🥃 French brandies
France's three main spirits with protected names: cognac and armagnac from white wine, calvados from Normandy cider; oak ageing, bottled at 40% ABV or more.
French brandies are the three best-known strong spirits of France with protected names: cognac and armagnac from white grape wine, and calvados from cider made from Normandy apples and pears. All three are distilled and aged in oak barrels only in their own zones, and are bottled at 40% ABV or more.
Cognac. The boundaries of the zone around the Charente river were set in 1909, and the production conditions in 1936. The wine is distilled twice in copper pot stills, and cognac may be sold only after at least two years in oak: VS from 2 years, VSOP from 4, XO from 10. Fine Champagne is a blend of spirits only from the Grande and Petite Champagne.
Armagnac. It comes from Gascony in south-west France and from ten grape varieties, including Folle Blanche, Ugni Blanc, Colombard and the hybrid Baco. According to WSET, most producers distil the wine once in a short column still, giving a spirit of 52–72.4% ABV. VS must be at least one year old, VSOP four years, XO ten; there is also an unaged Blanche Armagnac.
Calvados. Normandy has three appellations: Calvados (most often column distillation), Calvados Pays d'Auge (pot still only, up to 30% perry pears) and Calvados Domfrontais (at least 30% perry pears, at least 3 years in oak). For the first two the minimum ageing is 2 years. The raw material comes from about 230 varieties of cider apples grown on 8,000 hectares.
Why it matters to you. VS, VSOP and XO show the age of the youngest spirit in the blend, but the limits differ: XO in cognac and armagnac starts at 10 years, in calvados at 6, so the marks cannot be compared directly. A protected name guarantees the place and method of production, not any health benefit. WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol.
Facts
| Raw material | cognac and armagnac: white grape wine (Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, Colombard, Baco); calvados: cider from apples and pears |
|---|---|
| Distillation method | cognac: twice in copper pot stills; armagnac: mostly once in a column still; calvados: column or pot still (Pays d'Auge: pot still only) |
| Minimum maturation | cognac: 2 years; armagnac VS: 1 year; calvados: 2 years (Domfrontais: 3) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | from 40% ABV |
| Legal basis | protected names of France and the EU (Reg. (EU) 2019/787); the cognac zone since 1909 |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 French brandies → kind of → 🍇 Grape brandies → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Charentais alembic
- Packed in
- 🐝 French oak
- Made from
- 🗺️ French wine
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 French
- Part of
- 🍇 Grape brandies, 🍎 Fruit brandies
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Brandy, 🥃 Cognac, 🥃 Armagnac, 🥃 Calvados, 🥃 Marc
Frequently asked questions
Is calvados just a kind of cognac?
No. Cognac is distilled from white grape wine in the Charente zone, while calvados comes from cider made from Normandy apples and pears; these are different protected names.
How does cognac differ from armagnac?
Cognac is distilled twice in copper pot stills and sold after at least 2 years of ageing; armagnac is mostly distilled once in a column still, and VS can be only a year old.
What do VS, VSOP and XO mean?
The minimum age of the youngest spirit in the blend: for cognac and armagnac 2 years (1 for armagnac), 4 and 10 years; for calvados XO starts at 6 years.
What is Calvados Pays d'Auge?
The calvados appellation from the Pays d'Auge area: double distillation in a pot still is required, up to 30% perry pears, and ageing of at least 2 years.
What is the strength of French brandies?
Cognac, armagnac and calvados are bottled at no less than 40% ABV.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🗺️ French wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grapes and appellations.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🧑🤝🧑 French — The French are the main population of France, known for the festive meal and baguette on UNESCO's list, for wine and for cheese.
- 🥃 Brandy — A strong spirit made from wine spirit and aged in oak; in the EU it has at least 36 % vol.
Similar
🥃 Charentais alembic · 🥃 Double distillation · 🥃 Angels' share · 🥃 Column still · 🍷 Legal drinking age · 🥃 Sazerac
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- BNIC — Cognac: A protected origin (delimitation 1 May 1909; GI production conditions 15 May 1936; crus 13 January 1938; minimum 2 years in oak; VS 2, VSOP 4, XO 10 years; Fine Champagne)
- WSET: France's other brandies — Calvados and Armagnac (10 Armagnac grapes incl. Folle Blanche, Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Baco; Armagnac still 52–72.4 %; VS 1, VSOP 4, XO 10 years; Calvados AOCs and age statements)
- IDAC / Drink Calvados: The Calvados appellations (Calvados — 2 years in oak; Pays d'Auge — pot still, up to 30 % perry pears; Domfrontais — at least 30 % perry pears, column still, 3 years; 230 cider apple varieties, 8,000 ha)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks: Annex I cat. 4 wine spirit, cat. 5 brandy, cat. 10 cider and perry spirit; Annex — protected GIs Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados (via eAmbrosia)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)