How To Properly Drink Cognac
Firstly, there is no wrong way to drink cognac as long as you are enjoying it. For instance, cognac is traditionally served neat but it can also be enjoyed chilled with ice or even as part of a cocktail.
Nevertheless, there are ways that you enhance or optimise your tasting experience to really appreciate what a cognac has to offer.
Firstly, we would refrain from chilling or adding ice to cognac. Cognac is specifically hydrated from its original 70% ABV to 40% ABV in order to provide the optimal concentration that offers the best experience. As the ice melts, it dilutes the spirit.
Although some spirits such as whisky can benefit from adding water, you usually only introduce a drop to open the flavours. However, as the ice melts, it often waters it too much and dilutes the cognac until it loses its body.
Similarly, chilling a spirit slows the evaporation. Consequently, it doesnt release its aromatic compounds and also loses its flavour.
Finally, cognac is often enjoyed as a digestif after a meal. However, it is recently being appreciated as an excellent beverage for pairing with meals. Cognac is known to marry well with cheese yet younger blends can be enjoyed with charcuterie or even fish!
Otherwise, chocolate is an excellent accompaniment and we have even written extensively about pairing cigars with cognac, too!
So What Is Hennessy Made From
Hennessy is an alcoholic drink made from Ugni Blanc grapes harvested in Frances region. This drink has been distilled and matured for years in oak barrels, imparting flavors.
A spirit must fulfill extremely precise legal conditions called Cognac. These conditions include being made in Cognac, Frances wine-growing region, using certain grapes, distilling twice, and aged for years in French oak barrels .
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What Makes Cognac Special
Cognac is considered the most refined and sophisticated out of all the spirits. You can identify this exquisite spirit for its incredible bouquet and harmonious combination with power, warmth, and subtlety.
In a way, it exhibits some characteristics of other fantastic liquors, mainly wine and whiskey, but it still manages to provide unique qualities that define it as it is.
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History And Cultural Uses
Armagnac is the oldest brandy recorded to be still distilled in the world. In 1310, , a , wrote of its 40 virtues. Vital du Four was born in , in the centre of Armagnac, and was prior of , today the location of the BNIA. However, there is no evidence that he ever visited Eauze, much less that he was writing specifically about distilled from Armagnac. In the past it was consumed as other liquors for its therapeutic .
Between the 15th and 17th centuries, Armagnac was traded on the markets of , , and . Subsequently, began promoting the trade more widely and providing or financing alembics.
The first record of Armagnac distillation comes only in 1646, with the purchase of an alembic. In the following century, Armagnac was served in the palace of and by 1800, most of the Armagnac region was dedicated to the production of the brandy. In 1818, a patent for a continuous distillation alembic led to the main difference between Armagnac and Cognac, which is double distilled in batches.
The French gourmet dish has traditionally been prepared by force-feeding an before drowning it in Armagnac and roasting it. The dish is now legally prohibited due to laws protecting the bird.
Cognac Is Distilled In Special Charentais Pot Stills
Continuous distillation is prohibited in the production of Cognac. Instead, producers abide by the long-established method of double-distillation with a special kind of alembic pot still called a Charentais copper still.
The distillation starts the 1st of November and is required to be completed before the 31st of March. Cognacs aging then begins on the 1st of April following the harvest. From this date we count the age of the Cognac .
The spirit that then emerges is referred to by the French as eau-de-vie , or water of life, and has a maximum alcohol content of 72.4% ABV . At this stage, Cognac is completely transparent with very concentrated fruity peach-like aromas.
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Things Every Drinks Lover Needs To Know About Cognac
This article is part of a series sponsored by Rémy Martin. Discover Your Cognac Fine Champagne Destination here!
Unlike, vodka or bourbon, say, a bottle of Cognac might seem excessively complicated to the uninitiated. There are the random letters on the labels that somehow signify age, followed by a list of regions and departments named for other parts of France, not to mention the grape varieties and oak sourcesits a lot to take in.
You might say to yourself: Whats the point? There are so many easier things to drink.
And yet, if you talk to someone who loves Cognac, theres so much affection surrounding this storied and downright delicious spirit.
At its simplest level, Cognac is just brandy with a unique provenance and a handful rules that need to be followed. The reason sophisticates love Cognac, however, is because no other spirit so combines agriculture with history, old-world techniques with modern alchemy. The result is a spirit extremely complex, evoking not just a unique sense of place, but one of the past too.
Its worth cracking some of the code to gain a little insight into what so many find so beguiling. So take a few minutes to read up on how to decode the label and to understand where this spirit is made not only will it make Cognac a more approachable spirit, it will make it easier to enjoy as well.
Casking The Distilled Brandy
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6 The eau de vie is piped into oak casks. The casks are housed in large damp warehouses, or cooperages. The vintage, cru, and date are marked on each cask with chalk.
Generally speaking, the brandy is first stored in newer casks for periods between one and two years. The amount of time is dependent on the level of tannin that is desired. Tannin is strongest in new oak, so the brandy must possess enough character to absorb large amounts of tannin.
