What Is Cognac?

Cognac is the most famous type of brandy that originated in Cognac, France. This is one of only three areas in Europe that are designated as brandy-producers. There are tight restrictions binding the brewing and fermenting of cognac. These include the varieties of grapes that must be used in its production, the amount of time the cognac has to be aged, and the type of oak that is used to make the barrels they are aged in.

Geography

Cognac comes from a specific region in France that mainly finds itself in the Charente-Maritime area, but also has distribution points in the Deux-Sevres and the Dordogne. There are six different zones that produce Cognac, each one with a different level of the liquor that is produced. Grande Champagne, in the center of the Cognac region surrounding the city of Segonzac, is known to produce the best cognac. Bois Ordinaire, in the northwest coast, produces the least appreciated drink. The other regions are Bon Bois, Borderies, Petite Champagne and Fins Bois.

Time Frame

The age of cognac has much to do with the type of cognac it will be labeled as and has a great deal of influence on the taste of the liquor. In order for a liquor to qualify as a cognac at all, one of the strict guidelines it must abide by is an aging of at least two years in sealed oak barrels. While this is the minimum amount of time needed to create cognac, many are aged longer. The more time spent in the aging process, the richer and more blended the flavors of the cognac become. Certain grades have specific age restrictions. Extra cognac, for example, is aged at least six years.

Types

Different quality grades are given to a cognac depending on certain characteristics it has. The three major grades of cognac are Very Special (VS), Very Superior Old Pale (VSOP) and Extra Old (XO). Offshots of these grades also exist to further define a cognac. These include Napolean, Vieille Reserve and Hors d'age grade cognacs. The region the cognac is made in also divides different types by taste. Grand Champagne cognacs have very floral tastes, for example, while cognac from the Borderies have a nutty flavor.

Features

Cognac is made from fermented grapes, differing from wine in that these grapes are double fermented. There are only a few varieties of grapes used to make cognac. Almost all of the cognac that is produced today is made from Saint-Emilion grapes. The others generally are composed of a mix of those grapes and other varieties, including Folignan, Montils and Semillion. The end product is dark brown liquor with smoky flavor from the oak barrels they were put into and an alcohol proof of 80.

Warning

Alcohol poisoning is a major problem that affects drinkers who do not know how to handle their liquor or do not know their own tolerance level. Cognac is 40 percent alcohol and for that reason should be treated as a relatively strong alcoholic drink. Drinking it in moderate doses and with a mixer will help your body absorb the alcohol better. Drinking too much at once or within one period can cause major damage to your stomach or liver, and in extreme cases could cause death.