Learning about Cognac

 

About two weeks ago I attended an event at The Whisky Exchange in Covent Garden, London. It was a very insightful event where I learnt  a lot about Cognac!

Cognac is a type of distilled brandy. It got its name from the French town of Cognac, which is part of wine growing region within the French Departments of Charente and Charente-Maritime. For a distilled brandy to be labelled as Cognac, there are specific requirements that should be met during its production process.

Cognac must be made from certain grapes. One of the most used grapes is Ugni Blanc, which is also known as Saint-Emilion. The brandy must also be distilled twice using copper pot stills. Then it is aged for at least two years inside a French oak barrel from Troncais or Limousin.

Cognac ages in the same manner as wine and whiskies when placed in barrels. However,  many cognacs are aged longer than the minimum requirement for alcoholic beverages. This drinks is also known as the kings of spirits.

Types of Cognac

VS– designed to be mixed – it makes fantastic cocktails  hints of oak and vanilla,  its young minimum aged 2 years. Every house have their own secret recipe/blend.
VSOP – better quality, versatile and affordable, aged longer in barrels . it’s smother and has a longer finish. Hints of orange and apricot. Best served on ice.
XO – to be drunk on its’ own, smoother, smokier, fruity, woody mushroom notes.

How to Taste Cognac

Ideal Temperature for CognacCognac must be drunk at normal room temperature. If it is below room temperature, you should take the bottle out for at least an hour before drinking it. Or you can pour it into a glass, and hold the glass with the palm to bring it to room temperature.

Glass for Drinking Cognac

The recommended glass for cognac is a tulip glass sniffer that features a wide bowl and a narrower top. This might be changing with time…

Cognac LabelsThe label on the bottle will indicate the producer, rating, and alcohol content of the cognac. Some of the ratings are VSOP, VS, Napoleon, and XO. The label can also indicate whether the cognac is Grande Champagne Cognac or Fine Cognac.

Colour of the Cognac

Cognac comes in different colours. It may be copper, golden amber, orange-brown, bronze, or mahogany.  The colour doesn’t dictate the age or quality of cognac.


Scent of the Cognac

Scent or the nose of the cognac indicates its flavour. You can determine the scent by swirling the cognac very slowly in the brandy glass, and then sniff the aromas from it. The distilled brandy can have scents of cigar, oranges, apricots, vanilla, and spices, just to name a few.

Mouth

To drink cognac, you should first take a slow sip to allow the alcohol beverage remain in your mouth for several seconds before you drink it. After you swallow the cognac, you will be able to determine the different flavours it holds. Keep in mind that the profile often differs from the scent. The distilled brandy can taste fruity, woody, chocolate, leather, or gingerbread. You can determine the length of the cognac by determining how long the taste lingers on the tongue and mouth after swallowing it.

Should You Mix or Add Ice to Cognac?

After opening the bottle, it is recommended that you drink cognac straight first. That way you will be able to appreciate the maker’s artistry in blending and ageing the distilled brandy. You should also use a tulip glass and drink it at room temperature to truly enjoy its taste.

However, there are some people who drink cognac with ice or water. Before you try mixing cognac, it is best that you first taste it straight.

There are some excellent cocktails to be made from Cognac. On this particular evening we had  a good easy drinking cocktail : Cognac, Tonic and dehydrated orange.
Cognac, Tonic and dehydrated orange.

‘The Whisky Exchange runs a series of excellent whisky and fine spirit tastings. They are extremely popular and give whisky and spirit lovers the chance to meet the people responsible for making their favourite drams. Many of its tastings are whisky based, but it also covers a wide range of other drinks and spirits, including rum, gin, vermouth and Tequila. Its masterclasses are hosted by the biggest names in the industry, with master blenders and distillers flying in specially for the event’

Until next time why not join me on  InstagramTwitter and Facebook…X
 Disclosure:  I was a guest at this event. All views are my own.

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4 Comments

  1. Gingey Bites
    March 28, 2017 / 10:44 am

    Well there is so much I didn't know about cognac but I do now! Looks like a very informative and enjoyable evening!

  2. fiona maclean
    March 28, 2017 / 7:38 pm

    I am a big cognac fan and I'm sad I missed this event!

  3. Gary Berry
    March 30, 2017 / 9:18 am

    I'm not the biggest fan of cognac, in fact spirits in general! I'm hoping my tastes will change over time however and especially more so for Cognac. Who knew there was so much to know about it! Gary x

  4. July 12, 2017 / 10:41 am

    Thanks, cool introduction. Now I've got some basic ideas on the topic.