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Different Cognac Crus Regions
Louis XIII
As mentioned above, the cognac region is divided into separate crus, which are zones that have varying characteristics:
- Grande Champagne: Not to be confused with the sparkling wine, Grande Champagne is one of the most revered cognac crus that represents 17% of its production over a 34,703-hectare zone.
- Petite Champagne: Nearly twice as large as Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne consists of 66,000 hectares. However, only 15,000 hectares are actually used for growing cognac grapes. As Petite Champagne offers a thinner chalk substrate, it is regarded as a slightly lesser cognac cru.
- Borderies: Found slightly north of Grande Champagne, Borderies consists of 12,500 hectares that are known to age quickly compared to the above crus.
- Fins Bois: A large cru that surrounds the above three and represents as much as 42% of total cognac production. Like Borderies, it ages quickly and its limestone or clay soil produces a popular blending base spirit.
- Bons Bois: A distant growing region that produces a particular flavour.
- Bois Ordinaires: Although a large 260,000-hectare zone, just over one per cent is even used for growing cognac grapes. Its soil is somewhat poorer given the nearby coast and resulting climate.
- Bois & Terroirs: Sandy outskirts of Les Bois crus that have a distinctively sandy soil.
Gluten Carbs & Calories In Cognac
As cognac production is limited to only 1.5 grams of sugar per litre, it is a somewhat lean spirit. Indeed, a single shot should contain no more than 100 calories much like other distilled spirits like vodka or rum.
Similarly, cognac contains no carbs or fats. Additionally, as its double-distilled from wine, cognac is naturally gluten-free and perfectly fine for people with celiacs disease or any other sensitivity to the protein.
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Then We Begin The Distillation
Cognac is distilled twice in onion-shaped copper pot stills , but unlike whisky, there is a strict timetable enforced. In the Cognac region, distillation begins towards the end of November, and must be finished by 31 March the following year. Another difference is that in Cognac, there is a boiler where the wine is heated, with the vapour passing up through the still head into a condensing cooler. The spirit, known as brouillis, now has an ABV of approximately 30% and is returned to the boiler for a second distillation. The middle cut, or heart of the second distillation is then transferred to oak barrels for ageing.
How Is Cognac Made
Cognac is made by harvesting grapes in the Cognac region, usually beginning in September.
After that, the grapes are pressed and fermented for several weeks before turning into wine. This process usually yields around 8.5% to 9.5% alcohol by volume.
After being distilled twice, the resulting wine is put in copper pot stills and produces alcohol known as eau-de-vie.
After being aged in either oak barrels or limousin for at least two years, the spirit is then ready to be blended with other cognacs to create the final product. But how long does cognac last?
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Cognac Pairs Well With So Many Foods
Seriously. From seafood to chocolate, cheese and even duck, cognac is a mealtime must.
Seafood: grilled and pan-fried shellfish with chilled V.S. cognacs, for example, Lancha recommends as a pairing. Caviar , lobster and scallops work amazing with cognac, as well. Meat and charcuterie, especially for their fats, and seasoned with sea salt, can work beautiful with older cognacs. Roquefort and cheddar cheeses with V.S.O.P. is beautiful. Peking duck and other game go very well with X.O., as well as fruit, like cherries or pineapple. And of course, chocolate and cognac!
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A young cognac, like V.S., that you would put in the freezer a day before, would match perfectly with a scallop carpaccio, advises Boileau. The frozen sensation will reveal the very fresh aromas of the cognac and enhance the lingering saltiness of the scallop. A chocolate fondant with an aged cognac is the perfect finish.
Empire State Souths Thorn says, Cheese is an obvious choice, and one of my favorite pairings is a Brillat Savarin with a V.S.O.P. Chocolate and cognac are a heavenly match, especially a dark chocolate paired with an X.O. Frozen V.S. with Foie Gras or lobster are decadent indulgences that I highly recommended treating yourself to.
Adds, Tessendier: Cognac is often sidelined as an after-dinner drink, but in fact it pairs beautifully with a wide variety of dishes. Theres almost no limit to your menu choices.
What Are Some Famous Cognac Brands
If were talking about the most prestigious cognac brands here, you might want to check out Hennessy, Rémy Martin, and Courvoisier. These are some of the dominant names in the Cognac industry.
Hennessy VS or Remy Martin XO is an excellent starting point for those who want to experience the taste of cognac. If youre looking for something different and special, try Courvoisier XOor Kelt XO both worth every penny!
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The Distillation Of Wine And Creation Of Spirits
To put it in a nutshell, the distillation process aims at extracting the alcohol contained in wines to obtain spirits practically speaking, this involves heating wine up to 78.3°C which is the boiling temperature of ethanol, to separate it from water which boils-up at 100°C along with other components. Alcohol vapours will evaporate first, then cool down by passing through a condensator to regain a liquid shape. In the case of Cognac, this process is repeated twice to obtain the final product, this is the principle of double-distillation. The distillation process is completed when most of the alcohol contained in the distilled wine has been extracted, leaving nothing but wine residues behind or vinasses as is it called in the Cognac region.
Not all spirits obtained through the distillation process will make it into the final product however! Specific portions will be separated by the distiller, to be discarded or distilled yet another time. Simply put, the heads or first liters of alcohol obtained at the early stage of the distillation process and tails or last liters obtained will be cut from the spirits heart, which is the final product. This process of separating alcohol known as the cut varies depending on Distilleries tradition or the know-how of a master-distiller and often grants Cognac some very specific characteristics. To dig deeper into this subject, you can read our article about Cognac Distillation.
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So Is Hennessy Brandyand Cognac
It sure is! See, youre getting it now.
Hennessy is overwhelmingly the most popular brand of cognac in the world, accounting for almost half of overall cognac sales and production in the world. Its also an incredibly old brand, with origins reaching back all the way to 1765.
Other cognac brands of note include Remy Martin, Courvoisier, and . If youve listened to rap in the past quarter-century, youve probably heard these names dropped a lotand they are all from the same diminutive region of France. .
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What Is Cognac Made From
As mentioned above, cognac is produced using specific grapes that are natively grown in the cognac region. Although the grapes used for cognac are undrinkable as wine, they yield excellent results when distilled and aged.
Cognac only uses white grapes and a cru cognac must not contain less than 90% of the following varieties:
- Ugni Blanc: A high-yield grape also known as Saint-Emilion or Trebbiano.
- Folle Blanche: Susceptible to disease and sometimes referred to as picpoule, gros plant, and enrageant blanc.
- Colombard: An offspring of Chenin blanc and Gouais blanc wine grapes that is occasionally used for Bordeaux and Goscony wines.
Meanwhile, the following grapes can only account for up to 10% of a cru cognac:
- Follignan: A complex grape produced by crossing Ugni Blanc and Folle Blanche.
- Jurançon Blanc: Known to produce average or low-quality wines.
- Meslier St-François: Another Guoais and Chenin crossing that originated in the Loire valley.
- Sélect: An accessory grape for producing cognac.
- Montils: A rarer grape that was nearly lost to phylloxera.
- Sémillon: Usually used for producing sweet moelleux Sauternes and Barsac wines.
Cognac is a large appellation region, which is divided into smaller cru zones. If a cognac wishes to be designated as a cru from one of these zones, it must abide by the above concentrations. However, cognac labels choosing not to carry a cru name have a much greater level of flexibility when blending their creations.
How To Drink It
As a general rule of thumb, youll want to reserve older cognacs for sipping neat, with perhaps a drop or two of water to open them up. Younger cognacs are perfect for mixing and are the base of many classic cocktails, including the Sidecar, the Between the Sheets and even the original Mint Julep. Both the original French 75 and Sazerac were made with cognac before the English put their spin on the former and Phylloxera sabotaged the latters exportation, creating an American pivot to a classic homegrown spirit, rye.
If simplicity is more your thing, you can also add an ounce of cognac to a glass of Champagne or a glass of ginger ale, which is often how you’ll find the French enjoying their preferred pour. A simple highball of cognac, a splash of soda water, and some ice can also work well. Try adding a lemon wedgeor just a swath of zestfor an aromatic lift.
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What Makes These Spirits Derived From Distilled Wine Actually Differentand Also The Same
Cognac and brandy are the kinds of spirits that your grandfather and/or Fetty Wap might sip by the fire on a chilly winter eve, or guzzle posted up in a bando settin goals and talkin matchin Lambos, respectively.
Youve probably tasted both cognac and brandy, even if you dont realize it. Hell, you might be holding a bottle of Hennessy in your hand at this very moment. But chances are you dont actually know the real difference between brandy and cognac. If you did, you likely wouldnt have clicked into this article that very clearly promises to detail the differences.
Cognac and brandytwo silky, smooth, pungent, and traditionally refined spirits made from distilling wineare not the same thing. But, well, they kind of are.
We know its confusing. Please, pour yourself a glass, and let us explain.
What Other Types Of Brandy Are There
You’ve probably heard of grappa, another grape-based brandy made from leftover wine that’s generally associated with Italy, and pisco, a clear brandy that hails from Peru. But there’s also calvados, an apple brandy from France, and armagnac, another grape brandy from France. Long live the French and their dedication to the art of fermented fruit juices!
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How Are Brandy And Cognac Made
Because brandy is an overarching category, it isnt bound by a strict production process. That said, all forms of brandy start with the fermentation of grape juice or other fruit juices , followed by distillation.
Fine brandies will use quality wine grapes as a source, get produced in small batches, undergo double distillation inside pot stills, and age in oak casks for two years and up before bottling. Most bottles of fine brandy will contain a blend of various vintages.
For cognac, the production process is far more rigid and consistent, though quality can still vary. First comes the fermentation of white grapes from the Cognac region. Ugni Blanc grapes are the most ubiquitous and therefore the most commonly used as a base ingredient. After fermentation, the wine is double distilled between October 1 and March 31.
Next, the young spiritalso known as eau de vie undergoes a unique aging process for a minimum of two years. During this aging process, the eau de vie starts in a new French oak barrel before getting redistributed to older barrels so as not to suck up too much wood. The darkened spirit is then typically blended with other vintages by a master blender or team of master blenders. The married liquor usually undergoes additional maturation before bottling, while the age statement on the bottle reflects the youngest vintage in the blend.