Cognac

A spirit made in France

Cognac is an eau-de-vie produced from wine, in the Cognac region in France that encompasses a large part of the departments of Charente, Charente-Maritime and some municipalities of Dordogne and Deux-Sèvres. Cognac is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in the same way as Champagne, for example. It is imperative to respect very specific production standards and rules in order to obtain the "Cognac" designation.

There are different ageing names for Cognac, the most common being VSOP which means that the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend is at least 4 years old as well as XO for at least 6 years of ageing. These names are also used for rums.

Among our selection of Cognacs, discover in particular the vintages of Maison Camus, one of the 10 most important Cognac houses. The family business owns an estate located in the Borderies, a region representing 5% of the Cognac appellation area.

You can also find the Cognacs of Maison Gautier, one of the oldest Cognac houses created in 1755. The cellars of Maison Gautier are located in a former water mill in the town of Aigre in Charente on the Rivière de l'Osme.

How to taste Cognac?

There are several ways to taste Cognac. The most common is to serve it as a digestive at the end of meals, after coffee.

For young Cognacs of the VS or VSOP type, you can also taste it at aperitif time. Accompany your drink with seafood spreads or vegetables.

It is also possible to use Cognac for cooking. This gives an aromatic richness to your dishes, you can use it to "flambé" your dishes or prepare a sauce. Cocoa and Cognac are a perfect match.

Not to be confused with Armagnac

Do you know the difference between Cognac and Armagnac?

Both are produced from wine in French regions. The departments of Armagnac stretch from the Gers to the Landes passing through the Lot et Garonne.

Cognac comes from grape varieties grown in a humid and cool climate, its distillation is governed by a strict traditional method, double heating, which gives it a fine and refined aroma. In contrast, Armagnac uses a Charentais still distillation process. This makes it a stronger alcohol than Cognac.