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 Port And Sherry: What Are They All About
Some alcoholic drinks have a unique soul. Brandy, Cognac, Port and Sherry are distinctive products that, in more than one way, have shaped the world as we know it. And although none of them is trending right now, theyre timeless.
The new generations might not be paying attention to these classic products, but theyre still the pinnacle of humanitys agricultural efforts.
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More French Brandy Types
Cognac isnt the only noteworthy aged brandy from France, either. There are two other major French brandy types to know: armagnac and calvados.
Armagnac hails from Gascony, and while its most commonly used grapes overlap with cognac, its production is otherwise different. Its single distilled, rather than double distilled. Furthermore, its predominantly distilled in a type of column still. Small, portable stills are often taken from vineyard to vineyard across the region during harvest and production season.
Armagnac features a similar aging classification system as cognac, with VS, VSOP, XO, and Hors dÂge, though the age requirements are slightly different. Far more common in Armagnac though is the use of single year vintages.
Calvados, meanwhile, is an apple brandy made in the Normandy region. Its distilled from cider, and hundreds of apple varieties can be used in production. Most calvados are made via single distillation using a column still, though double pot still distillation is also used. In either case, a minimum of two years of oak maturation is required.
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Which Is Sweeter Brandy Or Bourbon
There are a few key factors to consider when trying to answer the question of which is sweeter, brandy or bourbon. The first factor is the type of sugar that is used in each liquor. Brandy is typically made with grape sugar, while bourbon is made with corn sugar. The second factor is the aging process. Brandy is typically aged for a shorter period of time than bourbon, which can allow for more of the sweetness of the sugar to come through. The final factor to consider is the proof, or alcohol content, of each liquor. Brandy is typically lower in proof than bourbon, which can also contribute to its sweetness.
Because brandy is typically aged in wooden barrels, it has a fruity and subtle sweetness to it, as well as oak notes. Bourbon has a sweeter flavor than other types of whiskey, with hints of vanilla, oak, and caramel. Bourbon is not considered brandy because it is a type of whiskey. A single serving of brandy is approximately 1.5 ounces in size. If a spirit is distilled more than once, it is more likely to be harsh than if it is distilled twice or three times. Pear, plum, or apple can all be used to make brandy, depending on the fruit wine. Meats and sweet dishes make excellent complements to brandy.
Armagnac Vs Cognac : Age Counts
Cognac is a blend of brandy of different ages. Its label indicates the aging period of the youngest brandy used in the blend.
Cognacs are classified by age of aging according to standardized terms controlled by the BNIC :
- VS : at least 2 years of aging in wood
- Superior : at least 3 years of aging in wood
- VSOP : at least 4 years of aging in wood
- Vieille Réserve : at least 5 years of aging in wood
- Napoleon : at least 6 years of aging in wood
- XO : at least 10 years of aging in wood
Behind these acronyms, however, are the specific aging characteristics of each producer.
Armagnacs, which can be blended or vintage, are not subject to the age count standards like Cognac. And for good reason!
- Like Cognac, Armagnac can be made from a blend of brandy of different ages. Its label then indicates an age count which attests to the duration of aging of the youngest brandy in the composition of the blend. This similarity with Cognac explains why some Armagnac houses choose to borrow the names of Cognac for their blends, a practice tolerated by the BNIA .
The selection of these Unique Pieces is rigorous and demanding and follows a meticulous tasting process that lasts 10 years.
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All Cognacs Are Brandy But Not All Brandy Are Cognacs
There is one other difference you might stumble across at your local liquor store: the term XO. Brandy sold as XO is a brandy that has been aged for at least six years, which lends it a darker color and richer flavor. Brandy marketers realized they could command top dollar for their product by slapping an XO on the label, even if it wasnt made with Ugni Blanc grapes. While all cognacs are brandy, not all brandy is cognac. If youre looking to enjoy a good bottle of brandy, its best to know the difference before you buy.
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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.
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What About Blending And Aging
After distillation, the liquid is blended and aged, which is what really makes cognac special. At Hennessy, for example, a tasting committee of 7 people meets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to taste about 40 different samples of “eaux de vie,” as the individual distilled spirits are known before blending. It takes 10 years of training before one can join the committee, according to the brand’s ambassador Jordan Bushell.
Cognac must be aged for at least 2 years in French oak, at which point it’s labeled “V.S. .” After that, these distinctions that break down a bottle’s age and quality:
- V.S.O.P. : the youngest brandy in the blend must be aged at least four years in oak
- X.O. : the youngest brandy in the blend must be aged at least six years in oak
Armagnac Vs Cognac : Two French Brandies Two Histories
Armagnac is the oldest French brandy! Its production is attested to since 1310 when its therapeutic virtues were praised by the prior of the town of Eauze. Within a century, this apothecarys remedy became a marvelous drink appreciated for its gustatory qualities, a precious brandy produced alongside the regions wine production.
