{"id":300,"date":"2019-12-27T07:29:47","date_gmt":"2019-12-27T07:29:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liquorstore-online.com\/blog\/?p=300"},"modified":"2019-12-27T08:55:57","modified_gmt":"2019-12-27T08:55:57","slug":"how-to-buy-cognac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.liquorstore-online.com\/blog\/how-to-buy-cognac\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Buy Cognac"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever wanted to try cognac<\/a>? Are you interested in finding out more about what it is and breaking into the world of cognac enjoyment for the first time? Or have you sample cognac before but aren\u2019t quite sure what to make of it or how best to enjoy it next time? If any of this sounds like you, then you\u2019re in luck. In this article, we\u2019ll give you a quick rundown of cognac so you can better understand what it is, where it comes from, and what you should do when you drink it, too.
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What is Cognac?<\/strong>
\nCognac is a type of brandy that is made specifically in a part of France called Cognac. Much like real champagne comes from Champagne, real cognac must always come from Cognac. Wine used in the production of cognac comes from the surrounding Charente region of France, so the entire production takes place in and around the same area. Cognac is required to be distilled in copper and then aged for at least two years in French oak, although it usually ages for longer. Everything involved in the production of cognac is strictly regulated to ensure it meets industry standards and can truly be labeled as cognac, officially.<\/p>\n

But if cognac is brandy, then what is brandy? Brandy is the product of the distillation process when it is performed on wine. The end result of this process is a drink with a higher alcohol content and a different flavor and appearance than the original wine had. Brandy is usually enjoyed as an after-dinner drink and isn\u2019t usually paired with meals, unlike its wine counterpart. There are several different types of brandy; although cognac is a brandy, brandy is not necessarily always cognac.<\/p>\n

What are the different types of Cognac?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\tVS<\/strong>: VS stands for Very Special and refers to the \u201clow\u201d end of cognac<\/a>\u2014although it\u2019s important to specify that even this \u201clow\u201d cognac quality is still usually incredibly nice in comparison to many other liquors. VS cognac has been aged for at least two years, but not more than four years. This cognac, like all other types, is aged in French oak barrels.<\/p>\n

\u2022\tVSOP<\/strong>: VSOP is Very Superior Old Pale cognac<\/a>. This is the next step up in the grading scale, and this cognac has been aged for at least four years but not more than ten years in French oak casks.<\/p>\n

\u2022\tXO<\/strong>: XO stands for Extra Old cognac. This cognac originally had to be aged for at least 6 years<\/a>, but recently the standards changed, and now it must be aged for at least 10 years in order to receive this designation on the label.<\/p>\n

o\tNote<\/strong>: Some cognacs were \u201cgrandfathered in\u201d to this rule, meaning that if they were aged for at least 6 years and met all the requirements, they could legally be labeled as Napoleon<\/a> or Napoleon XO. This denotes aging that may not fit into the new laws but would have fit into the old ones.<\/p>\n

\u2022\tHors d\u2019age<\/strong>: Technically, this term means \u201cbeyond age\u201d<\/a> and isn\u2019t an official label for cognac. However, it can be used to refer to very old cognacs that go beyond the ten-year grading scale listed above. For the most part, however, it\u2019s used as a marketing tactic and doesn\u2019t necessarily mean anything more.<\/p>\n

\u2022\tHeritage<\/strong>: This is another largely marketing-based label that can refer to cognac<\/a> that is at least fifty years old, or maybe even older. Once again, if you see this on a label, it\u2019s likely simply put there to drive sales and create interest rather than as any official designation.<\/p>\n

Which Cognac is right for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\tGrande Champagne cognacs, any grade<\/strong>: This is cognac that comes from the Grande Champagne area, and it\u2019s often considered one of the best varieties out there<\/a>. With that said, within this distinction there are many other sub-categories, which means you can easily find a good quality bottle at a reasonable price. These cognacs are easy to sip and drink, and they usually come in at the VS or VSOP grading level. VS cognacs can be mixed into cocktails, but VSOP cognacs should probably be enjoyed neat as they are intended to be.<\/p>\n

\u2022\tHennessy XO<\/strong>: Want to give yourself a true cognac experience while sticking to a well-known brand name? If so, you can\u2019t go wrong with Hennessy XO. This Extra Old variety of cognac comes from the best-known label in the world of cognacs<\/a> and continues to be one of the most popular choices out there. It pairs well with a variety of foods and it also plays nicely by itself, so you can easily enjoy it the way you feel is best. Of course, many true cognac connoisseurs will tell you that Hennessy isn\u2019t actually the best on the market\u2014it\u2019s only the most well-known\u2014so there may be some other cognacs you should try first instead.<\/p>\n

\u2022\tRemy Martin VSOP<\/strong>: Okay, so you want to try cognac but you don\u2019t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a liquor you aren\u2019t sure you\u2019re going to like yet. Right? This is often what drives many people to buy their first bottle of cognac, and if it\u2019s true for you too, then look for Remy Martin<\/a>. This label is affordable without sacrificing anything in terms of quality, flavor, or sophistication. And the VSOP cognac from this brand name features a licorice vanilla flavor that is sure to surprise and delight any newcomers to the cognac scene.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong>
\nWere you able to learn a little bit about cognac? Did you get inspired to try it for the first time\u2014or to try it again, if you\u2019ve had it before? Cognac may be an acquired taste, but it\u2019s sure to please most fans of high-end liquor. When you take your time and pick a cognac that caters to your preferences as well as your standards in liquor quality, you\u2019ll be able to find a product to enjoy again and again. And of course, if you\u2019re looking for a gift to give for the holidays or for any upcoming special occasion, a bottle of cognac makes a strong impression any time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you ever wanted to try cognac? Are you interested in finding out more about what it is and breaking into the world of cognac enjoyment for the first time? Or have you sample cognac before but aren\u2019t quite sure what to make of it or how best to enjoy it next time? If any … Continue reading “How to Buy Cognac”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":305,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t