Brandy is Dandy

Gosh, where have I been all my life? I am just now being initiated into the world of brandy. It's a wide world, seemingly. From what I can discern, most liqeurs are brandies, and then you have the Armagnac, cognac, Pisco and my favorite, Calvados. A brandy is a distilled wine, or distillate of fermented fruits such as apples, pears, berries, etc.
Brandy has been around for almost as long as wine. It is a handy method of preserving wines, and honing them down to their essence. The spirit has been used medicinally, and also put to great effect in the culinary world. I first fell for Armagnac in Lee Zucker's dynamite Armagnac cake; a spice cake soaked in the famous brandy from northern France. Delicious. Yet, even more satisfying is a nice shot of Calvados, a double distilled apple brandy, also from northern France. This stuff is serious: 80 proof, with a rich flavor, a smooth mouth feel, and insight into the heart of the apple.
I'm not sure why brandy is so overlooked in this country. Aside from black people, and some high fallutin' types, I hardly ever sell much at my bar. I hope this is isn't taken as racist, but I've noticed that black folks love Cognac, and it appears in many rap songs. It is also huge in Asia, and Europe, as an after dinner drink. The Europeans prefer theirs warm, while the Asians drink it on the rocks. Maybe Americans just need to be educated. It makes a great mixer, or a simply wonderful way to close a meal.