Cocktail Chemistry: How Brandy Is Made

DNews takes a closer look at the science behind your cocktail, with a tour of St. George Spirits - an amazing San Francisco area distillery. We uncover surprising details about how apple brandy is made from start to finish.
St. George Spirits:
www.stgeorgespi...
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[@jackriley9673]

Very knowledgeable distiller, I like the inclusion of the chemistry side of things.

[@michaelbauers8800]

This is a really informative video. Clearly explained, and has some actual detail to it ( most videos of this sort keep it pretty general - and I have watched a lot of these.) Props!

[@H0mN1H]

"Shark important?" "What shark?" Hahaha so random lol

[@monkeyonfire13]

That man is a master of his craft! I usually dont like brandy but i will have to try it.

[@robertmcgovern8850]

Been dipping into brandy of late, and you can see how it used to be rated a foolproof restorative. Hypothermic? Give him brandy. Fainted? Small brandy and water. It really does impart a feeling of cozy well-being, without the burning of grain alcohol or the (for me) headaches of red wines.

[@Rise7]

I bought their brandy-based absinthe (best of both worlds?) and it was wonderful. St. George makes good stuff, and it's cool to see more about them here.

[@phoenix21studios]

the barrels on the bottom end up ageing faster and are sold as a cheaper brand and the stuff in the middle is typically the more expensive batch. This is because hot air is in the top of the building and cooler air is in the bottom.

[@acarboni]

Yep- from the time you start, it takes two years to get one batch. St. George's makes some other spirits, too, so it always has product coming out. They're actually very famous for their absinthe.

[@Omnihil777]

01:10 60° Fahrenheit is 15,5° Celsius or 288,7° Kelvin or 12,4° Reaumur, just FYI. You're welcome.

[@tonyamott8231]

im watchin this buzzin and i actually payed more attention to it and got 90% of the vid.

[@jonesnj07]

+Tony Amott literally same, being buzzed lets me ignore distractions much better lol

[@tonyamott8231]

Rite?! how weird dat works

[@gordontang9640]

+Tony Amott woah it does

[@acarboni]

Lance mentions that the ones at St George's are made of French oak- but barrels can be made of any wood or even steel- the oak is preferred for its characteristics, though.

[@LynneSkysong]

He said at one point that the brandy ages for a minimum of 2 years and then at the end of the vid mentioned it aging for 5 years, but didn't go into the difference. From my drinking experience I would guess that the longer aged brandy has a more developed flavor and costs more too. I would love to know more about the finer details of aging.

[@adesquaredd]

Hearing some of that old Bytejacker music put a HUGE smile on my face. Nice touch, there, Anthony.

[@WhyDoesMyCodeNotCompile]

Wow they even got those special german distallation units, those things are a thing of beauty

[@hkved8997]

This is what doing something which you are passionate about👏👏👏

[@willbeckey7745]

i just started watching this after polishing off a tasty beer, i think that science wants me to drink more. *glug glug glug*

[@ThePolishWarlord]

FOR SCIENCE!

[@jessilmathew9867]

@Will Beckey..... What is that glass apparatus he uses @ 5:00 ???

[@iplantfruits827]

I drank a 750 ml bottle of Tanduay Light yesterday and another about 800 ml of Tanduay 5 years its rum the lights there were 3 of us that finished it then another 2 guys helped me finish the 5 years which was leftover from a liter bottle that I left in the freezer for 5 days I drank my bottles back to back and I was flying cheers guys to finding a cure for covid and for having a wife and kids and still having 9 girlfriends at the same time when I get married so cheers.

[@iblesbosuok]

This is absolutely fine art. Cheers from Indonesia

[@Eclipsefmin09]

Wow, I really liked this video. I have a whole new respect for this kind of brandy.

[@CO2Junkie]

So now I really could go for a glass of apple brandy.

[@award8296]

A True Professional

[@ashtongrist]

One one hand I want to know how brandy is made and yet really don't want to sit through another exuberant episode of DNEWS.

[@stevielaurence1625]

My best friend bought me a bottle of their absinthe for my 21st bday. it was really good. i want to try their brandy. brandy is my favorite!

[@NamesRito]

inoculate. learned a word today

[@wisedrinker1412]

Wow, I really liked this video. Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@cocktailsbartender9712]

Can u make videos about history of Brandy and all brand of Brandy and about congnac and Armagnac.

[@sandwitht6264]

beautiful

[@chaoschashiro]

lol is the shark importent? what shark?

