Most Popular French Cognac Brands
Contrary to what its name implies, cognac is a little simpler. The French spirit should be treated as you would treat wine, its closest relative will help you better grasp it. Cognac is a type of brandy produced in the western French commune bearing its name.
Similar to the greatest wines, it is associated with a specific geographic location and must be produced using a limited number of grapes. Cognac has matured and blending criteria similar to an Italian wine from the Chianti region or a Bordeaux. The proper technique to drink cognac is using a specific type of cognac glass. Enter and give it a good sniff and taste.
Cognac has its types, and leaving them out in this article would confuse you more than educate. Here are some of the types of Cognac:
Abk6 Single Estate Vsop
Average Price: Around $33
ABV: 40%
What We Liked:
What we really liked about this VSOP Cognac is its attractive color, rich nose, and flavorful palate. With its unique and powerful character, this cognac is one of the award-winning spirits in the market.
Its Eaux-de-vie aging process brings out tropical fruit flavors, enough to be stored by a cellar master even in humid cellars.
It has a lovely golden color with fragrances of cinnamon, toffee, apple pie, and mustard seeds with beautifully rich, spicy flavors, fresh fruit, and a soft oak finish.
The Best Brandy For Fruitcake
The fruitcake is peculiar creation that always gets a mixed bag of reactions. Typically only appearing around the holidays, some people love it while a lot of people hate it. Perhaps they hate it because of the odd mix of flavors, or maybe its related to negative memories. Many also see it as more of a joke or a gag gift than a serious dessert. Either way, its pretty divisive as baked goods go, and yet, it shows up in plenty of households year after year.
So, where did this fruity tradition begin? There are traces of fruitcakes all the way back to ancient Egypt. Its said that they were left in the tombs of the deceased. The theory behind this practice is the thought to be for sustenance on the journey to the afterlife. This would make sense, considering how dense and full of fruit the cakes often are.
Its also found in the records of ancient Rome, where you could find an old recipe that called for 2,000 pomegranate seeds, raisins, and pine nuts mixed into a barley mash. In 18th century Europe, fruitcake made with sugar and butter was banned for a time as it was thought to be too rich and yummy! Come 19th century, it was a traditional wedding cake in England. These examples are just a few of the ways fruitcake has made its rounds around the globe. Modern recipes often call for alcohol and finding the best brandy for fruitcake may just make the difference between a punchline and a legitimately enjoyable dessert.
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Why Are There So Many Cognac Brands
Each producer, or house, has a unique approach to creating this iconic French spirit. The person responsible for this is called the Cellar Master, and its his or her skill and peculiarities that embody the character of the house.
Cognac Expert showcases the largest online range of brands available to purchase in a single place. We provide detailed information about the individualities of producers, from the largest right down to the smallest. This enables both Cognac education, as well as helping buyers make a truly informed purchasing decision.
And be aware that its no longer necessary to only choose Cognac from a certain growth area. You can search in multiple ways, including by vintage year, by taste preference, or even by the fact that a house produces only Cognac created in a wholly organic method.
Camus Extra Dark & Intense Cognac $59999
For true connoisseurs, this bad boy is more than just an iconic box/decanter. The Extra from Camus is an elevated, concentrated cognac that foregrounds dark chocolate, rich butter, and toasted oak. Aged between 30 and 50 years, its a tremendous sipping cognac. Even if the bottle designed was inspired by the first season of House of the Dragon.
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Frapin’s Chteau Fontpinot Xo Is The Best Of The Best
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Liquors / Chloe Jeong
Cognac is the spirit you should be reaching for and drinking now, says certified cognac educator Ms. Franky Marshall. Thats, in part, because of its diversity. Made from grapesprimarily high-acid, low-alcohol ugni blanc varietythat are fermented, twice-distilled, and then matured in oak barrels before blending and bottling, this brandy from Frances Cognac region is not just for sipping after dinner by the fire. In fact, its one of the widest-ranging spirits categories out there.
Much of the difference between bottles has to do with how long they are aged. Younger VS, or very special, cognac is blended from brandies at least two years old, while an XO cognac, or “extra-old” cognac, gets its rich depth because it must be aged at least six years. The VSOP, or very superior old pale cognacs, blended from four-year and older brandies, are right in the middle, with characteristics of both youth and age.
We consulted with our experts and have curated the best cognacs to get right now. Thanks to its balanced flavors and intense aromatics, Frapin’s Château Fontpinot XO is our top pick.
Read on for our complete list to find your next favorite cognac.
Remy Martin Vs Hennessy What To Choose
The answer depends on what youre looking for in your Cognac. If you want a smooth and mellow drink thats great on its own or with food, then Remy is probably your best bet .
But if youre looking for something with more flavor or character, something bolder and more complex, then Hennessy might be a better choice.