Cognac has a very different historical trajectory, which influences its current reputation. While Armagnac was developed on a French consumption model, Cognac was established on an export model to the Netherlands and England. In the 16th century, while the English controlled the Bordeaux region, Charente wine was exported by the Dutch to Northern Europe from the ports on the Atlantic coast . It was distilled to be preserved and travel without arriving sour at its destination. This brandy was then diluted with water to be consumed like wine. But Cognac as such only really emerged in the 18th century, with the appearance of double distillation borrowed from Whisky and aging in oak barrels. It was conceived for an export market at a time when English economic and demographic growth was causing a shortage of alcohol. Merchants from across the Atlantic set up trading companies in Cognac, specializing in the production of Charentais brandy. Under Napoleon III, a trade treaty signed between France and England boosted the export of Cognac. Today, 98% of its production is exported.
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Does Cognac Have Health Benefits
Cognac is rich in polyphenols which occur naturally in grapes but the concentrations are helped by the fact that Cognac undergoes a very long ageing process in oak barrels, he claimed, citing research which showed that some of the constituents found in oak wood, in particular ellagic acid, can have a significant
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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.
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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.
Whats The Difference Between Brandy And Cognac
Its kinda confusing, but this should help you out.
For me, cognac and brandy are just the sippers I saw my grandparents enjoying after a hearty family meal, and the differences between them seemed minuscule or perhaps unimportant. But actually, the two brown spirits have some complicated similarities and differences. They are kinda the same, but also not? I know, its confusing, so lets just jump into it.
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Is Cognac Smoother Than Whiskey
Both whiskey and Cognac are widely popular today. There are similarities in how they age in wooden barrels, and the longer they age, the smoother the taste. But, the spirits can differ in terms of the base product, terms used to define the age, the distillation process, and even the geographical boundaries.
Cognac Vs Whiskey Vs Bourbon: Maturation Process
When people ask, Why is cognac so expensive? a big part of the answer lies in how it is painstakingly matured.
Cognac casks are made from French oak most often Limousin oak, but oak from Alliers or Tronçais are also allowed. Limousin oak has a tighter grain structure than American oak, which dramatically impacts the maturing spirit. And unlike bourbon, these barrels are un-charred they are either toasted or open-air cured.
After the spirit is placed into French oak barrels, they go into cellars to mature.
As a result of the micro-climate environment within these earthen cellars, cognac loses alcoholic strength as it matures. So, each year the spirit in the cask has a lower ABV than the previous year. Eventually, old casks reach 80-proof, or 40 percent ABV the legal minimum at which cognac can be bottled. At this point, the spirit is transferred into glass demijohns to prevent the ABV from going any lower. These legacy cognacs are used to give depth to overall blends.
There are numerous labeling terms for cognac that are regulated by the AOC. A breakdown can be found in the chart in the following section.
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Brandy & Cognac: Are They The Same
The question about brandy & cognac has the same answer: is bourbon similar to whiskey, or is champagne the same as sparkling wine. Brandy is associated with cognac, since cognac is a type of brandy. In other words, cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac.
Cognac is a brandy produced in Cognac, France, and it can only be made there. The alcoholic beverage is made from folle blanche, ugni blanc, and/or colombard grapes, contributing to cognacs acidic taste.
The first distinct feature between brandy & cognac is the main ingredient. You can make brandy from any fermented fruit juice and not just grapes. But, to make cognac, you can only use white grapes, like Ugni Blanc or Grande Champagne grapes. Moreover, cognac has to be produced in the Cognac region, while brandy can be made from any region or country.
The second difference is the making process. There are many methods to make brandy, but cognac can only be produced in one way. Cognac has to be distilled twice. Typically, the distillation process starts from October 1st to March 31st.
The alcoholic drink is then blended and aged in French oak barrels for at least two years after being distilled. Based on the aging duration, cognac can be classified as Very Special Very Superior Old Pale and Extra Old .
V.S. means that the cognac is aged for at least two years, while V.S.O.P implies that the spirit is aged for at least four years. On the other hand, X.O. signifies that the cognac is aged for at least six years.
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.
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Which Is Better Cognac Or Whiskey
We dont think so.
If youve made it this far in this post, you should know that the answer is as nuanced as the raw materials that make up each product. Its a matter of opinion and your preferred flavor profile.
Even those living in Bourbon County, Kentucky, will admit that a finely aged Vielle Réserve cognac is a more high-end product than a bargain bin bottle of bourbon. And even the most snobbish Parisian connoisseur will admit that a glass of Pappy Van Winkle 25 Year Reserve is a much more refined spirit than an unaged cognac eaux de vie.
Having many of the barrel flavors in common, its up to you to decide how to rank each finished product on your list of favorites!
Recent Rantings
Where Does Cognac Come From: The History Of Cognac
Where does cognac come from? Sometimes I just cant let sleeping dogs lie.
Im one of those annoying people that need to know what goes on behind the scenes. Ive found myself enjoying cognac a bit more than usual lately but my satisfaction doesnt stop there. I keep asking myself, where does cognac come from and what is its story?
If youre like me then high five! Lets talk about cognac.
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