One bit of information which is missing in the educational pages of the 1st Cru website is a discussion of the differences between Cognac and Brandy. If you put the two spirits side by side, you will find that Cognac can only be made in a very small region of southwest France, whereas Brandy can be, and is, created anywhere in the world. Cognac must be distilled from wine made from either Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche or Colombard grapes. Brandy can be distilled from any fermented juice containing sugar. Cognac must be distilled twice, Brandy need only be distilled once. On the palate both Cognac and Brandy have wide ranges of flavor, depending upon who is producing it. In general, Cognac is acknowledged to be more refined and smoother, while Brandy is generally acknowledged to be slightly harsher and earthier. But this varies, and a very good Brandy and be more refined in taste than a very inexpensive Cognac. It just all depends upon the producer.
Cognac aging is strictly governed by the BNIC, a department of the French government which is charged with overseeing all the regulations governing the production of Cognac. Brandy has no such organization or governing body. Thus, if a Cognac bottle says “VSOP,” or “Napoleon,” or “XO,” then you can know with confidence that this is a statement of aging. On a Brandy bottle, these same designations are simply marketing terms of a general nature to let you know that this particular producer regards his particular XO to be better, and thus more expensive, than his Napoleon or his VSOP.
We here, of course, are predisposed to enjoy Cognac and leave Brandy to others. But that’s just us. Both spirits have their place in the market, and both have their devoted consumers. You can make your own choices, but we urge you to consume the BEST Cognac or Brandy that your budget will allow. The cheap stuff is just that — cheap stuff — and it tastes like it. Now go back to www.1stCru.com and get some Cognac education!
