15 Best Cognac Brands You Need to Know
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While you’re looking for new inspiration and flavours, let us show you the 15 Best Cognac Brands You Need to Know!
Cognac is an iconic beverage. Considered very luxurious and highly desirable by alcohol lovers, it is a distillate of wine produced in the area of the town of Cognac in France. Interestingly, almost the entire economy of this city is centered around the famous amber liquor. It contains about 40-45% alcohol. Cognac must be made from at least 90% Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche or Colombard grape varieties. Most cognacs are made only from Ugni Blanc.
Amber treasure
True Cognac is a beverage that was distilled in traditional copper alembics and then matured for at least 2 years in French oak barrels. It is the French oak barrels that give it its specific colour and aroma. The tradition of double distillation dates back to the 16th century.
Cognac production
Cognac is made from the water after the distillation of wine. Although it seems abstract, this dry and acidic wine, which is not drinkable, is great for distilling! It is carried out in copper alembics, and the shape and size of the tanks are strictly regulated. Along with the distilled alcohol, only the most volatile compounds which create its bouquet pass into the distillate.
Further production
During distillation, the wine is heated over a fire while the alcohol it contains begins to evaporate and rises towards the narrow neck of the alembic. After passing through the top of the alembic, the distillate is condensed and collected as a liquid. The first distillation produces a liquid with an alcohol content of about 30%, which is redistilled. Immediately after the second distillation the wine becomes a colourless liquid with an alcohol content of about 70%. Importantly, the age of cognac is only counted after distillation. Cognac can only be sold once two years of ageing have passed.
Aging
Cognac is a truly unique spirit. Its production is heavily regulated by law. The ageing process cannot take place just anywhere either, but in French oak barrels. Even the volume is legally defined! These barrels have a capacity of 270-450 litres. Interestingly, the result is a transparent liquid, whose taste depends on such nuances as the humidity of the air in the storage room or the porosity of the wood! Finally, in order to obtain an amber colour, the cognac is coloured with caramel, but that hasn’t a major impact on its taste.
Ageing designations
- V.S. (Very Special) – distillates which have been aged in oak barrels for at least two years
- V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale) or Reserve – means that the distillate has been aged for about 4 years
- X.O. (Extra Old), Vieille Reserve – distillates aged at least six years
- Vintage – so called vintage; the year on the package is the year of casking
- Hors d’Age – “aged” distillates so old that it is impossible to tell their age, but usually at least 10 years old.
We have prepared for you 15 Best Cognac Brands available on the market. Check out our ranking!
15 Best Cognac Brands
Rémy Martin is one of the oldest brands in the cognac market, established in 1724. It is a classic, conservative taste of cognac. It uses wines from all three ‘cognac’ grape varieties, namely: ugni blanc, colombard and folle blanche.
2. Meukow
The history of the brand dates back to the end of the 19th century, 1862 to be exact. It was then that Tsar Alexander II sent the brothers August-Christophe and Gustave Meukow to France to supply the Tsar’s court with cognacs. After another visit to the Charente river, the brothers decided to set up their own company in Cognac for the purchase of this noble beverage.
3. Martell
In 1715. Jean Martell, a young merchant from Jersey, created his own trading company in the town of Cognac, on the banks of the Charente river. After his death in 1753, his wife and then two sons and a grandson continued the tradition and developed the export branch of the business, making Martell cognacs the most important brand of the industry in England. The company developed its own distillation method using traditional copper alembics used in the Charentes region. Under the supervision of a cellar master, techniques and expert methods are used which have been passed down to the descendants of the family since the founder, Jean Martell.
4. Hennessy
The history of this famous drink began in 1765, when Irish captain Richard Hennessy settled in Cognac in the south of France. He passionately took up the production of wine distillates. Thanks to the perfection of traditional recipes, masterful composition and exceptional quality of Ugni Blanc grapes from this region, this most famous cognac in the world was created.
The drink first became popular in London and then became a sought-after product in the Americas, Australia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. By the end of the 19th century, it was drunk by the crowned heads, financiers, politicians and celebrities of the time. The Hennessy brand became a marker of style and prestige.
