Cognac is brandy made under strict rules in one region of southwest France. It's distilled from wine, twice, in copper pot stills, then aged in French oak for at least two years and usually much longer. Those rules are what separate it from the rest of the brandy shelf, and they're why cognac is graded by age rather than by brand. We carry around 25 bottles from Hennessy, Rémy Martin, D'ussé and others, from $24 half bottles up to XO and limited editions. We ship to most states, with an adult 21 or older required to sign at delivery.
What Makes Brandy Cognac
All cognac is brandy. Very little brandy is cognac. To carry the name, the grapes have to come from the Cognac region, mostly Ugni Blanc, which makes a thin, acidic wine nobody would want to drink but which distills beautifully. The wine is distilled twice in traditional copper pot stills and aged in French oak casks. Within the region, a handful of growing areas called crus are ranked by how well their brandy ages, with Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne at the top.
Brandy made the same way anywhere else can be very good, and is in our brandy collection, but it isn't cognac. For the wider category, see our guide to what brandy is.
The Grades
Cognac labels tell you the minimum age of the youngest brandy in the blend. That's a floor, not an average, and most blends contain much older brandy.
VS is at least two years old. Bright and fruity, and made for mixing.
VSOP is at least four years old. Rounder and spicier, and the grade that works both neat and in a cocktail. For most people it's the best value in cognac.
XO is at least ten years old. Rich, complex and meant for sipping.
XXO is at least fourteen years old, the newest and oldest grade.
The Houses
Because the rules are so tight, the biggest difference between bottles at the same grade is house style.
Hennessy is the largest cognac house in the world. Its style is round, oaky and spiced, and the range here runs from VS through XO and limited editions.
Rémy Martin uses only grapes from Grande and Petite Champagne, and it shows in a fruitier, more floral style. The 1738 Accord Royal is one of the best value bottles in the category.
D'ussé is the boldest and driest of the big names. The D'ussé VSOP and D'ussé XO are both here.
Smaller houses. De Luze XO is a quieter, more traditional style, and Sazerac de Forge carries the name of the cognac the original Sazerac cocktail was built on in nineteenth-century New Orleans.
How to Choose
Start with how you'll drink it. For mixing with cola or ginger ale, a VS is all you need. For a Sidecar or Vieux Carré, or for sipping on ice, VSOP. For drinking neat, XO.
Then pick a house, and the cheapest way to do that is with half bottles. Rémy Martin VSOP 375ml, D'ussé VSOP 375ml and the Hennessy VSOP flask let you taste three house styles side by side for less than a single bottle of XO. For gifts, Hennessy's limited editions are usually the standard blend in special packaging.
Serving Cognac
For sipping, use a tulip-shaped glass rather than a wide snifter, which concentrates the aroma without trapping too much alcohol vapor. Serve it at room temperature and let your hand warm the glass slightly. A drop of water opens up a young VSOP. Cognac also makes one of the best highballs there is: a VS or VSOP over ice with ginger ale and a twist of lemon. With food, it pairs well with dark chocolate, aged cheese and dried fruit.
Cognac FAQ
What is cognac?
A brandy made from grapes grown in the Cognac region of France, double distilled in copper pot stills and aged at least two years in French oak.
What's the difference between cognac and brandy?
Cognac is a type of brandy. It must be made in the Cognac region under specific rules. Brandy is any spirit distilled from wine or fruit, made anywhere.
What is the best cognac for beginners?
A VSOP from one of the major houses. Rémy Martin is lighter and fruitier, Hennessy rounder and oakier. Half bottles of each are an inexpensive way to compare.
How should you drink cognac?
VS mixes well with ginger ale or cola. VSOP works neat, on ice or in a Sidecar. XO is best neat, in a tulip glass, at room temperature.
Does cognac go bad?
Not in a sealed bottle. Once opened, it keeps its character for a year or more if stored upright away from heat and light. Cognac doesn't keep aging in the bottle.
Can cognac be shipped to my state?
We ship to most U.S. states, typically within a few business days. Someone 21 or older has to sign at delivery. Availability is confirmed at checkout, since a handful of states restrict direct spirits shipments.