The Ultimate Guide to Cognac: History, Types, and Top Brands
Cognac is a world-renowned brandy that has been enjoyed for centuries. With its rich history, unique flavour profiles, and wide range of brands, Cognac is a staple of the spirits world. In this article, we'll explore the history of Cognac, the different types available, and how to drink it. We'll also compare Cognac to Armagnac and showcase some of the top brands available on Liquor Wine Cave, Australia's best place to buy Cognac.
What is Cognac?
Produced in the Cognac region, Cognac is a type of brandy. It is made by distilling wine and then aging it in oak barrels. The area is known for its chalky soil and maritime climate, which creates ideal conditions for growing the grapes used to make Cognac. The grapes must be of certain varieties and grown in specific areas of the region to be considered true Cognac.
History of Cognac
Cognac has a long and storied history, dating back to the 16th century. It was originally produced by Dutch merchants who settled in the region and began distilling wine to create a brandy that could withstand long sea voyages. Over time, the local French population began producing their own Cognac, becoming a popular drink among the nobility. Today, Cognac is considered one of the finest spirits in the world.
How to Drink Cognac
Cognac is typically enjoyed neat or on the rocks. To fully appreciate its flavour, it should be sipped slowly and savoured. It is often served in a snifter glass, which allows the aroma to be captured and enjoyed. The glass should be warmed slightly in your hands before pouring the Cognac, which will help release its full range of flavours and aromas.
Is Cognac a Brandy?
Yes, Cognac is a type of brandy. However, not all brandies are Cognacs. To be considered a true Cognac, the spirit must be produced in the Cognac region and adhere to strict production regulations.
Cognac vs Armagnac
Cognac and Armagnac are both French brandies, but they are produced in different regions of France and have distinct flavour profiles. Cognac is known for its elegant, smooth flavour and floral notes, while Armagnac has a richer, more robust flavour with hints of spice and fruit. Both are aged in oak barrels, but Armagnac is typically aged longer than Cognac.
The distillation process of Cognac and Armagnac is quite similar, but there are some key differences. Both are made by distilling wine, but Armagnac is distilled only once in a continuous still, while Cognac is distilled twice in a pot still. This gives Armagnac a more rustic and robust flavour, while Cognac is known for its elegant and smooth profile. Additionally, Armagnac is often bottled at a higher proof than Cognac, contributing to its more potent taste.
Types of Cognac
Cognac is classified by age, with different designations based on the length of time it has been aged. VS (Very Special) Cognac has been aged for at least two years, VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) for at least four years, and XO (Extra Old) for at least six years. Some of the top brands available on Liquor Wine Cave include Jean Fillioux, Paul Giraud, Grosperrin, Francois Voyer, Dudognon, Mery Melrose, and Normandin Mercier.
Cognac is a refined and complex spirit that has been enjoyed for centuries. Whether you're a seasoned Cognac connoisseur or a newcomer to the world of spirits, there is something for everyone to discover. Explore the rich history, unique flavours, and top brands on Liquor Wine Cave, Australia's best place to buy Cognac.
0 notes
Armagnac vs Cognac
Sipping a glass of good brandy is a classic and fancy way to treat yourself. In France, the Cognac and Armagnac regions produced some of the best tasting spirits the world of brandies offers. Although they share proximity, they created two incredibly different brandy styles that took the world by storm.
While Cognac and Armagnac are amongst the most well-known grape-based French spirits, don’t mistake them by thinking they are the same. Leisure loan providers at Credit Capital couldn’t agree more. Head of finance Alister Clare said, “Despite having almost the same origin, these two brandies are just too different! Choosing between them falls entirely on the person’s taste.”
For brandy lovers, choosing between the two might prove to be complicated. To help, here is a detailed breakdown of notable differences between Cognac and Armagnac to help you decide which French Brandy would better match your taste!
What is the Difference Between Cognac and Armagnac
While both hailed from France, these two brandies sport significant differences that set them entirely apart.
Grape Variety Differences
Surprisingly, both Cognac and Armagnac are created from undrinkable wine... (to be exact, it is meant to be so, acidic, low in alcohol [8 to 9%], from less mature grapes, to have the widest palette of aromatics, to be revealed after Distillation and ageing in barrel. Table wines are made at full maturation and have a much narrower aromatic spectrum, and if they were distilled would make very boring brandies) Cognac uses mostly Ugni Blanc Grape, while Armagnac uses Ugni blanc and Baco, Colombard , Folle Blanche & other grape varieties. This difference in grape varieties is behind the great diversity of cognacs and armagnacs
Cognac is round and soft with a narrower spectrum of aromatics than Armagnac which is more complex and more difficult.
Distillation
Cognac such as Normandin Mercier, Francois Voyer, Paul Giraud and Grosperrin undergo two distillation rounds in pot stills. At the same time, Armagnac, such as Delord and Darroze, only has to go through it once in a column still.
Ageing
A Cognac needs to be aged for at least two years minimum. It typically sits in a Tronçaisoak barrel or Limousin. For Armagnac, it needs to be aged for 2 years to be considered VS (Very Special) in a Gascon oak barrel..Of course such ageing is very insufficient and at Spirits of France, no VS is less than 5 years, VSOP less than 10 years, XO less than 20 years , etc.
Terroir
Differentiation is further amplified by origin and soil. In Cognac, Grande Champagne (Dudognon, Francois Voyer, Jean Fillioux, Paul Giraud), Petite Champagne (Normandin Mercier) , Borderies (Grosperrin) are terroir that will double the price when Bons Bois, Fins Bois & Bois Ordinaires are more...ordinary.
In Armagnac it is Grand Bas Armagnac (Boingneres, Darroze, Lacourtoisie), far more expensive than Bas Armagnac (Delord, Gelas, Castarede, Tariquet) or Tenarèze (Darroze)
And of course there are some rare exceptions
Taste
As it turns out, Armagnacs, like Delord, tend to have rustic, strong, robust, and generous flavours. It seems light compared to the refined and delicate flavours of Cognac, like Normandin Mercier and Voyer, which often have exceptionally deep-rooted floral notes.
The immense difference in flavour and taste came from the distinctive process and other differences mentioned above. While excluding the difference in climate and geographical location, Armagnac has more yearly vintage releases than blends. Generally, a well-aged and cared for Armagnac can offer a comprehensive tapestry of aroma, making a harmoniously heady experience for the taster.
Meanwhile, Cognac has a complex tableau of solid and rich flavours. Typically, they have more citrus and candied fruits flavour on the nose and hints of spices. One can associate their taste with leather, caramelised fruit, and citrus.
Which French Brandy Matches Your Taste?
Cognac and Armagnac are remarkable alcoholic spirits celebrated for their vast array of flavours and the complex ageing process. While hailing from the same country, their similarities end there. These two brandies are entirely different, and it takes personal taste and preference to decide which of the two is better.
Spirits of France houses the most refined and high-end French brandies in the market, including Cognac and Armagnac. What do we promise? to offer the best and high-quality products in the Spirits Industry.
Feel free to reach out to us to know more.
0 notes
indvoran replied to your link “The Game - UglyWettieWrites - Spies of Warsaw [Archive of Our Own]”
Oh, I loved The Game! The best Mercier I've seen. Were you planning to write about him (and that story) more? I thought it was an one-shot...
I did want to write more about them both - I even had a rough outline of where I wanted the story to go. I wrote those stories a while ago, but since it wasn’t a Teninch pairing, it didn’t get much joy.
Would you like to read more?
6 notes
·
View notes