Aging Requirements For Cognac
Cognac is classified by age, with official designations including VS , VSOP , Napoleon , XO , and the newest designation XXO , though different houses often have higher internal minimum thresholds. Theres also the unofficial category of Hors dÂge, signifying a prestige product beyond XO. Typically these cognacs would be aged from 30-50 years and beyond.
All cognac is blended. In fact, a vast number of different eaux-de-vie, made at different times, may be included in a final blend . A cognacs age therefore represents the minimum of any individual eau-de-vie used in the blend.
Recommended Reading: What To Mix With Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka
Enjoy A Glass Of Brandy Or Cognac
Brandy & cognac can be consumed as it is or combined into cocktails. It all depends on your preference. If you are having difficulties choosing brandy & cognac, you can always drop by the Red & White store and ask the shop assistant for recommendations!
Red & White
Red & White is Indonesias leading full-service wine and spirits retailer since 2014. I’m very happy to provide you information about the liquor world and let’s have a drink together at the nearest Red & White store.
Are There Other Types Of Brandy With Specific Names
Most definitely. Brandy is made all over the world, and just like cognac, brandy from different countries and regions have their own names and particularities. Here are some of the more well-known varieties you may come across, aside from cognac.
- Calvados: an apple-based brandy from the Normandy region of France
- Grappa: an Italian, grape-based brandy that is considered a pomace brandy, which just means they traditionally use wine left over from winemaking, after the grapes have been pressed.
- Pisco: a clear, Peruvian brandy made by fermenting white grape juice.
- Armagnac: this is basically cognacs forgotten younger sibling. Its incredibly close to cognac, in both taste, and location . The only real difference is, well, prestige. The Cognac region is traditionally viewed as producing better spirits. Though some modern drinkers disagree.
Want more Thrillist? Follow us on , , , , TikTok, and Snapchat.
Wil Fulton is a senior development producer for Thrillist and a passionate doer of other stuff. Follow him @wilfulton.
- Cookie Settings
Don’t Miss: What Goes With Spiced Rum
How To Enjoy Cognac
As with any other spirit of its age and history, cognac comes with a few rules. These arent intended to tell you how to enjoy your drink thats up to you rather, they give you a sense of how connoisseurs drink cognac and the methods they use to fully appreciate it. After all, theyre really fond of the drink, so they might know a thing or two that the rest of us dont. What are some of these rules? If youre drinking a younger or newer cognac, then those are perfect for making mixed drinks such as a dark and stormy. If youre dealing with an older cognac, however, it is to be enjoyed as it is.
No mixers involved whatsoever. Think of it as the perfect after-dinner drink and one especially well-suited to top off an elegant evening. As cognac ages, it develops an intense complexity with its flavor which some describe as strong yet ephemeral, here and gone, powerful yet light at the same time. In other words, it is the way older cognac is meant to be enjoyed. You also want to resist the temptation to add ice or water it down. Cognac is a strong drink, particularly the older varieties, but this is also the magic in its flavor profile. When shopping for a cognac, you will note that there are many different types, old and new, in a range of prices. Do some research beforehand and dont just go by price though, more often than not, this does tell you a lot about the cognac on offer.
Distillation & Production Process
Both Cognac and brandy undergo the distillation and production process, but each liquors production and distilling process varies.
Cognac is considered a brandy because it is a distilled spirit from fermented fruit juice. It is required to be distilled twice in pot stills or special alembics .
On the other hand, brandy is distilled twice but first with a heated gourd, then a glass gourd in a double boiler.
The modern brandy is now distilled twice but with modern techniques and materials.
Don’t Miss: What Type Of Whiskey Is Jim Beam
The Singularity Of Cognac
Cognac is a protected place of origin, meaning it has a very specific way of making its brandy, wholly unique to its location. Distilled at least twice in copper stills, Cognac is then aged for a minimum of two years in French oak. Again, like wine, theres a perennial nature to it and the spirit-making closely follows the winemaking calendar. It begins just as the wines wrap up primary fermentation, roughly in early October in the northern hemisphere.
Many argue that its in the blending where Cognac takes on its nuanced nature and complexity of flavor. Experienced blenders will settle on an ideal harmony of flavors and let the batch integrate together for a spell prior to bottling. Per the Cognac guide above, there are several classes of the stuff, differentiated by aging times and more. There are also subregions within Cognac , six to be exact.
Three grape varieties are allowed in the production of genuine Cognac. Ugni Blanc is the most common, followed by Colombard and Folle Blanche. Theyre all white wine grapes and can offer distinctive flavors, textures, and more depending on how theyre farmed, what soils they reside in, the climate, etc. Again, its best to equate brandy, and Cognac especially, with fine wine.
Editors’ Recommendations
Flavor Profile Of Cognac
Cognac is the pinnacle of the brandy world for a reason. No other brandy tastes like Cognac because all the grapes grown in the Cognac region are used for, surprise surprise Cognac. The limited amount of grapes available means no one else can make brandy from grapes grown in the Cognac region. Consequently, no other brandy can taste like Cognac because no other grapes have the flavors from the regions soil.
