Known as "Lourinhac" for its similarity to French cognac and armagnac, a "niche" Portuguese fruit brandy made in Lourinha, just north of Lisbon, is seeking to find its place in the highly competitive spirits market. Techniques for making the tipple first made their way to Portugal during 19th-century French invasions, and have since gone "from strength to strength", says Jorge Humberto, President of the Lourinha Winemaking Cooperative. While Portugal's brandy production is only a fraction of France's output, Humberto says their barrel-aged, mahogany-coloured spirit is proving popular abroad, especially in China. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES