All
cognacs are produced from wines made from grapes grown and
harvested within the demarcated cognac region, about 100 miles
north of Bordeaux on the coast of France. All cognac is brandy,
but not all brandy is cognac. True cognacs are only from the
Cognac region of France and they are the finest of all Brandies.
Cognac is always distilled twice in small copper pot stills for a
minimum of 3 years in Oak vats. To be called cognac a brandy must
be made from a certain type of grape that grows only in the area
of Cognac, western France. It is rated the best brandy in the
world, smooth with a heady scent. Subtle differences in the
blending and aging process also account for the market taste
differences between brands and products of the same brand (i.e. VS
and VSOP). Just a little extra information: cognac VS means Very
Special; cognac VSOP means Very Special Old Pale; cognac XO means
Extra Old.
A
LIQUOR distilled from wine (such as ARMAGNAC or other fermented fruit juice (such as the apple-based CALVADOS).
Brandies are aged in wood, which contributes flavor and color. The
finest of all brandies is COGNAC.
The name brandycomes from the Dutch brandewijn ,
meaning "burned (distilled) wine."