Another aspect of Cognac compared to other brandies is the flavor complexity. Cognac is a blend of multiple Cognacs, all with unique characteristics and different ages. There is a real art to creating and blending a Cognac. The Cellar Master must balance the influence of the wood, create layers of flavor, and most of all, ensure the overall result is harmonious.
The top-quality ingredients and level of expertise mean you can find flavors in Cognac that you will struggle to find in other types of Brandy. These include chocolate, tobacco, leather, port, toffee, and spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
Recommended reading: What Type of Alcohol is Cognac?
Read Also: What Is Extra Anejo Tequila
How They Are Drank
French brandy is enjoyable to be sipped neat, but other types of brandy can be enjoyed with mixed drinks like soda water, lemonade, or coke. There are classic brandy cocktails on the internet like Brandy Alexander, so prepare your sugared rim glass and get ready to drink.
However, a good bottle of Cognac is most enjoyed neat. If you add a drop of water, the tasting notes will be revealed, making it a smoother-aged drink. There are classic cocktails for this spirit, but we recommend drinking it neat. But whats the best cognac to drink straight?
The Best Cognac Brandies According To Chefs And Sommeliers
Chefs and sommeliers in starred gastronomic restaurants form a complementary team to recommend the best wines and spirits, including Cognac Brandy. They are the guarantors of haute cuisine and represent the elite of gastronomy. Together these lovers of fine food and wine search for the best Cognac Brandy references. Each selected Cognac Brandy incorporated in the wine menu is the result of this human adventure. Beyond the product, the Cognac Brandy selected by sommeliers comes from meetings. Meetings with producers, wine growers, or even oenologists. The creation of Cognac Brandy is only possible through the collaboration of several trades. Amongst these professionals, the Cellar master who makes the barrels made out of oak. Incidentally, the barrels in which Cognac Brandy is aged, mainly come from the Troncais Forest in Limousin. These same barrels must be new or must have only stocked spirit used for Cognac Brandy. Cognac Brandy is also about the grape pickers who harvest the white grapes. The production of Cognac Brandy is most of all, the producers who create it from their variety of grape and then bottle the precious liquid. It is important to understand that each Cognac Brandy producer has their own production methods, their tools, but also their skill and experience, which allow them to produce a unique Cognac Brandy.
Dont Miss: How To Drink Coconut Rum
Read Also: Where Can I Find Whiskey Barrels
What Is The Difference Between Brandy And Cognac
As the people of Cognac in south-west France will proudly tell you, all cognac is brandy but very little brandy is cognac. Brandy, in fact, neednt even be made from grapes, since the term refers to any distilled spirit made from fermented fruit juice.
What is the best brandy and cognac to buy in 2021?
The 11 best Brandy and Cognacs of 2021 Rank Brand Category 8 Bertoux Best for cocktails 9 Germain Robin XO Best tasting 10 Courvoisier XO Best rated 11 Martell XO Smoothest
Is Cognac the liquor of the gods?
Victor Hugo called cognac the liquor of the gods . Its become known as a symbol of French luxury, the best brandy money can buy . Heres a primer on the liquors.
Can Cognac be sold under any brand name?
There is no such case with brandy production and it can be produced anywhere by anyone and sold under any brand name. Even though cognac is a type of brandy, it holds its distinctive name due to the way it is produced with certain legal requirements.
The Best Cognac Brandies On The Wine List Of Gastronomic Restaurants
The wine list of a gastronomic restaurant is a reflection of its excellence. Each name in gastronomic cooking works to offer the finest products, including Cognac Brandy, which is appreciated in gastronomic restaurants for its delicate taste and unique flavour. It is a very popular drink. The rare quality of Cognac Brandy encourages its prestige. In fact, Cognac Brandy is an alcohol originating from one country, France and from a specific region. Naturally, you will find on Bestwine Onlines reference list, only the best French references which respect the controlled designation of origin .
Cognac Brandy is a drink that is likely to give you the sensation of being elsewhere. When you taste an alcohol, you taste the product. So, tasting Cognac Brandy is like having access to its history and the region in which it is made. Each gastronomic restaurant proposes the finest Cognac Brandies to offer the most flavoursome experience to its customers. Gastronomic restaurants acquire their prestige with time. It takes years to discover and enrich their wine menu with the greatest Cognac Brandies. Work which is expertly managed by chefs and sommeliers in gastronomic restaurants.
A great gastronomic restaurant is, therefore, a menu of wines and spirits, a wine cellar and bar which contain one or several remarkable and extraordinary Cognac Brandies.
Read Also: What Goes With Tanqueray Gin
Do You Know The Difference Between Brandy And Cognac
Cognac is not the same as brandy, but is a type of brandy and earns its name following very strict production methods.
Cognac is an amber-coloured alcoholic drink, made in France, in the wine growing regions of Charente and Charente-Maritime surrounding the town of Cognac. It is made from distilling white wine to create eau-de-vie, aging it in oak casks for a minimum of two years and then blending different eaux-de-vie to create a specific flavour.
