Cognac

Cognac was first distilled sometimes after 1600. The Grande Champagne is cantered around the town of Cognac and spreading out from there with Grande Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois & Bois Ordinaires right to the edge of the Atlantic.

Distillation of Cognac became an art around 200 years ago and at that time the ageing of the brandy took place in Limousine oak. The result was Cognac as we know it today. If you age 100 litres of Cognac for 25 years it will extract approx. 500 grams of oak out of the barrel. In the early days, Cognac was shipped in barrels but by today most of it is shipped in glass.

There are various categories of Cognac like 3 Star, VS, Borderies, VSOP etc. Various laws around the world stipulate a number of regulations. If you ship to England, Cognac must have a min. age of 3 years, to the USA a min. of 2 years and VSOP cannot leave France before the age of 4 years. The expression " Old landed " is for cask shipments followed by bottling in a UK bond. This way has declined a lot by today.

The vines which are used to produce Cognac are mostly Folle Blanche, Colombard & Saint - Emilion.