The range’s new presentation takes a more contemporary approach while keeping the origins of a design whose creativity is part of our winery’s legacy. The packaging update includes a renewed bottle design, featuring the faceted edges of its base.
The cork stopper keeps its red colour but gains prominence through its size, shape and the engraved coat of arms of the House of Alba. The label is now transparent, with the brand name in its near-original lettering alongside the signature of the Grand Duke of Alba himself and, although the wax seal disappears, the bottle keeps its characteristic red ribbon.
The new format gives it a special distinction, positioning it along more modern lines to adapt to current consumption trends in the spirits sector.
History of the brand
Gran Duque de Alba brandy was launched in 1945. The Bodegas Williams & Humbert agent in Madrid was a close friend of Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Falcó, 17th Duke of Alba, and, with the launch of this exclusive brandy imminent, asked him if he could name it after him. After tasting it, the aristocrat was very impressed and suggested that such a noble product would be better named after his ancestor the Grand Duke of Alba, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, who had brought greatness to the House of Alba and was an important historical figure.
In 2014, Williams & Humbert decided to update the design of the Gran Duque de Alba range so that the brandy would be associated with a contemporary, modern and vibrant category. It is worth remembering that the great internationally renowned ceramicist Antoni Cumella designed the bottle and stopper for the 1973 campaign that launched this celebrated brandy internationally.
In 2021, Williams & Humbert has renewed the design once again, hoping the final result will captivate our customers and show them the countless possibilities of this drink – ideal for relaxed after-dinner moments and grand evenings alike, excellent for slow sipping and also as the base for cocktails and long drinks.
Gran Duque de Alba brandy is the spirit of wine. Its raw material is the result of distilling good, balanced wines, and it is aged in the same way as sherry: through a complex “dynamic” system known as “criaderas y soleras”, unique to the Jerez region. This ageing system ensures that consumers always enjoy a Gran Duque de Alba brandy with the same flavour, aroma and quality.
Wood is fundamental to the ageing of Gran Duque de Alba Brandy – not only because the casks are American oak, whose porosity and ability to impart character are ideal, but above all because they have previously held one of the extraordinary sherries of Bodegas Williams & Humbert.
Gran Duque de Alba
The extraordinary characteristics of this Solera Gran Reserva Brandy are the result of the meticulous selection of its raw material. Excellent white wines from Palomino and Airén grapes and early distillation are key to the final quality of the spirits (holandas). These holandas age for 12 years in American oak casks previously seasoned with Oloroso, following the traditional Soleras y Criaderas system and with strict control of the volume drawn so that the brandy’s age remains constant.
Its mahogany colour with golden hues and complex aromas of “vinous esters”, with broad balsamic nuances, reveal its long and careful time in wood. On the palate it is slightly sweet, smooth and full, with toasted and vanilla notes and a long, pleasant finish.
Gran Duque de Alba XO
The extraordinary characteristics of this brandy come from its raw material: a combination of the soleras of Gran Duque de Alba and Gran Duque de Alba Oro. Excellence upon excellence. A very old brandy with the complexity only time can bestow. This Solera Gran Reserva ages for 15 years in American oak casks that held “Don Guido”, a renowned Pedro Ximénez with a certified age of 20 years.
A brandy of noble colour, between antique mahogany and ebony. Very bright, with an intense nose of raisins, grapes, plum and vanilla, recalling its long years of ageing. Complex and majestic on the palate, both unctuous and velvety. Intense, persistent and very long retronasal finish.
Gran Duque de Alba Oro
Gran Duque de Alba Brandy in turn becomes the raw material for Gran Duque de Alba Oro. This Solera Gran Reserva is aged for 20 years, this time in American oak casks seasoned with “Dos Cortados” Palo Cortado, a sherry with an average age of 20 years.
Between antique mahogany and ebony in colour, very bright, with an intense nose and vanilla notes from its long years of ageing. Complex and majestic on the palate, with an unctuous, velvety finish.
How to enjoy it
Brandy should be enjoyed to the drinker’s taste. The traditional balloon glass is associated with a temperature of around 20 degrees, since the shape of the glass encourages contact with the hand and so keeps it warm.
In any case, we recommend serving the brandy between 10 and 15 degrees at most. It can also be enjoyed on the rocks or in small shot glasses at close to zero degrees.
Pairing
Duque de Alba Brandy is an excellent match for cured cheeses, dark chocolate, nuts, turrón or spicy flavours such as those typical of Mexican cuisine.