Cardenal Mendoza is a Brandy De Jerez made in the sherry capital of Jerez, Spain. It comes from one of Spain’s oldest sherry bodegas, Sánchez Romate, which was established in 1781 by Juan Sánchez de la Torre and is one of the few remaining family-owned firms. The brandy was first created for the family’s own consumption, and is named for the 15th century cardinal who was counsel to King Ferdinand II and helped arrange Columbus’s voyage to the New World. This brandy is made from alquitars of the best "holandas" (a type of fortifying spirit) and is aged according to the traditional solera y criaderas system. The casks previously held Oloroso and Perdo Ximénez sherries. They form part of one of the largest Solera Gran Reserva cellars in Jerez. Mención Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra: “Los trabajos”, original de Javier Izcue Argandoña, de Pamplona. Behind every bottle, there is a team that puts a huge effort into producing our brandy. This song, Ana’s version of the classic David Bowie song Heroes, is dedicated to each and every one of them who makes Cardenal Mendoza a unique and special product. To all of them, thank you!

Cardenal Mendoza Clásico is an exceptional Brandy de Jerez, aged for an average of 15 years in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry Wine casks. It is then aged dynamically in the traditional system known as criaderas and soleras also used for Sherry production. The barrels used, known as “botas”, are made from American oak with a capacity of 600 litres and have been seasoned with various types of Sherry. This allows for great variation of style in the finished brandy.

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Brandy de Jerez, or “sherry brandy,” is a type of brandy that is made in Jerez, Spain and aged in the solera style in ex-sherry casks. It enjoys Protected Designation of Origin status in the E.U. and is certified by Spain’s Brandy de Jerez Regulatory Council, whose logo appears on every authentic bottling. Around 20 bodegas currently produce Brandy de Jerez according to the council’s guidelines.

La vuelta que le han dado Edwin y Laura al Cardenal Mendoza realza el sabor del brandy con su sirope de cereza casero.Nebulis es el resultado de un segundo envejecimiento de Cardenal Mendoza Clásico de 15 años en barricas de 250 litros sometidas a un tostado intenso con sarmientos de nuestras viñas en Jerez. En nariz se observa una evolución gradual, las suaves notas ahumadas iniciales ganan intensidad con el tiempo. En boca el brandy se ensambla con notas picantes de tabaco fresco y el ahumado elegante del sarmiento, invitando a repetir la experiencia. En 1887, la familia Sánchez Romate empieza a elaborar un brandy para consumo privado. Su calidad impulsa pronto una fama creciente y la bodega decide comercializarlo con el nombre de Cardenal Mendoza. El primer Cardenal Mendoza a quien nuestro brandy hace referencia, fue D. Pedro González de Mendoza (1423-1495), personaje histórico central en la España del siglo XV. Como consejero de los Reyes Católicos, contaba con la total confianza de la Reina Isabel, interviniendo decisivamente en el apoyo al primer viaje de Cristóbal Colon y jugando un papel decisivo en la unificación de España. Brandy de Jerez has been around since the XVI century and almost certainly longer. It was also popular with the Dutch, and to this day the best spirits are called “holandas”. Unlike the French brandies, it is distilled from wine made from the Airén grape in both pot stills (alquitaras) and column stills depending on the quality required. Cardenal Mendoza Clásico proved unlike any brandy I’d had before. It retains some of the pleasing hotness and round, robust character brandies are identified with, but adds extra layers of flavor thanks to the notes of dark, sweet fruits and dry spices added through the aging process. If you’ll forgive me for trotting out a tired cliche, it’s a bit of a “you got peanut butter in my chocolate/you got chocolate in my peanut butter” scenario, only for brandy and sherry instead.

In-person activities for Golden Week included 20 tastings in the USA. These took place in department stores and specialised shops with promotions.

There was also a Cardenal Mendoza-themed VIP party with 150 key influencers and journalists, focusing on the new Cardenal Mendoza design, with a Halloween touch. The cardenal Mendoza Brandy is a brandy of surpassing beauty and subtlety, and while I have no doubt it is good value for money, I can not help but say that it costs a lot to be so good, this brandy is just shy of the 50% mark (though it is not the most expensive in my current line up). The name of the brand is less than subtle, and I wonder if the distillers are hoping that once you have tasted the brand, you will be “satisfied” with it and not want to spend such money again.