Cognac, the most recognizable type of brandy, is famous for many reasons, not least that it was the preferred drink of luminaries from Napoleon to modern-day hip-hop royalty. The latter have famously name-checked specific brands in songs: 2Pac dedicated an entire track to Hennessy. So did Snoop. In Drake’s 2016 “One Dance,” he says, “Got a Hennessy in my hand.” Jay-Z, who rapped “sipping Rémy on the rocks” back in 1991, even launched—and sold—his own brand Cognac brand, D’Ussé.
Why? The spirit is emblematic of old-world luxury that can be attained by achieving success. Brandy, on the other hand, has not garnered the same pop culture cache. But what’s the difference between the two, exactly? Here’s everything you need to know.
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All Cognac Is Brandy, But Not All Brandy Is Cognac
Brandy can be made all over the world, with various fruits and even vegetables. But Cognac is a grape-based brandy exclusively made in the Cognac region of France.
The Interprofessional Bureau of Cognac (BNIC) sets strict regulations for making Cognac. It’s made from specific grape varieties: Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Folle Blanche, Montils and Folignan. Once fermented into a dry, acidic wine, it’s distilled twice in direct-fired Charentais pot stills. The distillate is then aged in 350-liter casks made from French oak.
Cognac producers often blend young brandies with small amounts of much older brandies, meaning single-vintage Cognacs are very rare. Most Cognacs are diluted to 40% abv; cask-strength Cognacs also are rare.
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Does Cognac Need to Come from France?
In short, yes. “The city of Cognac gave the name to the brandy, like the city of Bordeaux gave its name to the wines that are produced in Gironde,” explains Bénédicte Hardy, international brand ambassador for Hardy Cognac. Brandies made elsewhere, even elsewhere in France, cannot be called Cognac.
Cognac’s AOC spans from the banks of the Charente River to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. It also has six smaller growth areas, each with different terroirs: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois and Bois Ordinaires. That area stretches across 86,000 hectares, or about 332 square miles.
In addition to Hennessy, the biggest producers of Cognac are Remy Martin, Martell and Courvoisier. Other well-known brands include D’Usse (founded by Jay-Z), Ferrand and Hine.
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Does Cognac Taste Different From Other Types of Brandy?
There are a few characteristics that make Cognac stand apart from other types of brandy. Though made of grapes, Cognac often has additional nuanced fruit tones that suggest stone fruit, orchard fruit, citrus or even floral notes. Further, since Cognac is rarely aged in new-oak casks, the impact of the wood tends to be subtle, yielding mellow tannins and light touches of almond and spice. (That said, some Cognacs are finished in barrels that previously held bourbon, which can yield stronger vanilla and spice.)
Longer-aged Cognacs often are nutty or show dried fruit (dates, figs, prune) or candied fruit. Many of the oldest exhibit “rancio,” an umami quality that some liken to aged cheeses, mushrooms or walnuts.
Alex Day, partner of Gin & Luck and co-owner of Death & Co., offers a more poetic take. “[Cognac offers] a delicate balance between the softness of the fruit, almost a juicy foundation, with a hint of toasty spice,” he says. “Especially on cold nights, sipping Cognac always feels like pulling on a warm sweater, one that you last wore while sitting around a campfire weeks ago. It’s cozy, not overly or even noticeably smoky, but [has] the slightest impression of flame and wood. Indulging in that sensation during the holidays will forever be my happy place.”
How Strong Is Cognac? Is It a Wine, Liqueur or Spirit?
Cognac is considered a spirit or liquor, and typically is bottled at around 40% abv (80 proof) or slightly higher. That means it’s much stronger than wine, although both are made from grapes.
Cognac is unsweetened, and not considered a liqueur. However, Grand Marnier, a well-known orange liqueur, is made using a Cognac base.
What’s the Best Way to Drink Cognac?
Most pros suggest sipping Cognac neat, whether in a snifter, rocks glass or tulip glass.
“There’s no wrong way to drink Cognac, anyone who says otherwise is a snob — but there are ways that may be better for you, personally,” says Day. “On its own, I veer toward room temperature and neat, and though a snifter looks cool, skip it for a nice Old Fashioned glass with a thin rim.”
In terms of mixing into cocktails, Cognac is “a willing collaborator” with other spirits and flavors, Day adds. He advises looking to classics like the Sidecar and the Vieux Carré, as well as the Harvard, a Manhattan variation.
