Cognac is a brandy that is a favorite of kings and rappers alike. The alcoholic beverage was beloved by Napoleon, but thanks to the hip-hop scene, Cognac remains a trendy drink today. From Busta Rhymes in the early 2000s to Puff Daddy, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and Jay Z, Cognac has been a part of musical lyrics, stage acts, brand collaborations, videos, and much more.
Are you new to Cognac and need a primer on what it is, how to read a label, and how to enjoy this fine beverage? Get ready to get fully acquainted with Cognac. Next time you find yourself next to Snoop at the bar in Vegas, you’ll be able to strike up a conversation like a pro.
What is Cognac?
Cognac is a type of brandy from the Cognac region of France. (Brandy is a distilled wine.) The area is located in the southwest of France, just shy of 300 miles away from Paris. The center of the region is the town of Cognac, and the spirit comes from this town and the surrounding district. The climate in this area is ideal for winemaking, with an average annual temperature of 55°F and good rainfall. This is an excellent map of the Cognac region of France.
Cognac has a lot of rules. What kind of grapes can be used, where they are grown, and when and how it is distilled are all on the list. First, Cognac must come from the Cognac Delimited Region. Unlike Armagnac, which is distilled once, Cognac is distilled twice and is then aged in oak barrels.
What does Cognac taste like? It’s strong and powerful like most brands are. A discerning palate can pick out notes of dried fruit, toffee, and syrup. Cognac and cigars traditionally pair exceptionally well together.
Typically Cognacs have a 40 percent ABV, but stronger Cognacs certainly exist.
Who makes Cognac?
Who makes Cognac? As you might expect, winegrowers are the usual producers of Cognac. There are over 4,000 winegrowers also involved in the making of Cognac. Some of these wineries sell their wine to distillers who make Cognac, and some of these estates bottle their own Cognac.
Next, there are distilleries, which distill the wine given to them by local wine growers and then sell the result.
Lastly, there are traders, called négociants in French. Sometimes these traders buy unfermented grape juice in bulk and do the winemaking from scratch. Alternatively, these traders may choose to leave the harvesting, crushing, pressing, fermentation, and clarification to other people. The traders then set up the packaging, marketing, and sales. In Cognac, some 280 Cognac houses buy wines to distill or casks of mature Cognac. These négociants include Hennessy, Martell, Rémy Martin, and Courvoisier, who together make up about 85 percent of global Cognac sales (source: Decanter).
The top Cognac brands include:
- Hennessy
- Martell
- Rémy Martin
- Courvoisier
- Hine
- Frapin
- Camus
- Delamain
What grape varieties make up Cognac?
There are several varieties of wine grape that make up Cognac, but the most popular by far is the Ugni Blanc grape. This variety takes up 98 percent of the region’s vineyards. It’s prized for its resistance to disease, high acidity, and low sugar levels. The Ugni Blanc grape is ideally suited for distillation and aging.
Other grapes that might be added include the Folle Blanche, which was historically Cognac’s dominant variety. However, the Folle Blanche is sensitive to rot, and the area is known for its ample rainfall. Today, the Folle Blanche can be found in less than one percent of vineyards in the area. When used, it produces aromatic and well-balanced Cognacs.
A new variety, called the Folignan, is a cross between the Ugni Blanc and the Folle Blanche. It ripens early in the season and produces strong floral aromas. Rules stipulate that only 10 percent of a Cognac blend came come from Folignan grapes.
Other varieties of grape that can be found in Cognac are Colombard, Monfils, and Sémillon.
How is Cognac made?
There are four steps in making Cognac. They are:
- Winemaking
- Distillation
- Maturation
- Blending
WINEMAKING. Cognac starts with a thin, acidic white wine made from the grape varieties discussed in the previous section. Grapes are harvested in October, pressed, and left to ferment with the grape skins in natural yeasts from the air. The wine itself is said to be fairly unpleasant to drink straight. It’s made with the express purpose of distillation. The wine is about 8-10 percent alcohol and is high in acid. (Read more about the grape varieties.)
DISTILLATION. Next comes the distillation stage. The rules of the region require copper pot stills (also called Charentais alembic stills). At this point the wine becomes brandy. Again, by rule, the spirit needs to be distilled twice. The first distillation increases alcohol content to about 28-32 percent ABV. The second distillation creates a beverage with 68-72 percent ABV. To ensure top quality, the rules require that Cognac distillation must be finished by March 31st in the year following the harvest.
AGING. The brandy is then transferred to French oak barrels. Wineries must be careful to age the Cognac just enough. Not enough aging creates a rough, scathing spirit. But aging it too much can cause a lot of the alcohol to be lost to evaporation. The rules require a minimum of two years. The aging length can be determined from the label and the classification as VS, S, VSOP, VR, XO, XXO, etc. We will go into more detail about that in the next section. (Read more about aging here.)
