Cocktails with Cognac
Cognac is a French grape brandy from around the town of Cognac, made under strict AOC rules. It is distilled twice in copper pot stills and aged in oak.
ABV40%That is the AOC minimum, but 42–46% bottlings also exist.
Substitutes for Cognac
Swaps straight in and is fuller and earthier. In a drink with plenty of other flavors the difference is small.
Spanish or Armenian included, goes in at the same amount. It keeps the oak and the amber color but is usually rougher than Cognac.
Unaged or non-grape brandies (pisco, calvados)
They change the drink.
On the label
- VS / VSOP / Napoléon / XO / Hors d’âge
- The age of the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend. VS means at least 2 years, VSOP 4, Napoléon 6 and XO 10 (6 before 2018); Hors d’âge has the same minimum as XO. Most bottles hold spirit older than the minimum.