Remy Martin VS Hennessy is a classic debate that has been going on for ages. If you are looking to buy a high-end Cognac, then both Remy Martin and Hennessy are the best options.
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Cognac Paul Giraud Xo
ABV: 40%
Average Price: $150
Our favorite cognac for the money is definitely the Cognac Paul Giraud XO.
This spirit has a full, creamy mouthfeel, with plenty of hearty chocolate and caramel, and is balanced out with fresh honey notes. It has a smooth, round finish.
The Giraud family is one of the last estates to grow their own grapes and harvest them by hand. Their XO is produced from the Grande Champagne region: ugni blanc, Folle Blanche, and colombard grapes.
The family distillery is passed down from generation to generation to ensure that we have access to rare, quality cognacs today this one is aged for a minimum of 25 years in barrels with a medium toast.
How Is Remy Martin Made
Remy Martin Cognac is made from a blend of Eaux-de-vie from different crus or vineyards.
The Eaux-de-vie are blended and distilled in the traditional double distillation process. These are then aged in oak barrels for at least 30 years before they are ready for bottling as a VSOP or XO .
The grapes used to make Remy Martin cognac come from the Grande Champagne appellation, which is the highest quality designation given in France.
This means that they must be grown in a certain region with specific soil and weather conditions and be harvested by hand only.
The aging process enhances their taste and aroma, producing a deep golden color along with an exquisite bouquet with hints of fruit and spices like vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.
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Philbert Rare Cask Sherry Finish And Hennessy Xo Are The Winners
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Produced by a family that has been distilling since 1530, the brandys base is the aromatic muscat of Alexandria grape, grown high up in the Andes and naturally fermented for a wildly perfumed nose.
Brandy, put simply, is a spirit distilled from fruit. And, like most major categories of spirits, there are a variety of different styles to choose from. From unaged eaux-de-vie to the long-aged Armagnacs and cognacs, the production methods, flavor profiles, provenances and base materials are so varied, says certified cognac expert Ms. Franky Marshall. Id say its the most diverse category out there.”
For general parameters, think seasonally: In winter, you might want to cozy up to a brandy with some age and a fuller body whereas the summer months might call for something youthful, lively and more floral, says Marshall.
Our top picks are the Philbert Rare Cask Sherry Finish and Hennessy X.O. because the former has a rich flavor with little to no additives and the latter has a rich flavor that’s great over ice or in a snifter.
With bottles from artisan producers to world-renowned brands, here are the best brandies to drink right now.
The 10 Best Cognac Brands You Should Enjoy Right Now
Cognac, a brandy produced using white grapes from one of the six terroirs in the Cognac region of Southwest France has been around for centuries.
Its distinctive taste which many have grown to love over the years is acquired through a special technique, with grape juice double-distilled in a copper pot and aged in oak barrels for a minimum of two years.
The best cognacs in the world are known for their quality and smooth character, as the best cognac houses have perfected their distilling techniques as the years went by.
Their craftsmanship has been rewarded with numerous awards and their reputation follows them everywhere around the world.
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Technically speaking, cognac is a type of brandy. What does that mean exactly, you might ask? It means that its made by distilling wine, with the resulting spirit aged in wood barrels for at least two years.
The French call it eau de vie which literally translates to water of life. It is a colorless fruit brandy produced by fermentation and double distillation of white grapes.
The reason cognac cannot be produced anywhere but in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France is because of the specific grapes that grow in the region of Cognac on their special soil.
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Best Cognac Brands You Need To Know
| BY Alex Linde
Cognac is the perfect aperitif, its rich, complex, aromatic, and ideal for aiding digestion after a delicious, filling meal. Its also an excellent addition in classic cocktails like a sidecar or as a twist on others like a French 75 or Old Fashioned. The Cognac region, in southwest France, is the only place in the world where it can be produced. Within it, there are six growing regions, known as crus. Strict laws dictate that the specific grape varietals must come from here. Plus, producers must also adhere to distillation processes and time and aging protocols to bear the name Cognac. Many Maisons have been making cognac from these vineyards for hundreds of years. Theyve passed knowledge down from generation to generation, perfecting every drop of the amber liquid that gets bottled.
Hennessy Master Blenders Selection No 3
Average Price: Roughly $86.99
Alcohol Content: 43%
Why We Like It:
Hennessy is a top cognac house that sells more Cognac in the US than other houses.
The Master Blenders Selection No. 3 is a limited-edition cognac, and Renaud Fillioux de Gironde is in charge of selecting the unaged spirits aged not less than seven years.
As part of their acclaimed elegance range, Hennessy has an amazing cedarlike aroma that yields vanilla, dried fruit, and caramel flavors with a lush texture and bright finish.