[@karafeek3621]

He's thought is maybe whale?

[@swishask8875]

😂

[@ChaosImperial]

Love for APPLE BRANDY!

[@johnnie2638]

I'm giving a 'like' just for the shark. Oh, yeah, & everything else was cool too.

[@allensturdivant3044]

What shark?

[@BrandyBVB13]

I just watched this because it had my name in it lol. Really interesting, though. :)

[@MaxsCognacReview]

Interesting Video!

[@Aciel-]

I wish I was 21. That apple brandy really looked good.

[@Maestro-gh2ei]

21 yet bro?

[@TheHeroicNinja]

I feel so thirsty. Not cause of the wine but because I love apple juice XD

[@Marcownz747]

If I wasn't a professional vintner, I'd think this guy was really super knowledgeable, but the strain he listed for his yeast... EC-1118. It's a homebrewer yeast strain made by lalvin. There's also no such thing as "Champagne yeast". Any yeast that can survive a 12% abv solution can be used to make champagne. The process of making champagne is more important than the yeast. "Champagne yeast" is just a marketing term people use when selling yeast to home brewers to give them ideas of lavishness and bubbles. Fact is, most yeast can do that. One could make the argument that Saccharomyces Bayanus is a wine making strain, and Saccharomyces Cerevisiae is an ale strain... but most people don't accept this due to the fact that Bayanus is a cross species... and that most Bayanus strains have been found to actually be Cerevisiae. EC-1118 is one of those strains. It's a strain that is equally usable in breads, ales, or any wines.

[@Ryan-vn7de]

Quick question, and I have no idea what i'm talking about. Why does he use the EC-1118 strain? Is it cheaper is bulk or does it work well with the apples he's using? Is there another strain that would work better with the apples in your opinion?

[@jbolo5378]

30 seconds in and i new this guy was a tool. Master distiller, my ass. He throws out those names and numbers just to "wow you with bullshit". What a joke. This guy sounds like he just read his first moonshine book and thinks he knows everything. Lance looks gay too,btw

[@jamesgurnett7922]

This is not correct. EC-1118 is commonly used by many commercial cideries, it's popular because it has a vigorous and reliable fermentation. It's also used when bottle conditioning Champagne/Cider as it produces desirable flavours when aging on a bottle's lees. It's also easier to riddle off as it's not as sticky as other yeasts and won't stick to the side of the bottle.

[@cutlerylover]

@@jamesgurnett7922 I would agree as an amateur mead maker I much prefer my heavy active "champagne" yeast for an extra dry finish where I can get top ABV % but back sweeten as desired later...standard wine yeast I have used did nothing of the sort for me and I ended up with a semi sweet mead instead...

[@unorthodoxromance254]

Brandy is not consumed as much in the US today as it was 200 or so years ago. That said, it’s necessary for cherries jubilee and steak Diane.

[@darklordofapathy]

This is the same company that makes the best absinthe ever!

[@warrencmarglin2413]

Originaly brandy was created from distilling wine since this distillery ferments the fruit first before distilling they can kind of skip over the wine making part.

[@maxburton22]

I wanna see more videos like this!

[@tootired76]

My question answered. Some tweaking is involved with distilling so you don't get pure ethanol

[@chapterblaq]

What is wild yeast? So is that why people say wine tastes like different fruits and spices even though its made from grapes?

[@MadMaxxieXD]

Ugh I want some brandy now... But it's like 3pm... Soon lol.

[@le2001]

Going To Visit This Weekend! =D

[@Gadtkaz]

So there was an ad that played on this obviously I'd be pissed. BUT THE VOICE OVER WAS MORGAN FREEMAN.

[@vukranian]

at 6:23 who says "wow" Lance or Anthony, and if it was Lance then that means he was surprised by his own brandy XD

[@johncrabapple1563]

awesome!

[@elamorro]

I don't like alchol beverages but this video just made me think differently

[@nataleerobson]

Go for it, who's gonna know?

[@maxburton22]

since it's got to age does that mean that each place that makes brandy has a two year long period it takes them to start producing brandy? im so confused by that little detail.

[@jhsr4827]

The title should be How Apple Brandy is Made, not sure what the legal definition is in the US, here in Europe Brandy is distilled from Wine, which means it comes from grapes only.

[@oGERONIMOo]

great video.. can you reuse the barells?

