Every cognac label carries a few letters that most shoppers see but few can decode: VS, VSOP, XO and, more recently, XXO. These are official age categories, and they tell you the minimum time the youngest brandy in the bottle spent in oak. Here is what each one means and which bottles to look at in each tier.
What makes a brandy cognac
Cognac is a grape brandy from a defined region around the town of Cognac in western France. The base wine is made mostly from Ugni Blanc, with Colombard and Folle Blanche also permitted. The wine is distilled twice in copper Charentais pot stills, then aged in French oak barrels. The region is split into six growing areas, or crus, including Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne and Borderies. A cognac labeled Fine Champagne is a blend of Grande and Petite Champagne with at least 50 percent from Grande Champagne.
The age categories at a glance
- VS (Very Special): at least 2 years in oak
- VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale): at least 4 years
- Napoléon: at least 6 years
- XO (Extra Old): at least 10 years, raised from 6 years in April 2018
- XXO (Extra Extra Old): at least 14 years
The key detail is that the age applies to the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend. Cognac houses blend many brandies of different ages, so a VSOP or XO often contains spirits well older than the legal minimum. The category is a floor, not an exact age.
VS: the mixing cognac
VS is the youngest and most affordable tier. It is the usual choice for cocktails such as a Sidecar, or with ginger ale or soda. Good places to start:
VSOP: the all-rounder
With at least four years of aging, VSOP works both in drinks and neat or on ice. Hennessy says its V.S.O.P was commissioned in 1817 by the future King George IV of England. Rémy Martin VSOP is a Fine Champagne cognac, blended from Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne.
- Rémy Martin VSOP 750 ml
- Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège Cognac 750ml
- D'USSÉ VSOP Cognac 375 ml, a smaller bottle if you want to try before buying a full size
XO: for sipping
Since 2018 an XO must be aged at least ten years, which puts it firmly in neat-pour territory. These bottles are popular as gifts and for after-dinner drinks.
- D'USSÉ XO Cognac
- Hennessy XO Kim Jones 750ml, a limited edition bottle
- Martell Cordon Bleu Cognac 750ml, created in 1912 by Edouard Martell, with a high proportion of old Borderies eaux-de-vie
- Hine XO 1er Cru Cognac Grande Champagne 700 ml, made from Grande Champagne cognac
XXO: the oldest official tier
XXO requires a minimum of 14 years and is still a small category. Delamain XXO Grande Champagne Cognac 700ml is made exclusively from Grande Champagne cognac. Stock is very limited.
How to choose
If you mostly mix drinks, a VS is the practical pick. If you want one bottle that does both mixing and sipping, go with a VSOP. For a gift or a bottle to sip slowly, step up to an XO or XXO. You can browse the full range in our cognac collection.
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