5. Hine
Hine’s story is just as interesting! Among other things, it has been the only Elizabeth II-approved cognac served at the British royal court since 1962. Thomas Hine came from England in 1791 to Jarnac (in the Cognac region). He met his wife there and soon became co-owner of the company, which was named Hine & Co. Currently, the creation of the liquor is handled by the sixth generation of Hine.
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6. LOUIS XIII
It is one of the most famous, and most luxurious, spirits in the world. A few years ago, to celebrate its many years (since 1874) in the spirits business, the company decided to release a series of 500 limited edition bottles (from the Legacy series). While the price may seem prohibitive (one bottle cost up to £3,000!), the luxurious calfskin packaging and unique shaped bottle certainly made up for the expense. These bottles contained alcohol that was centuries old. On average, a bottle of this liquor costs around 3-4 thousand pounds. is known for its mahogany colour, high density, and the aftertaste of dates and figs.
7. D’Usse
Distinctive because of the distinctive bottle. It is on this that the double cross of La Croix de Lorraine, or the Cross of Lorraine, is displayed. Interestingly, this symbol represented the Free French Forces during the Second World War. Thus, the cross is a patriotic touch and emphasises the “courage, honour and perseverance” that D’usse wants to identify with its liquor.
8. Croizet
The cognac is named after the distillery’s founder, Pierre Croizet, and the company’s history dates back to 1805. Its alembic, reminiscent of a Greek amphora, which gives a very smooth cognac taste. The drink is aged in 350-litre oak barrels from Tronçais or Limousin. This cognac is aged in barrels made of oak for a minimum of 10 years, thanks to which it acquires amazing multidimensional aromas. The most noticeable notes are orange jam, ripe fruit, saffron and cedarwood.
9. Bache-Gabrielsen
Cognac created from distillates aged in casks for 3-5 years, with aromas of flowers, citrus fruits, vanilla, with a delicate oak aftertaste. The company started in the first decade of the 20th century. Quite recently, a real rarity was added to the Bache-Gabrielsen offer. 150 bottles of cognac from a distillate from the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries have appeared on the market.
10. Hardy
The brand owes its name to its founder and liquor-making enthusiast, Anthony Hardy. Hardy cognac began its history in 1863, when Anthony moved from London to France and founded Maison Hardy. Hardy;s distinctive taste is built on rich aromas and smooth, elegant notes. The company is renowned for producing beautiful and unique decanters in which Hardy cognac is sent to customers around the world.
11. De Luze
One of the most famous French cognac producers, which has been operating since 1822. Its founders were the brothers Alfred and Louis-Philippe De Luze. De Luze cognacs are very delicate, with sweet notes of exotic fruits, flowers, spices. They are usually aged in casks for about 3-5 years. It comes in versions: VS, VSOP, XO, plus Napoleon and Extra and special editions such as the 15 year old De Luze Special Alfred Fine Champagne.
12. Frapin
It is famous for its harmonious taste. The persistent ones are balanced by delicate notes of fruit, such as orange. The finish is slightly spicy thanks to the noticeable presence of pepper, and is softened at the end by the sweetness of cinnamon.
13. Camus
It combines the refinement of taste and design. Uniquely decorated decanters, aromatic aftertaste and several years of ageing are what Cognac lovers love about it. Created in France is also known for its extremely aromatic, fruity notes. There are lots of series, for example Superior, Extra Elegance or Elegance.
14. Courvoisier
Napoleon himself was the fan of the brand, as it has started in early 19th century! Name is from it’s founder and owner, Felix Courvoisier. It was they, as pioneers, who first used the name Napoleon to denote the quality of cognac. Taste – it certainly stands out from the rest. Delicately fruity, but the aromas of those dried fruits and spring flowers are also noticeable. Courvoisier VS is matured in oak barrels for 4 to 8 years, aged in barrels slightly longer than other cognacs of this class.
At last but not least, in our 15 best cognac brands, we present classic Kelt. It becames only during round-the-world voyages! Intriguing? Yes, because Kelt goes around the globe in barrels once in a while (on a special anniversary cruise, etc.), on a ship, and then it ends up in bottles and on shop shelves. The taste is quite similar to most cognacs from the Grande Champagne region. The aroma of tobacco, sultanas, but also ginger or cinnamon notes are noticeable.