The region of Cognac is divided into six zones, called âcrusâ â Borderies, Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Fins Bois, Bon Bois and Bois Ordinaire.
For more detail on cognac and how it is made at Martell, see our craftsmanship section.
Armagnac Vs Cognac : The Terroirs
Armagnac and Cognac are French AOC brandy, which means that they cannot be produced outside their region.
300 km separate the two territories. The Armagnac region is located in the province of Gascony . The Cognac region is located further north . The terroirs are distinguished by their soils and climate, giving the eaux-de-vie their own specific character. The Cognac soil is homogeneous, mostly limestone, while the Armagnac soil is sandy, clay-silica, and clay-limestone. The diversity of Armagnac soils, divided into three terroirs Haut-Armagnac, Ténarèze and Bas-Armagnac gives the Gascon brandy a great variety of nuances that mark its originality.
The AOC appellation requires that this brandy be produced in compliance with regulated specifications, guaranteeing their origin and authenticity.
Also Check: Best Cognac For Brandy Alexander
The 5 Best Substitutes For Cognac
Do you like the taste of Cognac? What about the smell? If youre not a fan of either, youre probably not alone.
Cognac is a strong liquor made from distilled wine. Its also one of the most popular liquors in the world.
But what is it about Cognac that makes it so popular?
It can be used in cooking to add depth of flavor to savory dishes, or it can be added to desserts for a touch of sweetness.
It is also commonly enjoyed on its own, either neat or on the rocks.
If youre looking for a Cognac substitute, there are a few options that you can try.
Brandy, Armagnac, or sherry all make good substitutes for Cognac in recipes.
For drinking, any of these would also work well, or you could try a fruit-based liqueur such as apricot brandy or cherry brandy.
It is often used as an after-dinner drink or as a component in cocktails.
When choosing a cognac, it is important to consider the age, as this will affect the flavor.
Cognacs that are aged for longer will have more complex flavors, while younger cognacs will be fruitier and less intense.
You can also choose between VS , VSOP , and XO cognacs, depending on your preference.
How Are They Made
- Cognac and brandy are both made by distilling wine into a concentrated spirit.
- Cognac, however, takes the production process a step further and is distilled for a second time.
- Cognac is then aged in oak barrels for 10 to 15 years.
- Cognac is made in traditional copper pot stills, whereas brandy is often made in industrial, high-efficiency copper stills.
You May Like: What Whiskey Do They Drink In Letterkenny
The Process Of Making Brandy
Just like any other liquor, the process of making brandy starts with fermenting the main ingredients. The grapes will undergo fermentation for at least two to three weeks before being distilled.
The distillation process is different from one brandy to another, but naturally, the fermented mash will be heated to the boiling point to separate the alcohol and water content. Later on, the blend will be aged in oak casks for at least two years. After the aging process, the alcoholic drink is sometimes mixed with other brandy and water before being poured and sealed in bottles.
How Is Cognac Different From Brandy
Cognacs follow a strict regulation implied by the Appellation dOrigine Contrôlée in France. The main ingredients of Cognac must come from a very specific region in Cognac, France.
On the other hand, brandy does not have a limitation on this. Moreover, the two spirits differ in distillation, aging process, tasting notes, and originating regions.
You May Like: Is There Antifreeze In Fireball Whiskey
How Is Cognac Made
Cognac is usually considered the most popular and luxurious form of brandy. There are six terroirs, or grape growing regions, around the commune of Cognac, France.
The velvety smooth beverage is at its best when it is produced from grapes from the Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, and Borderies regions.
Cognac is made from white grapes of the region. After fermenting into white wine, the liquid is distilled twice into a colorless liquid that is referred to as the water of life. After distillation, the liquid is placed into French oak barrels to age.
Cognacs, especially well-aged varieties, are best sipped neat with a few drops of water. Less mature Cognacs are often used as a base for classic cocktails or added to a splash of soda water or ginger ale.
Brandy & Cognac: Same Or Different
Brandy is known for its sweet, fruity, and oaky flavour. Some people prefer to drink it straight on rocks or even mix it into cocktails. If you are searching for brandy, chances are you will find the term cognac in every brandy discussion. But are they the same?
Brandy & cognac both have a dark brown colour with an elegant outlook. Its easy to mistake them as the same. Be sure to read the article below to know more about the differences between brandy & cognac!
Recommended Reading: What Goes With Peanut Butter Whiskey
Is There A Difference Between Brandy And Cognac Glasses
Traditionally brandy and Cognac use one of two glasses, the snifter and the tulip glass. Both glass types are designed to have a large surface area to release the drinks aroma and then a narrow opening to concentrate the bouquet. The large balloon glass is synonymous with brandy. Its what we see in movies and adverts.
However, the smaller tulip glass is the glass Cognac and brandy producers recommend for drinking their product. It does a much better job of concentrating the aromas and supposedly gives a better, fuller tasting experience. That said, relaxing by the fire, swilling your brandy or Cognac in a large balloon glass is incredibly satisfying nonetheless.