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How Do I Choose the Best Expensive Cognac?

P.M. Willers
P.M. Willers

Cognac, an alcoholic beverage produced in a specific region of western France, is actually a type of brandy. In order to determine its quality grade, cognac is split into very special (VS), very special old pale (VSOP), and extra old (XO) grades, depending principally on length of time spent aging in casks. The price of cognac depends on the grade. Expensive cognac has been aged much longer, sometimes decades or even more than a century.

The beverage starts as double-distilled wine. After distillation, cognac is aged in wood casks. For a beverage to be properly labeled as cognac, its producers must follow French regulations regarding ingredients, distillation, and aging.

VS cognac is considered so after two years of cask aging. After four years, cognac receives the grade VSOP. In order for a cognac to be labeled as XO, it must have been cask aged for at least six years.

A bottle of cognac.
A bottle of cognac.

Achieving a perfect blend is one hallmark of expensive cognac. The bottle in which the cognac is purchased sets expensive cognac apart from other high quality cognacs. For their finest and most expensive cognac, producers will often hire a designer with the sole purpose of making the bottle itself an expensive work of art.

Super premium, artfully packaged cognacs can cost anywhere from 40 to 250 times as much as a low-end cognac. Within this class some difference can still be found, and ultimately these bottles are an expression of personal and artistic taste. Expensive cognacs can cost more than 100 times as much as an average XO grade cognac. One such example of high-end expensive cognac comes from a French producer who blends three cognacs, each aged for over 40 years, and packaged in a decanter designed specially by a French artist.

Cognac is rated based on the age of the wooden casks in which it is stored.
Cognac is rated based on the age of the wooden casks in which it is stored.

More expensive and extravagant examples of cognac can be found. In the case of the most expensive cognac, it may be prudent to examine whether the true worth lies in the beverage or the container in which it resides. Esteemed producers often create special or limited editions made of blends of cognacs aged from 40 to 100 years. Reserve or heritage editions may be the true cream of the crop. The sometimes relatively small bottles or decanters for the premier and supreme cognac blends, aged in barrels for over 100 years, are known to have pounds of gold or silver, and are sometimes embellished and studded with thousands of diamonds.

Discussion Comments

burcidi

Louis XIII Rare Cask is the most expensive cognac in the world isn't it? The last I heard, it was more than twenty thousand dollars per bottle. Not many people can afford the bottle, so they sell glasses of it for several thousand dollar at very high-end hotels.

I've read so many articles about the amazing taste of this cognac. I'm sure it tastes out-of-this-world, but I actually like the bottle. It has a very cool, black designer bottle. If I were rich, I would buy one just for the bottle! I'm not sure if I would drink it though. It's too expensive to drink!

ZipLine

I know that aged cognacs are more expensive. The most aged cognac I've had was aged for twenty years and it was very good. It was very expensive but I don't think it was only because of age. This cognac was from a single barrel and from a single type of grape.

Usually cognac is made in various batches and then everything is mixed together to get a consistent product. Some people argue however that cognac made in one barrel and bottled without being mixed is superior. Cognac made from a single type of high quality grape is also considered superior.

All of these add to the price, but I think it's worth it. I'd rather buy an expensive cognac with a very complex and aromatic flavor than a cheap one with an average taste.

literally45

The most expensive cognacs are the rare ones, averaging a hundred years or more. There are usually only a few hundred bottles remaining and the bottles are as beautiful as the product. But the average man will never be able to afford it, not even a single glass of it. I've seen a few but couldn't afford to have a taste.

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    • A bottle of cognac.
      By: romaneau
      A bottle of cognac.
    • Cognac is rated based on the age of the wooden casks in which it is stored.
      By: Ahileos
      Cognac is rated based on the age of the wooden casks in which it is stored.
    • Super premium, artfully packaged cognacs can cost anywhere from 40 to 250 times as much as a low-end cognac.
      By: Artem Furman
      Super premium, artfully packaged cognacs can cost anywhere from 40 to 250 times as much as a low-end cognac.