With the stream of holiday products flooding stores this time of year, it could be easy to overlook a cool-weather classic, like brandy—though that would be a big mistake. The season’s quintessential go-to spirit, no other category provides a bigger bounty of pleasures than brandy. You can look anywhere in the world to find a unique style, and yet—from warming Cognac to sultry Armagnac, decadent fruit brandies and more—even the rarest and most extraordinary bottles remain within reach. So grab a snifter and see what centuries of refinement can bring to your winter’s evenings.