Which cognac to buy

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Learning about Cognac is all about the discovery of aroma, taste, and how aspects such as terroir and age influence the sensory journey Contents hide.

Marancheville XO Grande Champagne. Park Napoleon Borderies Cognac. Bache Gabrielsen American Oak. Audry XO. Get articles like these and more: Subscribe to our mailing list Get our Cognac Guide in form of an e-Book for free.

To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. Initially driven by rich vanilla aromas and sweet baking spices, dried stone fruits then envelop the palate like a thick, cozy blanket. There are subtle layers of oak and spice, too, while the finish veers into port territory. That extra kick only serves to magnify its flavors and aromas, which dance between stone fruits, honey, and white flowers.

A highly perfumed nose dazzles with peach yogurt aromas, while the palate is concentrated and full of flavor. Like a confectionary delight pulled straight out of the oven, this V. Where some bottles deliver this experience then fall disappointingly flat on the finish, this Cognac keeps on going and going.

Skip dessert and enjoy a pour of Monnet. Estate-produced in every sense of the term, Frapin handles all aspects of production from growing grapes right through to aging and bottling the final eau-de-vie. Though generous in fruit character, this release also steps into more complex, savory territory, with black tea and tobacco notes dialing up the intrigue. Another single-estate release, this V.

With a striking and bold flavor profile, sipping occasions are guaranteed. A distinctive tart cherry note raises the curtain on this Cognac and continues well onto the encore. The juicy stone fruit works seamlessly with the added character provided by years resting gracefully in oak. It also provides the perfect profile to mix a Cognac-based Manhattan. Established in by Thomas Hine, the House of Hine — like all the great cognac producers — has been around for a long time.

The house was built on the principle that you cannot have a great cognac without great white wine. While other houses strive for complete consistency year after year, Hine produces cognacs made with vintage crus that encapsulate the uniqueness of the stated year. This is the combination of 40 eaux-de-vie produced exclusively with Grande Champagne grapes.

Before the invention of modern packaging techniques, cognac was shipped around the world in barrels. These long sea voyages would have a huge influence on the cognac in its final months of maturation.

The combination of constant movement, salty air, temperature variations and air pressure changes gave the cognac unrivaled smoothness. But when the practice stopped in the early s, that characteristic was lost.

At Kelt, they believe this influence is crucial to the liquid, which is why the brand takes its barrels on a day sea journey around the world before bottling. Kelt considers this its own essential stage of maturation and means it can offer the original taste of exported cognac. Founded in , Courvoisier is a latecomer compared with other houses on this list, but that did not stop it from becoming the cognac of choice for Napoleon Bonaparte. Legend has it Napoleon visited the distillery in and was so taken by the cognac that he requested a ration of cognac for his soldiers during the Napoleonic wars.

It is also believed he took several barrels of cognac with him to St. Helena, where he was exiled, and even shared it with the British soldiers on his journey there. We love this cognac as it is made from a blend of eaux-de-vie from the most exclusive of the growing regions , Borderies, and so offers the wonderful tones of violets that are so typical of this terroir. The Park Napoleon Borderies provides a delicate taste experience and is exceptionally elegant on the palate.

This is a really easy drinking cognac and one that we recommend trying in a multitude of ways to experience the subtle taste alterations this brings. When Bache first introduced its American Oak in , it was a truly innovative product and the first of its kind.

This VSOP gets its magical touch thanks to the aging process being finished in Tennessee oak barrels which has led to a distinctly bourbon-esque taste experience. The bourbon flavor combined with fruity, almost tropical aromas, makes for an extremely versatile cognac. This is a great choice to evolve your palate and knowledge of how different cask finishes have a direct influence on the final product. Settle in as we introduce you to some of the finest Cognac money can buy within reason.

As XO and above cognacs are deemed to be the best quality due to their extended aging, the following four bottles are all within this age category. So settle in as we introduce you to some of the finest cognac money can buy within reason.

The estate is located in the village of Cherves Richemont is in the north of the Cognac region, and makes it primely located in the heart of the Borderies. The flavors and floral quality of eaux-de-vie from this terroir are deep and long-reaching. The vintage year of is remembered as experiencing a near-perfect climate. The harvest took place at the end of September, and they harvested many ripe grapes at the perfect point of maturity. The final product is a complex Cognac that is well rounded but rich.

The Cognac has been distilled using traditional methods and then aged in casks selected from a range of toasts and grains.

Its eaux de vie offers a rich and complex palate of aromas. Cherves Richmont is a village north of Cognac town, home to artisan Cognac producers who has been selected for their exceptional Cognacs that come from such a small area.

Widely recognised as one of the best XO cognacs in the world, it is a profound blend of elegant eaux-de-vie from the Fine Champagne region , along with the complex and unique flavors and aromas found in the Borderies eaux-de-vie.

The result is a decadent and voluptuous cognac that reveals many layers to experience. Whilst we agree with the sentiment, we have to say that at a modest price we think you are getting the best of both worlds in terms of price and flavor here. It consists of a mix between the Ugni Blanc and of the rare Folle Blanche grape, and is exclusively cultivated in the Grande Champagne growing area.

The oak barrels give Cognac its full spice experience, and Bache-Gabrielsen use only the best. The oldest eaux-de-vie in the blend reaches back all the way to , and the youngest to around ; this is undeniably reflected in the quality of the blend itself.

It is a rich Cognac with plenty to show off about, and comprises the best elements of fine Premier Cru produce, such as its long finish. The family ensures that its vineyards are cultivated in a sustainable and ecologically sensitive way , in order to preserve the environment and wildlife. Camus keeps its eau-de-vie separate prior to blending, allowing them to be distilled and aged in individual casks for at least 10 years.

This meticulous process allows the Cellar Master to carefully fuse the eaux-de-vie after aging and the final result is an intensely aromatic, single-estate XO cognac. Terroir actually means far more than simply the land or soil.

You should enjoy these wonders neat, or perhaps on the rocks, to best savor their age and complexity. This is, we have to say, a pretty incredible selection of cognacs , and each will stand muster for even the most fastidious of palates. The eaux-de-vie is aged for the first three years in young oak casks before being transferred to older barrels.

The humid cellars of this traditional cognac house provide the perfect environment for Mother Nature to work the miracles that occur during the aging process. This luxury was aged for around a quarter of a century before it was deemed ready to be bottled. We have to say, this really is a hidden champion, and one that represents extraordinarily good value for money.

A Fine Champagne blend, the eaux-de-vie are aged for around 12 years, with the oldest coming from the Bouinaud Estate harvest of This cognac has also been widely recognised with multiple Gold and Silver awards at international spirits competitions. Well aged, it truly showcases the jasmine and violet aromas that this growth area is famed for. This is another cognac that really does offer exceptional value for money. Enjoy neat as a digestif or it works just as well in your favorite cocktail.

It also makes a wonderful alternative to the virtually impossible to get hold of Hennessy Pure White, with many switching allegiances to this fine VSOP blend. Now, we apologise as the next few are a bit of a cheat. It matches well after white wines, meat or fish, or even Asian cuisine.

The multi-award-winning Tesseron Lot No76 XO Tradition is a blend of the very best eaux-de-vie from Grande Champagne , with the oldest being from the harvest of Enjoy neat or over ice for the very best taste experience.

The eaux-de-vie in the blend have been aged for between 15 and 25 years. This is truly evident from the moment you first set eyes on its deep mahogany robe and the aromas and flavors only enhance the sensory journey.