Best brandy 2026: 10 expert-rated bottles to buy this Christmas, from £13.99

Score: 84/100

Holding its own against the big brands, Sainsbury’s XO Cognac is aged for a minimum of 10 years, resulting in notes of brown butter, hazelnut, candied almond and vanilla. With a long-lasting toasted finish, it’s a rather nice way of rounding off any meal.

Score: 83/100

In a close second place, this Cognac is frankly outrageous value. Whether you're using it to flambé desserts or enjoying it in a hot toddy, it displays sweet and spicy notes with caramelised fruit flavours.

Score: 81/100

Proving that Spanish brandy deserves a place on your drinks trolley, this gran reserva is aged in old sherry casks, adding a delicious fruity note to each sip – think spicy orange zest and cooked apple. Brown sugar and treacle add a deep, long-lasting sweetness, making this an excellent digestif.

Score: 81/100

As one of the biggest names in brandy, Martell’s cognac offers excellent value. Delicious on its own or in cocktails, you can expect a deceptively light, herbal nose that builds into a bold palate of leather, dried fruit and spice.

Vanilla and cinnamon sugar add balance, but it’s the spiciness that shines through here.

Score: 79/100

From the well-established Spanish wine brand, Torres, comes this top-quality Spanish brandy, aged in American oak. The enticing liquid is bursting with warming spice, alongside notes of caramelised vine fruit, orange zest, almonds and vanilla. A fabulous all-rounder.

Score: 79/100

Rather modestly, this brand has given itself seven stars, but did our panel agree? Well, they may not have scored it quite so highly; however, they found this brandy rich and powerful, yet easy drinking, with more than a whiff of Werther’s Original about it. With that in mind, we’d serve it alongside a sticky toffee pudding.

Score: 77/100

Based in Walthamstow, London, Burnt Faith is Britain’s first ever brandy distillery. Rather excitingly, this is a blend of trebbiano, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and muscat blanc grapes, which are aged in bourbon, cognac, cherry liqueur and fortified wine casks.

The result? A palate filled with notes of caramelised apple pie, hints of orange peel and a delicious spicy depth from the oak ageing. This British brandy would make a truly stunning gift, for the drinks connoisseur in your life.

Score: 77/100

With rich layers of toffee, honey and coffee, alongside a touch of spice, Morrisons’ own-brand bottle easily holds its own against the big brands. Our panel enjoyed the smooth texture, and warm finish, making it a great buy this Christmas.

Score: 75/100

Like Christmas cake in a glass, this brandy is packed with dried vine fruit, almonds and gentle spice. Our testers described it as an easy-drinking pour, with a super smooth texture and warm finish.

Score: 74/100

Iceland might not be the first place you'd think to buy a bottle of brandy, but this one is a pleasant surprise. Bursting with dried fruit, caramel and vanilla, it tastes remarkably like a mince pie in a glass. Smooth, approachable and well-priced, it's an easy bottle to reach for over the festive season.

• Vecchia Romagna Etichetta Nera Brandy, £29.50 for 70cl, Score: 74/100
• Tesco Finest Xo Brandy, £19.50 for 70cl, Score: 73/100
• Bardinet VSOP Brandy, £16.50 for 70cl, Score: 72/100
• BEST VALUE: Lidl Reverie Finest French Brandy XO, £13.99 for 70cl, Score: 72/100
• Soberano 5 Brandy, £19.50 for 70cl, Score: 71/100
• Waitrose No.1 Cognac VSOP, £32, Score: 71/100
• Courvoisier VSOP Cognac Brandy, £26.20 for 70cl, Score: 70/100
• St Remy Signature French Brandy, £31.35 for 70cl, Score: 70/100
• Ferrand 10 Generations Cognac, £41.95 for 50cl, Score: 70/100

What does VSOP mean for brandy?

VSOP stands for “very superior old pale” and means the youngest brandy in the blend has been aged for at least four years.

Is VSOP or XO better?

While a VSOP cognac must be aged for a minimum of four years, an XO or “extra old” cognac requires a minimum of 10 years (up from six years, as of 2018). However, this legally only applies to cognac and armagnac, so you’ll still find the term used widely on other French brandy to demonstrate that it's “extra old”.

Like the best whisky, older expressions are often considered “better”, but as with anything, it comes down to your personal preference.

The best brandy cocktails

While brandy is delicious served neat at room temperature, or on the rocks (a balloon-shaped glass works best for serving), it’s also excellent in cocktails.

Try a classic serve such as the brandy alexander (cognac, crème de cacao, and cream) or the sidecar with Cointreau and lemon. We also like it in this honey and pear brandy old-fashioned, for a fun twist on the whisky-based cocktail.