There are many answers to the question of how to drink a Cognac. Here is an overview of different points you may take into account when drinking cognac and brandy.

How to drink cognac

Straight or in a cocktail – which glass, in which environment, at what temperature and so on.

1. Straight or Mixed and the Choice of Cognac

What kind of cognac am I drinking here? Is it a younger VS, a VSOP or a rather old blend, a XO or even a vintage cognac? Is it a sweeter cognac, that can be consumed with desert – is the blend destined for a cocktail, or as aperitif before dinner?

From our point of view, the best cognac is the one you experience entirely. That includes taste, colour, brand, packaging, estate and distillery, history of the company and the family – all that, makes a good cognac.

Different Cognac Mini Bottles

If you don’t care about the brand, then try to find a smaller estate. If you are into brands, you probably go for the big 4 or the bigger 10.

2. The cognac glass

Mainly there are three different cognac glasses: The balloon, the tulip and the modern Wobble snifter. Of course one can also use cocktail glasses for mix drinks.

Have a look at our article about the different cognac glasses or visit cognac-glasses.com.

3. The environment, when do you drink cognac?

There are certain every-day cognacs, at a price, that can be consumed in a rather “easy” way. But in general one should appreciate a glass of cognac, because it’s basically one of the most complex spirits in the world.

Let’s look at three different (clichés) cognac drinkers

The fashion way: In a bar, or a night club – a VS or VSOP in a cocktail, VSOP on ice or just neat.
The traditional way: XO Cognac in a balloon snifter, in front of the fire place, dog and hunting rifle not far away – after dinner.
The intellectual way: different Single Cru and Single Vineyard Vintage cognacs, cognacs with no sugar added, in tulip glasses – a group experience – which can be a tasting session, concentrating on the different aromas and notes of the cognac. Perhaps with a little desert.

Of course there are very precious cognacs, which do not necessarily need to be very, very costly – but, those cognacs do have their price.

Cocktails Cognac in bar

4. The temperature

There are different opinions about the temperature a cognac should have when drinking it: With ice, from the freezer, room temperature or hand warmed.

Basically most of the cognac drinkers would say that a cognac has to be drunk at hand temperature – and it’s true, once you leave it in your hand, the spirit releases highly delicate notes you wouldn’t notice at normal temperature.

Some younger cognacs are even created for being drunk chilled, such as ABK6 Ice or De Luze’s A blend. Some weeks ago we met with Jacques Petit (from André Petit Cognac) who even pulled a Napoleon XO from the freezer, read our story here.

The right temperature is somehow a philosophy. Or if it’s okay to add water to Cognac.

5. The tasting

Now, ‘how to taste cognac’ is another question: Experience and describe the colour, the nose, the palate (in the mouth) and the after taste (or finish). Compare those criteria to other blends and cognacs. How does all that correspond to the cognac’s price?

If you want to know more about how to taste cognac, have a look here.