About Brandy

• Brandy (derived from brandywine, from Dutch brandewijn—'burnt wine) is a general term for distilled wine, usually 40–60% ethyl alcohol by volume. In addition to wine, this spirit can also be made from grape, pomace, or fermented fruit juice. Unless specified otherwise, brandy is made from grape wine. It is normally consumed as an after-dinner drink. Brandy made from wine is generally coloured with caramel coloring to imitate the effect of long aging in wooden casks; pomace and fruit brandies are generally drunk unaged, and are not usually coloured.
  
  
• Brandy Labels
  Brandy has a rating system to describe its quality and condition, these indicators can usually be found near the brand name on the label.
  A.C.  : aged 2 years in wood.
  V.S.  : "Very Special" or 3-Star, aged at least 3 years in wood.
  V.S.O.P.  : "Very Special Old Pale" or 5-Star, aged at least 5 years in wood.
  X.O.  : "Extra Old", Napoleon or Vieille Reserve, aged at least 6 years, Napoleon at least 4 years.
  Vintage  : Stored in the cask until the time it is bottled with the label showing the vintage date.
  Hors D'age: : These are too old to determine the age, although 10 years plus is typical, and are usually of great quality.
  
  This information and more found at Wikipedia