Brandy (short for brandywine, from Dutch brandewijn - distilled wine) is a general term for distilled wine, usually 60-80% alcohol by volume.
It is also used to indicate spirits distilled from other fruit, for instance plum brandy.
The European Union legally enforces Cognac as the exclusive name for brandy produced and distilled in the Cognac area of France, and Armagnac from the Armagnac area of France, using traditional techniques.
Brandy is the stage name of R&B singer and actress Brandy Norwood.