4 Top-Rated Cognacs to Try, $50 and Below
Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula Cognac
Intended to mix, the producer describes this as an attempt to re-create the kind of Cognac used by the golden-era mixologists of the 1800s. Golden raisin, honey and oak leads into a red fruit-tinged midpalate. The elongated finish tapers off with plentiful sweet spices, drying to a cigar wrapper hint. It’s fairly hot if sipped straight, but stands up nicely in cocktails, as intended. No age statement. 94 Points — K.N.
$47 Total Wine & More
Maison Dudognon Reserve Cognac
This Cognac offers a golden hue and mild honey and white flower aromas. The subtle palate opens with a mild smoky note, then gives over to honey, sandalwood, and a nutmeg and ginger exhale. Made with eau-de-vie a minimum of 10 years old. Best Buy. 91 Points — K.N.
$ Varies Wine-Searcher
Larsen Aqua Ignis Cognac
This Cognac is aged in barrels that are “steam-toasted,” meaning it’s immersed in water, then toasted. The end result is a deep amber hue and pleasing hazelnut, cocoa and vanilla on nose and palate. Hints of dried cherry and date lead into a nutmeg and cinnamon-flecked finish. Enjoy alongside a dessert pairing or mix into cocktails. No age statement. 95 Points — K.N.
$ Varies Wine-Searcher
Courvoisier VS Cognac
Mild oak and almond aromas lead the nose. Dried fig, raisin and baked apple sit beneath a light blanket of vanilla, exiting with brisk baking spice and a flicker of alcohol heat. Best Buy. 92 Points — K.N.
$34 Total Wine & More4 Top-Rated Brandies That Aren’t Cognac to Try, $50 and Below
Argonaut Speculator Brandy
This burnished-gold California brandy mixes brandies aged three years (more than half the blend) to 19 years. The end result is lots of orchard fruit, with nuanced fresh pear, golden raisin and a hint of elderflower landing lightly with a ginger and white floral exhale. Best Buy. 95 Points — K.N.
$34 Total Wine & More
St-Rémy Signature French Brandy
Bold mocha, toffee and oak tones coat the palate, combining to suggest sweet, confectionary flavors such as vanilla cookie, pain au chocolat and Nutella. Hints of orange peel and violet freshen the exhale. Best Buy. Best Buy. 92 Points — K.N.
$29 Total Wine & More
Laird’s 10th Generation Bottled in Bond Aged 5 Years Apple Brandy
This substantial sipper has a copper hue and a baked apple aroma. The plush palate opens with lots of caramel and spice. A splash of water brings out hints of tobacco and cigar wrapper, finishing with baked apple, cinnamon and clove. Aged five years and bottled in bond, this bottling commemorates the 10th generation of Laird’s making apple spirits. 96 Points — K.N.
$43 Total Wine & More
Artez Historic Baco Armagnac
The Baco grape variety represents only 10% of vineyards used to make Armagnac, so it’s not often seen as a single varietal bottling. The end result is a sweet vanilla fragrance and pleasing gingerbread interspersed with espresso, vanilla and a hint of hazelnut. The drying finish is lifted by orange peel and cracked black peppercorn. Best Buy. 94 Points — K.N.
$44 Total Wine & MoreFAQs
What Does V.S.O.P. Mean? What About V.S.?
This isn’t a comprehensive list of Cognac designations, but the most common expressions are as follows:
V.S.: This term means “very special,” and it signifies that the youngest brandy used in a Cognac blend is aged at least two years.
V.S.O.P.: This labeling means “very superior old pale.” If you get a bottle with this seal, the youngest brandy in the blend was aged at least four years.
Napoleon: The youngest brandy in the blend was aged for a minimum of six years.
X.O.: This term means “extra old.” The youngest brandy in the blend was aged for a minimum of 10 years.
X.X.O.: This newer category was established in 2018. It means the youngest brandy in the blend was aged 14 years.
What Type of Brandy Is Hennessy?
Owned by French luxury conglomerate LMVH, Hennessy is a Cognac—and is widely—regarded as the top-selling Cognac in the world. (There’s even a 50-song Spotify playlist dedicated to the brand.)
What About Armagnac?
Armagnac is a French brandy made in the Armagnac region, which is south of Cognac. While Cognac is made using pot stills, Armagnac uses column distillation, which yields a lighter spirit. Read more about the difference between Cognac and Armagnac here.
In addition, Calvados is another well-known French brandy, distilled from apples and pears, and made in the Normandy region. Read more about Calvados here.
Published: December 12, 2023
