How to read a Cognac label?
A Cognac can be identified by its label. You will find several different expressions and terms on an “etiquette”.
Terms which must be on the label:
The name: Cognac, Eau-de-vie de Cognac or Eau-de-vie des Charentes
The volume: The standard is 0,7 or 0,75 L
The ABV, which must be at least at …
Posted by Cognac Expert • 
Filed in Brandy and Whiskey.. What’s the difference? And Cognac and Whisky?
While Cognac is made from grapes (the brandwijn), Whiskey is made from grains. Both are fermented, and convert sugar to ethanol..
Whiskies
One thing that whisky and cognac have in common is that they are aged in barrels: They get more and more smooth. The spirits pick up quite a lot from …
TOP 10 Cognac misunderstandings: From Conyak to Hennessey
Sometimes, some people get it wrong. That’s fine. Cognac Expert is the website which will help setting the record straight.
Cognac Misunderstandings
Here is a list of the TOP 10 misunderstandings regarding French brandy, the Cognac:
1. It’s Hennessy and not Hennessey.
First of all, Hennessy is French and should not be confused with …
What does VS, VSOP, XO, Napoléon mean? About the different quality grades and the blending
XO VS VSOP
The official quality grades and storage specifications of Cognac. What is VS, VSOP and XO? And what is it about the blending?
VS Very Special, or ✯✯✯ (three stars) where the youngest brandy is aged at least two years in oak casks.
VSOP Very Special (less commonly, but officially according …
Cognac tasting sheet: print the PDF and start your degustation
If you need some more structure for your Cognac tasting session, you might want to consider using a tasting sheet. Last time I tasted a Cognac (will be posting the report soon), such a “printable review pad” could have been useful.
We created one for you! Just print the PDF and …
The three different Cognac grapes: Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard
Of course, every Cognac is made from wine. The grapes used in the Charente are 3 different varieties: Those grape varieties will not deliver a very good wine but a wine perfect for distilling. Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard make light and acidic wine.
Ugni Blanc
This grape variety is …
The oak barrel: Critical for Cognac ageing
Maturing is very important for a good Cognac, the slow ageing in oak casks. The used wood for those barrels is selected because of its ability to transfer certain aromas to the spirit. The contact between oak and eaux-de-vie not only gives the Cognac the nice colour but also the …
The little brother of Cognac: What is Pineau? How is it made?
Pineau des Charentes or just ‘Pineau’ is a French aperitif. The drink is actually not very well known abroad, but in Charente it plays a rather important role.
Pineau is fortified wine, vin de liqueur, blended of slightly fermented grape must and eaux-de-vie (Cognac). Pineau should be served chilled, at 8 …
A complete history of Cognac: The long way to eau-de-vie
The history of Cognac actually starts in the third century. The region and the beverage Cognac has a long history and involves all kind of nations, merchants, kings and aristocrats, natural catastrophes, wars and cold winters. Despite all this, the product kept getting better and better, century after century. Read …
What is Cognac?… Some facts and a great video!
Cognacs are created by blending different spirits (eaux-de-vie). The eau-de-vie is made through a special distillation process where the grapes are distilled twice. The white wines, which are used for distilling, can only be produced in the region of the Charente, more specifically the area surrounding the town called Cognac. …
Farmers, Resellers and Players: The structure of the Cognac business
Basically, this is how it goes: Farmers grow and produce wine, distill the eau-de-vie (spirit) and make their own Cognac. But some companies, especially the bigger ones, buy different eaux-de-vie from the different growing areas and blend their Cognacs.
Cognac landscape with roman church
Here are some basics one should know:
About …
Distilling cognac with Alambic pot stills: Bad wine for great brandy
Distillation takes place in traditionally shaped copper stills, also known as “Alembic Charentais”. Also known as alambic, depends on the language.
Distilling with Charentais pot still (Pic 3)
The design and dimensions of the pot stills are legally controlled. Two distillations must be carried out; the resulting eau-de-vie is a colourless spirit …
Tasting Cognac – How do I do it right?
How to taste Cognac?
First comes the Eye: Swirl the glass and look at the beads of alcohol. The softness of the ‘legs’ indicates the complexity of the cognac. But colouration alone does not tell you a lot, dark colour could just be a sign of an older Cognac or of …
The 6 parts of the Cognac Region: An overview about soils and aroma
The Cognac region is seperated into six regions, called ‘Cru’. Only here is one authorised to produce Cognac. The six crus cover the Charente-Maritime, a large part of the Charente and some smaller teritorries of Deux-Sèvres and the famous Dordogne.
The APPELLATION
The AOC Cognac (Appellation d’Origine Controlée Cognac) totals about …
