Why is brandy going away?

[robr]

When I was a kid in hs and college, I was a great reader of 19th century novels. In them, characters were always drinking brandy. Even in my parents generation I remember brandy as an important adult beverage. There were even mixed drinks that were made with it (the Brandy Manhattan). Now I seem to never hear about it.

Any ideas why it's not so popular any more? Also, what is it? Is the word "brandy" a kind of generic for any fortified wine based liquor?