Cognac is a very versatile drink. It may be drunk neat, over ice or diluted with a little water. It can be mixed with quality mixers, such as soda or traditional lemonade to make a long drink, or used to make a cocktail.

Cognac has high alcohol content so it can certainly get you drunk quick and many people use it for that purpose. However, it’s a drink that’s supposed to be enjoyed while relaxing and not to get drunk.

And unlike tequila, Cognac is barrel-aged for a much, much longer time. Thus, Cognac isn’t just expensive to entice status symbol seekers – its high price is justified by its extremely limited production (Cognac makes up less than 1% of the world’s spirits by volume!).

Does Cognac taste like bourbon? Not really. Even though they are kept in oak barrels, cognac and bourbon are different in taste, so cognac is more like a brandy which is made from grapes, while bourbon is a whiskey that is made of rye, corn, and malted barley.

The designations you see on Cognac labels—VS (Very Special), VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) and XO (Extra Old)—are a guarantee of how long a Cognac has been aged. VS indicates that the Cognac has been aged at least two years, VSOP at least four years and XO (Extra Old) at least six years.

Is XO or VSOP better? An XO cognac must be aged for a minimum of 10 years, in comparison a VSOP must age for a minimum of four years. It comes down to personal preference which is better but an XO is usually considered as superior.

Hennessy Privilege VSOP ($50) has a smooth but stronger flavor than VS, with heavier wood on nose. VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) is a blend of 60 different eau de vie with the oldest being 15 years, and the youngest 4-5 years. It was originally created as the private blend for the Hennessy family.

Here, the best cognacs available.

• Best Overall: Frapin Château Fontpinot XO.
• Best VS: Bache-Gabrielsen Tre Kors.
• Best VSOP: Hardy VSOP.
• Best Innovation: Camus Ile de Ré Fine Island.
• Best Double Cask: Pierre Ferrand Réserve.
• Best Under $50: Jean Fillioux Coq.
• Best for a Sidecar: Pierre Ferrand Ambré

8 of the Best Brands of Cognac to Drink

• Hennessy Master Blender’s Selection No. Courtesy.
• Rémy Martin XO. Courtesy.
• Hine Antique XO Premier Cru Cognac. Courtesy.
• Courvoisier XO Cognac. Courtesy.
• Martell XO. reservebar.com.
• Pierre Ferrand Cognac Selection des Anges.
• Kelt XO Cognac.
• Louis XIII Cognac.

Crown Royal XO is a skillfully blended Crown Royal Whisky finished in cognac casks, resulting in both an extraordinarily complex and smooth expression. This is an elegant whisky that is deliciously balanced with hints of vanilla, spice and rich dry fruit.

Regarding an open bottle, then there’s no official amount of time a Cognac can be stored before the quality will begin to fade. But even though an open bottle will deteriorate with age, it’s still fine to drink. It’s just that you might notice a difference in the taste as the months go by.

Flavors vary substantially depending on the maker’s preference but are usually very rich with the taste of dried fruit and warm spices, to toffee, nuts, chocolate, and cigars. Extra – Usually a blend of eaux de vie aged 30-50 years.

As long as you appropriately store it, Cognac will not go bad. So, an unopen Cognac bottle is entirely safe from external causes for degradation and you can keep it indefinitely without losing its taste. But once you open the seal, consume it within six months to a year.

10 Best Cognac Houses

1. Hennessy. Presenting a cognac house so popular that “pass the Henny” has become part of the modern lexicon.
2. Hine. Most of the best cognac châteaux have been in the game for centuries, and Hine is certainly no exception.
3. Martell.
4. Meukow.
5. Courvoisier.
6. Rémy Martin.
7. Pierre Ferrand.
8. Kelt.

Here are six of the best Cognacs from the recent IWSC tasting:

• Tres Vieille Grande Champagne Cognac. Maison Prunier.
• Jean Doussoux Single Cask N°89 Edition Limitée XO Cognac. Domaine du Chêne.
• Chanteloup Perspective XXO Cognac. Martell Cognac.
• Roland Bru Extra Cognac. Distillerie des Moisans.
• Rare VSOP Fine Champagne Cognac.

Hennessy Ellipse

Hennessy Beauté du Siécle

When drinking it neat, you should use a tulip-shaped glass, which allows you to “really enjoy the color thanks to the shape and for the aroma to get to your nose,” Poirier told me. But if you’re drinking your cognac with ice, a tumbler glass is best. You can also simply add cold water to your cognac.