Brandy, aged over many years, is often revered as the “Water of Life.” The cellars where it rests are poetically known as “Heaven.” After more than six years of maturation in oak barrels, the finest portion is hailed as the “Noble of Spirits.” The French affectionately call it “The Angel Left Behind on Earth.”
The internationally renowned wine critic Nicholas Faith from the United States, in his book Cognac: The Story of the World’s Greatest Brandy, wrote:
“Distillation itself is a fascinating process. Yet the yield is remarkably small—out of 2,500 liters of base wine, Hennessy extracts only 68 liters of distillate, while Martell obtains 72 liters.”
We, too, select only the heart of the spirit.
After distillation, the brandy must be aged in oak barrels.
Due to evaporation, approximately 5% is lost each year.
Over a six-year aging period, at least 30% of the original volume disappears — and that’s not even accounting for losses during other stages of production.
Litchi — A Rare Gem of Lingnan, Steeped in Legend
Litchi, also known as “li zhi” (literally “leaving the branch”), is a treasured fruit of southern China with a history as vibrant as its flavor. Once picked, it is notoriously difficult to preserve:
“One day changes its color, two days its taste, and by the third, both fragrance and flavor are gone.”
It is also the fruit with the most occurrences of the character “力” (strength) in its Chinese strokes—symbolizing its rich nutritional value. For centuries, it was revered as a tribute fruit reserved for the imperial court.
Legend has it that during the Tang Dynasty, the famed beauty Yang Guifei suffered from an unpleasant body odor. It was only after bathing in litchi wine at the Huaqing Pool that her ailment was cured—thus inspiring the tale of “the drunken concubine.”
The famous line,
“A single rider in red dust—none knew it was litchi she came for,”
is just one of countless poetic tributes to this regal fruit, earning it the title “Crown Jewel of Fruits.”
Litchi’s role as an imperial delicacy dates back over 2,000 years to the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Han, when the King of Nanyue, Zhao Tuo, offered shark meat and litchi as tribute.
From its color, aroma, and taste, to its nutritional benefits and cultural legacy, litchi truly deserves its title as the “King of Fruits.”
It is this profound heritage that forms the soul of Litchi Brandy.
Selected Litchi Juice Extraction
Low-Temperature Controlled Fermentation
Charentais Double Distillation
