🥃 Cognac

Cognac is a French brandy made only in the Cognac area in the west of the country, in the Charente area. It is a grape distillate, distilled twice and aged in oak. The name is protected by law. The base is white wines, mainly from the Ugni Blanc grape, that is Trebbiano Toscano. Folle Blanche, Colombard, Montils, Meslier Saint-François and Folignan are also allowed. The wine is sour and low in strength, which suits distilling. It is distilled twice in copper pot stills and then poured into oak barrels. Ageing lasts at least two years, and the drink has at least 40 percent alcohol. The label carries age marks: VS, VSOP and XO. They show the minimum age of the youngest spirit in the blend. The older, the smoother and more complex the taste. Pineau des Charentes and Armagnac are related drinks. Brandy is the wider group to which Cognac belongs. Cognac is drunk in small portions, usually after a meal. It contains a lot of alcohol, so it should be drunk in moderation.