BLENDING. Finally, the aged Cognac is mixed by a Master Blender, which each Cognac house employs. This person’s job is to taste the brandies as they age. The final blend is a mix of brandies of different ages and crus (the specific geographical area they come from). Each ingredient adds something unique to the final product. The Master Blender is responsible for creating a Cognac that is consistent with the House’s historic profile.
What are the Cognac classifications?
There are several classifications of Cognac, which consider the minimum aging length and quality of the brandy. They are:
- VS (Very Special). Aged for a minimum of two years. More than half of Cognacs sold are VS.
- Supérieur, Cuvée Supériore, Qualité Supérieure. Aged for a minimum of three years.
- VSOP (Very Special Old Pale), Réserve, Vieux. They are aged for a minimum of four years. Just over one-third of global Cognac sales are VSOP.
- Vieille Réserve, Réserve Rare, and Réserve Royale. Aged for at least five years.
- Napoléon, Très Vieille Réserve, Très Vieux, Héritage, Excellence, et Suprême. Aged for at least six years.
- XO, Extra Old, Or, Gold, Ancestral, Extra. Aged for at least 10 years. On average these brandies are 20 years old or more.
- XXO, Extra Extra Old. Aged for at least 14 years.
There are other classifications that can be found on the bottle label. For instance, if the grape comes from the Grande Champagne region, then the grapes must be 100 percent from that area, or cru. Also, a bottle can be a Vintage Cognac, which is bottled by specialists and must be 100 percent from the year named on the bottle.
How do you drink Cognac?
There’s really no wrong way to drink Cognac. Cognac is frequently enjoyed as a digestif after a meal. You can drink it neat—that is to say, poured at room temperature, in a beautiful glass, and enjoyed on its own. Many Cognac lovers like to choose a glass with a fat stem, then cradle the drink in their hand. This allows them to gently warm the drink so that it’s slightly warmer than room temperature.
You can add a little water to the Cognac. Like scotch, the drink opens up a bit when you add water. Doing this can cut down on the alcoholic shock of the beverage and bring forward flavors that would be masked by the alcohol otherwise.
You can drink Cognac on the rocks or even frozen if you’d like. Like warming the drink, cooling it brings out different aspects of the beverage. Many people find that adding ice helps to cut the alcohol a little, partly by numbing the tongue and partly by watering the spirit down. Most Cognac experts wouldn’t recommend adding ice to a well-aged, expensive Cognac, such as V.S.O.P and X.O. varieties. Well-aged Cognacs have extremely complex flavors that can be ruined by adding water.
You can also drink Cognac as an ingredient in a mixed drink. In fact, it’s an essential ingredient to a well-done Sangria! If you choose to use Cognac as a mixer, it’s best to choose a “younger” blend, such as a V.S. Cognac. Other popular cocktails that use Cognac include the Sidecar and French 75.
For more information, check out our blog post-Best Ways to Drink Cognac.
To decant or not to decant? Check out this article, Cognac Decanter for Every Cognac Lover.
What foods pair well with Cognac?
Cognac is an interesting choice to pair with food. Cognac typically has flavors of dried and fresh fruits, sweet spices, and candied fruits. It makes a terrific choice to pair with dark chocolate, dried fruits, and nuts. It also goes well with rich and flavorful main dishes, like a duck. Here are some excellent pairing choices with Cognac:
- Chocolate. If your Cognac is lighter-bodied, choose soft and creamy chocolate. For older and bolder Cognacs, choose dark chocolate and chocolates with big flavor. Some pairing examples:- White Chocolate & Cognac VS, Frozen
– Crunch Hazelnut Praline & Cognac VS
– Dark Chocolate covered fruits & Cognac VSOP
– Dark Chocolate & Cognac XO - Cheese. Pick fresh and light cheese to go with younger Cognacs. Mature and blue cheeses pair well with older Cognacs. Some pairing examples:- VS Cognac & Gouda, mild cheddar, brie, Gorgonzola
– XO Cognac & Mature Camembert, Manchego, Parmesan, Aged Gouda - Duck. Duck is a very popular pairing with Cognac. Try your duck with orange sauce or foie gras.
- Pork. Try the pork with a glazed honey sauce or a sweet pork belly.
- Sushi. Sushi and sashimi pair well with Cognac because of the balance of acidity and fruitiness.
- Mushrooms. Pair buttery, sauteed mushrooms with lighter and younger Cognacs.
What are some popular Cognac-based cocktails?
Many terrific cocktails use Cognac as an ingredient in the recipe. Some of the most popular are:
- Sidecar
- Prescription Julep
- Vieux Carré
- Sazerac
- French 75
Cognac continues to be the choice drink of celebrities today.
Cognac has the allure of sophistication, trendiness, and complexity. It’s no mystery why it has captured the hearts of so many connoisseurs. The seductive quality of Cognac has to do with the combination of high alcohol and the complexity of the spirit. It matures wonderfully, becoming even more complex and sophisticated. We hope our ultimate guide gave you all the knowledge you need when you’re ready to give it a try.