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How Man Of Many Chose This List Of Cognac
While Man of Many are sticklers for research and certainly know a thing or two about Cognac, that didnt stop them from turning to the experts for this list. They compiled this list through the personal experience of author Christopher Osburn and online research from drinks critics and expert cognac reviewers. Man of Many only looked at higher-rated Cognacs through Dan Murphys reviews and took into account the major gripes and positives from the public. For the most part, theyre sticking with globally recognised names that you either know and love or should know and love, such as Hennessy, Rémy Martin, Martell, and Courvoisier, but theyre also throwing a few curveballs your way courtesy of their findings.
The Grapes And Their Regions
The area around the commune of Cognac, France, is divided into six grape-growing regions within the Charente and Charente-Maritime departments. Officially, the main grape varieties used in cognac must be ugni blanc , folle blanche, and colombard there are also less common grapes used in small quantities in production, including jurançon blanc, sémillon and folignan, to name a few. The most expensive fruit comes from Charentes Grande Champagne district and Petite Champagne, which straddles both Charente and Charente-Maritime.
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Whats The Difference Between French Cognac And Brandy
All cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac. Specifically, brandy is a spirit made by distilling wine. Therefore, cognac is a brandy just like tequila is a mezcal or an IPA is a beer. Cognac is a brandy, but its a specific type of French brandy that must be produced in a specific area of Southwest France and follow certain guidelines and rules. Its more complicated than that, but this is the simplest explanation.
We Ranked 16 Cognac Brands From Worst To Best
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When it comes to smooth liquors, brandy is close if not on the top of our list. One type of brandy, cognac, is known for being so smooth it goes down like water on a ducks back. Or whatever cliche youre in the mood for.
But, with more than 200 cognac distilleries out there, how does you hop on the cognac train? You could go with one of the Big Four and youd be fine, we consulted with Tom Clarke, the Head of Content and Marketing at FrootBat an industry-leading online marketplace for wine, liquor, and whiskey to go deeper.
Frootbat helped us find our way through the cheapest to the finest VSes, VSOPs, XOs, and XXOs on the market. So, go find a fireplace, break out your best snifter, and lets get started.
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Hennessy Privilege Vsop Grande Champagne
Average Price: $65
ABV: 40%
What We Liked:
This Hennessy cognac VSOP from the cognac region in France is one of the impressive cognac brands because of its fragrant aromas, flavorful taste, and smooth finish.
Its an epitome of class and balance, earning its title as a popular cognac. This cognac features vibrant mahogany with light notes of smooth yet bold notes of toasted oak.
Best Cognac Brands For The Money In 2023
Last Updated on December 29, 2022 by Lydia Martin
Cognac is often associated with high-profile individuals and is known for its exclusivity. But, despite its relatively rare nature, plenty of reasonably priced varieties are made from grapes grown in the Borderies, Grande Champagne, and Petite Champagne regions in France.
So, if youre looking for the best cognac for the money, weve got you covered.
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What Does Cognac Taste Like
When wondering what does cognac taste like, it is hard to stay general. Generally, cognac tastes like candied fruits, with some spices, some leather notes, caramelized fruits, and citrus. These are just the general guidance notes when trying to articulate the general flavor to someone, all cognacs have distinctly different flavors and aromas.
The taste really comes from what is cognac made of, the deeply dry grapes. The fermentation and aging process gives an incredible depth of flavor, often producing some slightly vanilla top notes, with a deeper smoky aftertaste.
Generally, the tasting notes that producers provide are a good line to go off. Cognac brands have worked tirelessly to produce the finest products possible. Though there is not too much deviation between processes, there is still able to be a distinct flavor profile differential. We believe the top cognac brands do an amazing job of articulating what is unique about their cognac drinks.
So What Are The Best Cognac Brands
The top cognac brands include Courvoisier, Hennessy, and Pierre Ferrand, but by far the best one is Remy Martin.
The Remy Martin VSOP has great depth and complexity, with notes of apricot, baked apples, and licorice, and is the worlds biggest-selling VSOP bottle.
Cognac is a premium spirit made exclusively from grapes grown in the Cognac region of France. It generally has a rich and fruity flavor profile, balanced out with a bit of spice and oak.
References:
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Best For Beginners: Hine Rare Vsop
Courtesy of Drizly
Region: Cognac, France | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Almonds, Orange, Chocolate, Dried flowers
A really youthful cognac can often taste hot and alcoholic, says Thorn, so though VS cognac is less expensive, it might turn off beginners. Instead, she suggests spending a bit more money to invest in a cognac with some age on it.
I love the Hine Rare VSOP, she says. Its great for both tall, light cocktails and more spirit-forward drinks. But to get the most out of it, novices should try it on its own. Almond skin, dried petals, and plenty of fruit meet a luscious mouthfeel and round, nutty flavors. Its a lovely sipping spirit with very well-balanced, beautiful characteristics, says Thorn.