Do you need to shake a bottle of brandy before opening mix the alcohol?

Here's why:

* Brandy is aged in wood barrels, which naturally creates a small amount of sediment. This sediment, called "lees," settles at the bottom of the bottle.

* Shaking the bottle would stir up the sediment, making it more likely to end up in your glass. This can affect the flavor and appearance of the brandy.

* It's best to gently decant the brandy if you want to avoid any sediment. This involves slowly pouring the brandy into a decanter, leaving the sediment behind in the original bottle.

However, if you're using a very old or particularly aged brandy, there might be a slightly higher chance of sediment. In that case, you could gently swirl the bottle to mix the brandy and encourage the sediment to settle. But, it's always best to err on the side of caution and avoid shaking it vigorously.