The Grand Finale

After-dinner drinks have always been popular in America. Now, with our new desire to end a meal less heavily, Cognac, Armagnac, fruit brandies, or eaux-de-vie brandies made from grape pomace such as marc and grappa are replacing fruit liqueurs in popularity.

A true fruit brandy, or eau-de-vie, must be distilled entirely from the fruit itself; the result is a dry, often colorless liquid whose aroma bursts forth from the uncorked bottle. It’s almost as if you’ve been transported to an orchard or a berry field.