masterfully aged to perfection in premium oak barrels – fire charred and mellowed to achieve a golden amber color, rich butterscotch aroma, and extra smooth taste.
Handcrafted in small batches, Korbel Gold Reserve VSOP is aged exclusively in premium oak barrels – resulting in its dark, elegant character. Deep, rich, complex flavors of smoke, butterscotch and oak fill the mouth, leading to a long lingering finish.
This vanilla-citrus infused premium brandy is slow barrel aged and expertly handcrafted from the finest vanilla, natural orange essence, and fragrant spices and is balanced with a hint of pure cane sugar for a distinctively smooth, exotic taste.
In 1889, Francis Korbel proudly oversaw the construction of his first still. The still was built inside a brick tower which still stands today as part of the historic Korbel Champagne Cellars in Sonoma County, California. Korbel 12 celebrates Francis’ legacy with a rare, limited production California brandy. This handcrafted brandy is distilled in a copper-lined still similar to the one used by Francis in 1889. Aged for at least 12 years in fine, hand-built Appalachian oak barrels, Korbel 12 offers brandy lovers the ultimate in smoothness, richness and concentrated brandy flavor.
Korbel 18 is a blend of brandies produced by two distinct distillation methods, and the blend is an incredibly subtle and complex marriage of flavors. The richness, vanilla and butterscotch notes of the French oak-aged Alambic brandy blend well with the spicy and lively fruit characters of the whiskey barrel-aged, column distilled brandy to create a true luxury brandy.
Korbel 25 is the oldest ultra-premium brandy in Korbel’s portfolio. Korbel 25 is distilled in a copper-lined “triple effect” column still. The distillation process is exactly the same as for our Korbel Classic Brandy. The real essence of Korbel 25 is of course in the aging. It is aged for over 25 years in older 52-gallon American oak whiskey barrels. Older barrels are specifically selected so that the flavors extracted from the barrels do not overwhelm the subtle character of the brandy. This results in a lighter colored brandy that lets the flavor of the wine it was distilled from shine.
1 1⁄2 oz Korbel California Brandy
2 dashes Angostura® Bitters
1 tsp. Sugar / simple sugar
1 Orange slice
Top off With lemon-lime soda
1 Cherry
Muddle the sugar with the bitters and orange slice in the bottom of an old-fashioned glass. Add Korbel California Brandy and some ice cubes. Stir and garnish with orange slice and cherry.
1 oz Korbel California Brandy
1 oz Triple Sec
1 oz Fresh lemon juice
Combine ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into martini glass frosted with sugar rim. Garnish with lemon twist.
1 oz Korbel California Brandy
1⁄2 oz Dry Vermouth
1⁄2 oz Sweet Vermouth
1 Cherry
Shake with ice, strain into cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry.
As a young man in Europe, Francis Korbel participated in the stormy Bohemian Revolution of 1848. For taking part in this uprising, Francis was captured and imprisoned but escaped from jail one day by calmly walking out an unlocked gate – wearing civilian clothes brought to him by his mother and smoking a cigar.
Francis fled Bohemia for New York, where he learned the fine art of cigar making. Captivated by the stories of the California Gold Rush, he moved to San Francisco and opened a storefront repairing cigar boxes with his brothers Joseph and Anton. Eventually, the Korbels found opportunity in the booming lumber business and opened a sawmill in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County with their youngest brother, Winsel.
The Korbel brothers discovered that the climate of the Russian River Valley was similar in nature to the French Champagne region and was ideal for fine winemaking. Paying homage to his European heritage and devoted to producing only the best, Francis Korbel mastered the art of producing finely handcrafted brandies while also creating premium California champagnes using the traditional méthode champenoise.
In 1889, seven years after the debut of his champagne, Francis Korbel began shipping his premium Korbel California brandy. By the turn of the century, Korbel was internationally known as an award-winning brandy.
Korbel California brandies continue to be honored for their exceptional quality at international tasting competitions.
With over 130 years of expertise, Korbel has created a collection of exquisite California brandies that have warmth and refined character with a rich golden color and hint of amber. These premium California brandies have been masterfully crafted and slowly barrel-aged for a smooth finish that is pure indulgence.
Experts agree. Two-time gold medal winner and winner of the Critics Award, Korbel California brandy is unique. Meticulously hand-selected, 100% California grapes, small batch artisan distilling, handcrafted oak barrel aging, and skillful blending and bottling make Korbel California brandy distinct. Korbel’s expertise and quest for perfection are the reasons why it is the only major U.S. brandy maker that still maintains total control over the production process.
It takes years to craft the perfect brandy.
For over a century, Korbel California brandy has been artistically aged to be the best expression of a true California brandy.
Brandy is one of the most indulgent and versatile brown spirits because of its unique flavor profiles. Easily mixed in some of the most innovative and contemporary cocktails, enjoyed straight-up or on the rocks, every drop of Korbel California brandy is designed to indulge your senses.
Korbel brandy is an 80 proof spirit that is distilled from premium Californian grapes and slow barrel-aged for many years until our master distiller determines it has achieved its rich aroma and desired smoothness. The origin of brandy is a mystery, though historic evidence suggests it may date back to ancient Babylon.
Brandy as we know it, evolved in Europe between the 12th and 16th centuries. The name brandy originated from the Dutch word Brandewijn, which means “burnt wine” and refers to the heat needed for distillation.
All cognac is brandy, but not all brandy can be Korbel California brandy.
Where cognac is traditionally spicier and a bit harsher, Korbel California brandy focuses on the fruit. Its California style gives it more freedom to be well-balanced and much “smoother” than cognac.
All cognacs (and armagnacs) are in fact brandy. The difference being that cognac is a brandy that is produced only in the Cognac region of France while armagnac is produced in the Armagnac region of Gascony.
