Gin , vodka , whisky , tequila , rum – the average boozing valet de chambre has a honorable understanding of the fundamental life . But brandy ? improbable . And Cognac , brandy ’s sexiest sibling next to Ray J ? Almost certainly not – and that ’s a infernal disgrace . To well educate you on this kingly disembodied spirit , we bankrupt down a ready to hand pathfinder of of the essence facts . Read on and see up ( and we promise not make another Ray J reference ) .
1. Cognac is the Champagne of brandy
Cognac is a type ofbrandy , or distilled wine , made in a represented region of about 200,000 acres circumvent the townsfolk of Cognac , on France ’s westerly coast . All Cognac is brandy , but not all brandy is Cognac . Like how all rhombuses are squares , but not all squares are diamond . Or how all grill cheese are sandwiches , but not all sandwich are grill cheese . We can keep depart but we ’ll arrest because you probably let it the first time .
2. There are six distinct Cognac-making regions
Within this " bounded area , " as it ’s called by French Cognac authorization , are six zone of output defined by their terroir . From highest - quality ( calcareous , limestone - rich stain that keep on the most moisture and reflects the most sunlight to the grape ) to lowest ( filth that is mostly remains or sand ) , they are : Grande Champagne , Petit Champagne , Borderies , Fins Bois , Bons Bois , and Bois Ordinaires . Virtually all Cognac are blended from several eaux - de - vie ( distilled hard drink of varying long time ) from these six regions for the most well - rounded smack .
3. There are some really strict laws about Cognac
Here are a few : Cognac must be made from one or a combination of just three types of grapevine ( Ugni Blanc , Folle Blanche , and Colombard ) . It must be senesce for at least two years . It must be double - distilled in copper pot stills of a picky configuration and configuration ( Chartenais , after the Gallic territory where the procedure spring up ) . Its grapes must be harvest only in October , and it must be purify only from November 1st to March 31st . And distillers have to sing La Marseillaise at no louder than a whisper to each individual barrel three times a day ( okay we made that up but seriously it would be believable considering everything else ) .
4. No really, the laws are intense
Cognac has to be age in barrels made from French oak tree from one of twospecific forests . less timberland are for peasants .
5. That whole “VS” and “VSOP” thing is actually pretty simple
There are three main classifications for Cognac : VS , or Very Special , has been aged at least two years ( Cognacs marked with three stars are also VS ) ; VSOP , or Very Superior Old Pale , has been aged at least four years ; XO , or Extra Old , has been aged at least six years ( though as of next April , Cognac will postulate 10 years of ripening to qualify as XO ) .
6. But there are some fun bonus classifications
Some less common nomenclature used to grade Cognac : Napoléon , technically aged as long as XO , though marketed as being somewhere between a VSOP and an XO ; Vieux , which interpret to " old " and is also a marketing term denote a Cognac between VSOP and XO ; Hors d’age , which means " beyond old age , " is at least as old as an XO ( though could be 40 or even 50 age old ) , and mostly just mean " ruhl fancy . "
7. Peopleusedto drink Cognac from those big honking glasses to keep it warm
Back when variola was a daily topic of conversation at ye olde tap house , The Queen ’s No - key - Heating , it was just cold all the clip . Those big bulb drinking glass are designed to channelize heating system from the necessarily meaty grip of your hands to the drink , which is well enjoyed at about 70 degrees .
8. But you don’t have to anymore
Rock glasses and a legion of other substitute glasswork are perfectly acceptable . Not acceptable ? Drinking it in a velvet blazer by a roaring fire – that ’s the past . finger free to tipple this stuff wear a nice cardigan or even , like , a sorry cardigan . It ’s all good , homo .
9. It doesn’t keep aging
Unlike the wine it ’s made from , Cognac wo n’t amend with time , though , as long as you keep it in a nerveless , dark place , it will stay just as delicious as the twenty-four hour period it was bottled until the daytime you crack it assailable .
10. It’s perfectly fine to drink it with Coke
Especially if it ’s a untried ( VS or VSOP ) Cognac . unify it with Coke , ginger ale , or even Champagne or the fruity dessert wine-colored Moscato over ice rink wo n’t get you plain out of the Cool Guy Cognac Club . Two classic cocktails that feature Cognac : the Sidecar ( Cognac , Cointreau , lemon succus , bare syrup ) and the French Connection ( equal parts Cognac and Amaretto liqueur ) . Or try substitute it in for rummy in a Dark ' N Stormy .
11. You can treat it like Scotch
The easiest and most common ways to drink Cognac are neat or with a just pearl of water as you might supply to a fine Scotch to " open it up " ( the creation of H2O molecules to alcoholic drink produces a chemical reaction that actually release passion , and with it more of the spirit ’s odor ) .
12. The darker the Cognac, the older it is
Younger Cognacs tend to be sluttish and more honied in color ; older Cognacs take on a productive gold chromaticity thanks to the tannins of the oak tree ( from extremely exclusive forests , remember ) barrel in which they ’re aged .
13. Drink it neat if it’s old
store your pricey , one-time Cognacs for pledge slap-up . Dumping Shasta in an XO Cognac is like dressing George Clooney in a Men ’s Wearhouse suit of clothes .
14. Cognac has a couple of kissing cousins
In Armagnac , a brandy made in nearby , you guessed it , Armagnac , and Calvados , an orchard apple tree brandy made in Normandy ( likely did n’t guess that ) .
15. The best Cognac is a little funky
The height of Cognac deliciousness is referred to among connoisseurs as " rancio , " a Spanish - derived term that describes a kind of funky , earthy , umami quality that the finest senior Cognacs achieve .
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