Cognac

The French Connection of Brandy.

Welcome to our Cognac section, which you may notice is very similar to our Brandy section. Wondering why? It’s because for the most part, both spirits are the same exact thing. The major difference is that Cognac can only be called such if it is made in Cognac, France. Anything else is a brandy spirit. Yes, the French are very particular about this sort of thing. Cognac is typically made from grapes (wine) and has minimum aging requirements, in contrast to brandy which can be any fruit and can be unaged.

Cognac typically comes in three common grades:

V.S. (Very Special): Also known as “three stars” designates a blend that has been cask stored for at least two years.

V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale): Also known as Reserve or “five stars” designates a blend that has been cask stored for at least four years.

X.O. (Extra Old): Also known as Napoleon indicates a blend that has been cask stored for at least six years.

Cognac Recipes