Cognac
Cognac is a type of
brandy, specifically from the town of Cognac in France. Brandy is distilled wine, and generally contains 30-60% alcohol. Cognac is double distilled using pot stills. So after the wine is fermented, it is basically boiled in these kilns to separate the alcohol from the rest of the liquid. This condensed alcohol is then aged in oak casks. Many producers don't ever get to see their finished cognac because the process is so extensive.
Cognac Tips
* It is important to know how long the cognac has been aged in the barrel, not a bottle. Once the cognac is bottled, it no longer ages.
* Stronger colors such as amber, gold, and red suggest the cognac has been aged longer.
* Look out for artificial caramel color, used to give the impression of a well aged cognac.
Grades of Cognac
*
VS: Very Special, this cognac has been aged in oak casks for at least 2 years.
*
VSOP: Very special Old Pale, has been aged for at least 4 years, most are usually aged much longer.
*
XO: Extra Old, aged at least 6 years, but most are over 20 years old.
*
Napoleon: Generally between VSOP and XO.
*
Extra: Considered older than XO.
*
VIeux: Again, between VSOP and XO.
*
Vieille Reserve: Well beyond XO.
*
Hors d'age: Technically means "beyond age", marketed as beyond the official scale.
Cognac Products
Cognac varies in price: it can be found in your local liquor store or the spirit reserves of royal families. Below you will find cognacs between $20 and $2,000,000.
Top Shelf
By the way, the most expensive cognac is the $2 million,
Henri IV Dudognon Heritage Cognac Grande Champagne. The bottle is dipped in 24 carat gold and platinum, jeweled with 6,500 diamonds. The cognac is not bad either. Read more about it at
LuxuryLaunches.com.
Related Guides
