Best Cognacs of 2012: Analysis of Different Competitions

2012 might seem a while ago now, but the results of the various industry awards are still very current, and a great way to make your choice as to what’s the best Cognac to buy. We looked at three of the most respected competitions of the year to create a definitive list of some of the finest Cognac money can buy.

The competitions we analysed were the following:

– 2012 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC)
– 2012 Ultimate Beverage Competition
– 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

We separated the list into three categories, each detailing multiple award winning Cognacs. These are as follows:

The best Cognacs that won three awards, those that won two awards, and all the rest…

Top Cognacs with 3 awards 

Frapin Château Fontpinot Grande Champagne XO

3 gold awards:

• IWSC Gold
• San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold Medal
• Ultimate Beverage Competition Chairman’s Trophy ’97 points’. Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation.

Discover more about the Frapin Chateau Fontpinot Grande Champagne XO Cognac.

Martell XO Cognac

3 awards:

• Gold Medal San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• IWSC Silver
• Ultimate Beverage Competition Finalist 93 points, Excellent, Highly Recommended  

Find out more about the Martell XO Cognac

Camus VSOP Elegance

3 awards:

• IWSC Silver
• Finalist Ultimate Spirits Competition ’93 points’ Highly Recommended
• Silver Medal San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold Medal

Discover the delicious Camus VSOP Elegance

Top Cognacs with 2 awards

Martell Cordon Bleu

2 awards:

• Ultimate Beverage Competition Finalist ’96 points’. Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
• Double Gold Medal San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Fall in love with the iconic Martell Cordon Bleu Cognac

Courvoisier Vintage Connoisseur Collection 21 Cognac

2 awards:

• IWSC Gold
• San Francisco World Spirits Competition Silver Medal

Find out more about the innovative age statement Grande Champagne Cognac, Courvoisier Vintage Connoisseur Collection 21

Cognac Park XO Extra Grande Champagne

2 gold awards:

• IWSC Gold
• San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold Medal

Discover more about the sublime Park XO Extra Grande Champagne

Louis Royer Extra Grande Champagne Cognac

2 gold awards:

• IWSC Gold
• San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold Medal

Be captivated by the delight that is the Louis Royer Extra Grande Champagne Cognac

Camus Extra Elegance Cognac

2 awards:

• Finalist Ultimate Spirits Competition Finalist ’94 points’ Highly Recommended
• Double Gold Medal San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Discover the delights of the hors d’age Camus Extra Elegance Cognac

Camus Ile de Ré Fine Island Cognac

2 awards:

• IWSC Silver, Ultimate Spirits Competition ’89 points’ Very Good, Strong Recommendation
• Double Gold Medal at San Francisco World Spirits Competition 

Find out more about the unique flavours of the Camus Ile de Re Fine Island XO Cognac

Camus Ile de Re Fine Island Cognac – Double Matured

2 awards:

• Gold Medal at San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• Ultimate Beverage Competition ’89 points’. Very Good, Strong Recommendation

Find out more about the versatile Camus Ile de Re Fine Island Cognac — Double Matured

Camus Ile de Re Fine Island Cliffside Cellar Cognac

2 awards:

• Ultimate Beverage Competition ’91 points’ Excellent, Highly Recommended
• Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Fall into the world of Camus costal matured Cognacs with the Camus Ile de Re Fine Island Cliffside Cellar

A. de Luze Alfred Fine Champagne

2 silver medals:

• Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• IWSC Silver

Delve into the world of the De Luze Special Alfred Fine Champagne Cognac

Merlet Brothers Blend Cognac

2 awards:

• Gold Medal San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• IWSC Silver

Prepare to be amazed by the wonders of the VSOP Merlet Brothers Blend Cognac

Louis Royer Force 53 VSOP Cognac

2 awards:

• Ultimate Beverage Competition ’88 points’. Very Good, Strong Recommendation
• Silver Medal San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Discover the true potency of the wonderful Louis Royer Force 53 VSOP Cognac

Louis Royer VSOP Cognac

2 awards:

• IWSC Silver
• Silver Medal San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Discover the very reasons the Louis Royer VSOP Cognac wins medals time after time in worldwide competitions.

Leopold Raffin VSOP Cognac

2 awards:

• IWSC Silver
• Bronze Medal San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Find out more about the true all rounder that is the Leopold Raffin VSOP

Pierre Ferrand Ancestrale Cognac

2 awards:

• IWSC Silver
• Ultimate Beverage Competition Finalist ’94 points’. Excellent, Highly Recommended

Fall into the taste experience that is the sublime Pierre Ferrand Ancestrale Cognac

Landy XO Cognac

2 awards:

• Ultimate Beverage Competition ’92 points’. Excellent Highly Recommended
• Silver Medal San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Find out more about the eye-catching Landy XO Cognac

Landy VSOP Cognac

2 awards:

• Ultimate Beverage Competition 92 points. Excellent, Highly Recommended
• Silver Medal San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Well deserving of its multi-award winning status, delve into the world of the Landy VSOP

Finalist 94 Francois Voyer XO Gold Cognac France  Excellent, Highly Recommended: Buy Voyer XO Gold Cognac

Finalist 94 Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula Cognac France, Excellent, Highly Recommended: Buy Ferrand 1840

Finalist 93 Normandin-Mercier Prestige Cognac Fine Champagne France, Excellent, Highly Recommended