[@Didacmmv]

Well if they said alcohol decomposes the wood barrel insides I'll guess not

[@gjg3783]

oGERONIMOo Depends on the use... Many distillers use barrels very few times, as Didac mentions. Wine makers may get more uses out of them. Some beer brewers use spent barrels from the other industries as it will impart flavors of the liquor previously stored in them into the beer. Side note, as barrels are highly porous, they will house yeast and other organisms and inoculate future batches of beer. Beer makers either dread this method of inoculation or invite it.

[@MarlinKeim]

I want to go on a tour and ask "Shark important?" and see if they catch on.

[@VlPER24]

Now I want to taste it ..

[@nikiichan]

hmm REALLY want to try that now o-o

[@viziuz64]

se ve delicioso, it looks delicious

[@acarboni]

Okay!

[@kuldeepchand846]

Nice to learn from someone who knows his shit.

[@Carmeezy]

cool

[@rociosilverroot2261]

My brandy tastes like raisin.

[@CAepicreviews]

Just Make The Jerky, Eat the Jerky With Vodka. Simplicity is key.

[@LynneSkysong]

I know you're allowed to served alcohol in a restaurant when your 19 and your parents are allowed to give you alcohol (in Ohio, USA). My guess would be that as long as you don't drink it underage, it wouldn't be illegal. But I'm not 100% sure.

[@Dazart]

what was it about?

[@Rickrealdeal]

no more vodka or whiskey, brandy is what i want do my palate

[@Poodleinacan]

At least, no hot pepper were marinating in the vodka!

[@shadow0116957]

Link to song please?

[@allenwright4007]

I don't always drink brandy, But when I do... I do it with random sharks.

[@ArpitSharma12690]

Are those barrels made of some special kind of wood? They enhance the taste of the brandy so I guess any barrel won't do.

[@charlynnaquimen2072]

Where do you see the symbol of aging brandy?

[@bilpayne]

It will be labels with VS VSOP XO with VS aged 2 years and XO over 5 years

[@TheRSLake]

Oak, usually.

[@Gadtkaz]

I'm pretty sure it was a car commercial

[@ktmidol]

I still boggle between the difference between whiskey and brandy.

[@WinchesterLock]

Go for it, it'll take a few months to make homemade wine anyways so you should be in the clear.

[@phoenix21studios]

its a marathon not a sprint.

[@hsbc2468]

Is drinking on the job permitted?

[@jonesnj07]

+Bob Johnson no, it's essential

[@iplantfruits827]

Bob Johnson unless your Peter Griffin then go ahead. Only if you don’t get too drunk. 🤣

[@drewechols83]

Why did they change their name to seeker

[@AutoMotivatedTV]

Brandy is distilled wine - So by definition this is not brandy - I understand why it's cool sounding to call it brandy, but it's just not brandy - So this is then NOT how brandy is made

[@yodustin00]

interestingly dnews puts up werid drug related information when the brandy expert is giving actually interesting information. makes me wonder is all of dnews is about what message their paid to tell you with click bait.

[@ThatGuy-wz3or]

Isn't it proper etiquette to clink glasses before drinking to show your host you trust him?

[@nk11allen29]

👍

[@1012egg]

The reporter was desperate to drink the stuff too quick, didn't bother sniffing the aroma!

[@henkbalje6874]

I can never understand video editor choose to use annoying synthesizer music for background music.

[@The_Rubberneck]

So an apple brandy a day, too keeps the doctor away..

[@ryanmccuan]

Nice*

[@noshtshrlk]

Lol she didn't ask if people would know, she asked if it was legal.

[@minerlord222]

7:01 that voice crack

[@LUCIA-de5vv]

I thought brandy was made from wine

[@russellmullins8633]

wtf is wrong with ad block

[@calebcaldwell6112]

3:54🥴

... Jony Ive 2.0 makes brandy?

[@shurikenstar]

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SMELL IT FIRST!

[@2521julian]

bubbles.

[@joselpepo]

Americans make things so difficult smh. I've traveled the world and had some of the best Brandy known to humanity and believe me none of them were made with "chemistry" fire, copper, and fruits that's it.

[@bradlielennie8043]

all the gear no idea

[@Sniiigel]

That's not little.

[@daneekhoff8731]

Decent video. Turn the dumb music off

[@MrBoromir123]

Great video the distiller was really knowledgeable but the presenter was rubbish.

[@dexterkoula3407]

The distiller seems like a cool intelligent guy. Pretty sure the interviewer is gay tho tbh fam