🥃 Martell VS
Martell's base Cognac in the VS category, 40% ABV; a blend of 20 to 30 eaux-de-vie, mostly from Fins Bois, aged a little over two years.
Martell VS is the youngest expression of the Martell Cognac house, 40% ABV. “Very Special” is the VS category: according to Difford's Guide, it is a blend of 20 to 30 Cognac eaux-de-vie, mostly from the Fins Bois cru, which mature quickly and give a fruity character. There is no age statement on the label.
The spirit is distilled twice in copper pot stills, and the VS category means the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend has spent at least two and a half years in oak. Martell distils only clear wines without lees from Ugni Blanc grapes, and before bottling the blend rests in vats for about a month. The barrels are made from Tronçais oak. It is the simplest expression for getting to know the house.
Why this matters to you. VS is the starting point of the range, compared with VSOP, Cordon Bleu and XO. It is the youngest, so it is often drunk with ice or in cocktails. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Legal basis | protected designation “Cognac” (Reg. (EU) 2019/787) |
|---|---|
| Raw material | clear white wines from Ugni Blanc; spirits mostly from Fins Bois |
| Distillation method | twice in copper pot stills; Martell distils only clear wines without lees |
| Cask type | French oak (Tronçais) |
| Minimum maturation | VS: at least 2.5 years in oak according to Difford's Guide; no age statement on the label |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Martell VS → kind of → 🍇 Grape brandies → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🐝 French oak
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Martell, 🥃 Cognac, 🍇 Grape brandies
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Martell Cordon Bleu, 🥃 Martell Cordon Bleu, 🥃 Martell VSOP, 🥃 Martell XO, 🥃 Martell VSOP, 🥃 Martell XO, 🥃 Hors d'âge cognac
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Martell VS carries an age statement?
No. VS is a category, not a year: the youngest spirit in the blend has at least two and a half years in oak.
Which crus are in Martell VS?
According to Difford's Guide, mostly Fins Bois; the blend contains 20 to 30 spirits in total.
What is the strength of Martell VS?
40% ABV (80 proof), according to Difford's Guide.
What to read next
- 🥃 Martell Cordon Bleu — Martell flagship Cognac at XO level, created in 1912; more than 100 spirits aged 10 to 25 years, about half from Borderies; 40% ABV.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Hors d'âge cognac — An age mark for cognac: the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend has been aged in oak for at least 10 years, the same as for XO.
Similar
🥃 Martell Cordon Bleu · 🥃 Martell VSOP · 🥃 Martell XO · 🥃 Grand Marnier Grande Cuvée Quintessence · 🥃 Macieira Five Star · 🥃 Christian Brothers Apple
⚠️ 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
- Difford's Guide: Martell VS Cognac (40 % ABV; 20–30 eaux-de-vie, mainly Fins Bois; matured a little over two years)
- Difford's Guide: Martell Cognac Production (Ugni Blanc, clear wine, Tronçais oak, resting in vats: 1 month VS, 3 months Cordon Bleu, 4 months XO)
- Difford's Guide: Cognac Summarised (age designations, double distillation in copper pot stills, oak)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Art. 2 and Annex I
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)