92 Delamain Pale & Dry XO Cognac Grande Champagne, Excellent, Highly Recommended: Buy Pale & Dry XO

92 Garde Marine Extra XO Cognac France, Excellent, Highly Recommended

89 Jean Fillioux La Pouyade Cognac France, Very Good, Strong Recommendation:  Buy La Pouyade

89 Landy VS Cognac France, Very Good, Strong Recommendation

88 Distillerie du Peyrat Rare Organic Cognac France, Very Good, Strong Recommendation

International Wine and Spirits Competition

Baron Otard VSOP – IWSC Gold
Bisquit Cognac VSOP – IWSC Gold
Bisquit Prestige Blended Cognac VSOP – IWSC Gold

Dupuy Tentation Cognac XO – IWSC Gold
A. de Fussigny XO 24 Carats – IWSC Silver

Cognac Reviseur XO Petite Champagne – IWSC Silver
Albert De Montaubert Cognac Extra – IWSC Silver
Chevalier Cognac VS (by Aldi UK) – IWSC Silver
Bisquit Blended Cognac XO – IWSC Silver
Bisquit Cognac VS Classique – IWSC Silver
Marks and Spencer Monnet Cognac VSOP – IWSC Silver

Camus XO Elegance Cognac – IWSC Silver
Baron Otard Extra 1795 – IWSC Silver
Cognac Croizet Expo Universelle – IWSC Silver
Cognac Croizet XO Grande Champagne – IWSC Silver

Cognac Gautier 1755 Extra – IWSC Silver
Cognac Gautier VSOP – IWSC Silver
Cognac VSOP Prince Hubert de Polignac – IWSC Silver
Deau Cognac Louis Memory Collection – IWSC Silver
Deau Cognac VSOP – IWSC Silver
Deau Cognac Black Collection – IWSC Silver
Richelieu XO Fine Champagne Cognac – IWSC Silver

Rémy Martin Centaure Cognac – IWSC Silver
Jenssen Cognac XO Grande Champagne – IWSC Silver
Jenssen Epiphanie Hors d’Age Cognac Grande Chamapagne – IWSC Silver
Vieux Garçon Cognac V.S. (Aldi UK) – IWSC Silver

Louis Royer Distillerie D’Aumagne Fins Bois Cognac – IWSC Silver
Louis Royer XO Cognac – IWSC Silver
Distillerie des Saules Borderies Cognac – IWSC Silver
Distillerie de L’Ecole Petite Champagne Cognac – IWSC Silver
Louis Royer VS Cognac – IWSC Silver
Louis Royer Distillerie Chantal Bons Bois Cognac – IWSC Silver
Distillerie les Magnolias Grande Champagne Cognac – IWSC Silver

Homage to Thomas Hine Cognac XO – IWSC Silver
Cognac Leyrat XO Fine Bois – IWSC Silver
ABK6 Cognac Extra – IWSC Silver
Cognac Leyrat VSOP Premium Fins Bois – IWSC Silver
Double Crown Cognac VSOP (ABK6) – IWSC Silver
Baron Otard XO Gold – IWSC Silver
Baron Otard VS – IWSC Silver – IWSC Silver
Cognac Croizet 989 – IWSC Silver
Cognac de Luze XO Fine Champagne – IWSC Silver

Cognac Campagnere VSOP – IWSC Silver
Rémy Martin Vintage 1989 Cognac – IWSC Silver
Rémy Martin VSOP Mature Cask Finish Cognac – IWSC Silver
Bache-Gabrielsen Grande Champagne Cognac Hors d’Age – IWSC Silver
Cognac Prulho Eclat XO – IWSC Silver

San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Cognac Extra-Aged/Vintage (browse the shop: Extra Cognacs, Vintage Cognacs)

Best Cognac, Double Gold Medal, Hennessy Cognac Richard Hennessy: Buy Hennessy Richard 

Double Gold Medal, Hennessy Cognac Paradis:  Buy Hennessy Paradis

Cognac VS Three Star or Equivalent (browse our VS Cognac shop)

Double Gold Medal, Hennessy Cognac VS
Double Gold Medal, Hennessy Black

Gold Medal, Cognac Park VS Carte Blanche
Gold Medal, comandon cognac »”>Comandon Cognac VS
Gold Medal, Courvoisier Cognac VS

Silver Medal, Bossard Cognac VS
Silver Medal, Cognac Frapin Cognac Luxe VS
Silver Medal, Gautier Cognac VS

Cognac VSOP or Equivalent (browse our VSOP Cognac shop)

Double Gold Medal, Bossard Cognac VSOP
Double Gold Medal, Comandon Cognac VSOP

Gold Medal, Cognac Park Borderies Single Vineyard
Gold Medal, Hennessy Cognac VSOP Privilège

Silver Medal, Cognac Frapin Grand Champagne Cognac VSOP
Silver Medal, Courvoisier Cognac VSOP

Cognac XO or Equivalent  (browse in our shop: XO Cognac,  Napoleon Cognacs)

Double Gold Medal, François Voyer Grande Champagne Cognac XO

Gold Medal, A. De Fussigny Cognac XO
Gold Medal, Hennessy Cognac XO
Gold Medal, Louis Royer Cognac XO

Silver Medal, Courvoisier 12 Year Old Cognac
Silver Medal, Courvoisier Cognac XO
Silver Medal, Gautier Cognac XO, Gold & Blue

Bronze Medal, Comandon Cognac XO
Bronze Medal, Gautier Cognac XO Napoléon

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