After the blending of the brandies, and Alteration which have already been described, the brandies are left for a long while before they are placed in bottles.

Unfortunately, it has become a very common practice to imitate great age by adding burnt sugar to brandies comparatively young. There is, of course, no objection whatever to the addition of a small quantity of burnt sugar to a brandy on account of health. There is a very serious objection to the deception which it practises upon the eye of the consumer.

Many of the brandies are sold while still young, or at least some of the constituents of the blend are young brandies having a harsh taste. In order to modify this taste, more or less sugar is added to the brandy. The same remark may be made in regard to the sugar as is made respecting the caramel or burnt sugar - it is not objectionable on account of itself, but only because it may conceal inferiority by masking the taste of a brandy which is too young.