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The Best Cognac to Buy in 2023, According to the Experts
Make like Snoop and add a bottle to the bar cart
At first glance, it’s perhaps hard to believe that Cognac — a sleepy commune in southwestern France — has such a strong connection to hip-hop.
But its the small town's eponymous drink, and the historic brands that distill it, that has become wedded to the genre via some of its biggest names. From the early-nineties onwards, the most celebrated artisans behind the drink – specifically Hennessy, Rémy Martin and Courvoisier – were regularly being name-checked by artists like Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg as a symbol of "old money" luxury, and the influence continues to this day.
Looking to understand what all the fuss is about and add a bottle to your bar cart? Here to sort the Henny from the Remy, our wine and spirits experts have given us the lowdown.
Best cognac to buy in 2023
What is cognac?
Cognac is a specific type of brandy, made from distilled white wine. However, just as all champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is champagne; all cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac... you follow?
Put simply, cognac is the crème de la crème of the brandy world. Made in a specific region, it must be aged in French oak for a minimum of two years, and undergo two distillations. The second distillation produces the ‘eau de vie’, which is then blended, aged, and released when the brand deems it ready.
What is the highest quality of cognac?
Unlike certain wine regions, which are based on appellations and vinification methods, cognac works on an easy-to-get-your-head-around ageing classification.
VS or ‘very special’ — means the youngest eau-de-vie has been aged for a minimum of two years.
VSOP or ‘Very Superior Old Pale’ — the youngest wine spirit is at least four years old.
XO ‘extra old’ — the youngest wine spirit is at least 10 years old.
XXO ‘extra extra old’ — the youngest wine spirit is at least 14 years old.
How to drink cognac
While food pairing is possible, generally speaking, cognac is best served as a digestif, or aperitif. While the old-school set would only serve it neat and at room temperature, we’re not ones to follow the rules.
So, ice it down or whack it in a cocktail. We’re not here to tell you what to do. If cocktails are on the cards, you can’t go wrong with the classics — whether that’s the Sidecar, Brandy Alexander or Sazerac. Hell, even a splash of tonic or ginger ale will do the job if short on time.
How we test cognac
Our panel — made up of accredited cognac experts and consumers — tested each bottle blind; first neat, then diluted with water to soften the alcohol and allow the core flavours to shine. They were looking for well-balanced examples offering a smooth mouthfeel and complexity. Younger cognacs should display a light and lively profile of fruit and floral notes, while aged examples should bring greater complexity, heavier oak and jammy dried fruit.
These are the bottles you’ll find on their bar cart.
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
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