Cognac

The 11 Best Cognac Brands for Sipping and Cocktails

Our roundup of the best Cognac brands breaks down each house’s rich traditions and the different types it produces.

By 

Jillian Dara

 |  June 17, 2024

Cognac is sometimes overlooked in the world of fine spirits, but it shouldn’t be. It’s not as popular as whiskey, but it has many of the same characteristics that whiskey lovers enjoy so much. Cognac is an aged brown spirit, just like bourbon, rye, or other whiskeys, but it has a more approachable alcohol level (ABV) and a palate that many people enjoy. While most producers bottle whiskey at 40-43% ABV, there’s a trend of cask-strength whiskey in new releases, which is usually 57-65% ABV. The heavy smoke and peat flavors of some whiskeys can be off-putting to newer drinkers. In contrast, Cognac is almost always 40% ABV and has more fruit-forward flavors and aromas, including dried fruit, honey, leather, and spice. While enjoying a glass of Cognac might conjure images of men in smoking robes sitting by a fire swirling a brandy snifter, the spirit is entering a renaissance, and a new generation is embracing its delicious, smooth flavors. Discover the best Cognac brands and what goes into crafting each delicious bottle here. 

In This Article

• What Is Cognac?
• How Cognac Is Made
• Louis XIII
• Hennessy
• Martell
• Hardy
• Rémy Martin
• A.E. Dor
• Ferrand
• D’Ussé Cognac
• Cognac Pasquet
• Grand Marnier
• Rare Hare Lapine

What Is Cognac? 

Cognac is a brandy that can only be produced in its Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) in the region of Cognac, France. Brandy, in general, is a distilled and barrel-aged spirit crafted from fruit wine. This is similar to other prized spirits and wines that hold PDO status. For example, sparkling wine or Blue Weber agave distillates can be made around the globe, but we classify them as Champagne or tequila, respectively, only when they’re produced in their eponymous regions. 

Though countries around the world produce brandy using different fruits, in Cognac, regulations permit only white wine grapes that grow in the six approved growing regions, or crus in French. Outside of Cognac, producers might use other fruits like peaches and apples to make brandy. 

How Cognac Is Made

Due to its protected status, Cognac houses, or maisons, must follow a number of regulations. These include the production method and the permitted grape varieties: Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Folle Blanche, Montils, Sémillon, and Folignan. These grapes have low sugar but high acidity, which is ideal for the two-step distillation process of Cognac.

Once the grapes are harvested, they are pressed and fermented into a low-alcohol wine. Next, the wines are distilled twice in small copper pot stills, a process called Charentais. After distillation, the new wine spirit is referred to as eau-de-vie, French for “water of life.” It must age for a minimum of two years in French oak casks, although most Cognac houses will age them for much longer. Another regulation: Producers can only use Tronçais or Limousin oak barrels for aging. 

After two years, a Cognac can be classified as VS (Very Special); VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) denotes four years of aging; and XO stands for Extra Old, representing at least 10 years of aging.

Once the eau-de-vie ages for at least two years, Cognac houses may blend the liquids. A Cognac blend must contain at least two different aged eaux-de-vie, but the top Cognac houses will blend hundreds together. For example, Rémy Martin XO uses 400 eaux-de-vie, while Louis XIII includes more than 1,200. The intricate blends are what make each Cognac unique, with the different aged brandies offering distinct flavors, textures, and long finishes that are best savored neat.

All of these mandates contribute to Cognac’s revered reputation (and considerable price), which is why Cognac is often perceived as a symbol of sophistication. Here is a list to narrow down the best Cognac brands that deserve a spot on your bar. 

The 11 Best Cognac Brands

Louis XIII

One of the most expensive and luxurious Cognacs in the world is Louis XIII from Rémy Martin. This premium spirit is a dream for all Cognac drinkers. Louis XIII exclusively uses grapes from Grande Champagne, a region noted for its chalky soil. Each bottle includes a blend of more than 1,200 of the finest eaux-de-vie, the oldest of which are over 100 years old. This incredible Cognac comes in a unique crystal decanter designed after a 16th-century flask. It is decorated with eight fleur-de-lis and has crystal spikes on each side. 

In the world of Cognac, Louis XIII accounts for two of the most expensive bottles ever created. The classic decanter is over $4,000, and special editions are far more expensive. Louis XIII Black Pearl adds a mirrorlike finish to the decanter and goes for around $35,000 on the secondary market, while the very limited Rare Cask editions can command prices over $50,000 at retail (if you are granted the privilege of purchasing one). Even a miniature 50ml bottle — about 1.5 oz, the equivalent of a shot — sells for $800.  

The price is worth it, as the palate presents an extremely layered experience, starting with date syrup and fig jam before a ginger nuttiness and violet that turns into its signature cigar box finish. If you consider yourself a Cognac expert, Louis XIII is a must for any home bar. Discover everything you need to know about this prestigious brand in our comprehensive guide to Louis XIII Cognac.

Hennessy 

Founded in 1765, Hennessy crafts both entry-level labels like its best-selling VS and VSOP Cognacs and more premium Cognacs like Hennessy XO and Hennessy Paradis, the latter of which draws a price tag upward of $3,000, depending on the edition. Cognac experts will appreciate Hennessy Ellipse, of which the brand released only 2,000 bottles in 2006. The special edition features eaux-de-vie sourced from seven generations of master blenders dating back to the 1800s, all in a Baccarat crystal carafe. Today, it retails for more than $9,000. In general, Hennessy boasts a scale of richly flavored caramel found in the younger Cognacs, while the longer-aged Hennessy Paradis is more spice-driven with hints of floral notes.

Martell

Englishman Jean Martell founded Martell in 1715, making it one of the oldest Cognac houses. Throughout its long history, it has had several significant milestones. In 1783, it shipped 87 units of Martell eaux-de-vie to the U.S. to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which recognized the U.S.’s independence. Martell’s native England loved his Cognac so much that King George III created an exception for Martell to export his spirits to England during the continental blockade in 1808. Still, perhaps the most important date for the brand remains 1831, when the founding Martell’s great-grandson was the first to coin the term VSOP.

Today, Martell Cordon Bleu is an XO Cognac that defines the brand. It also made history; when it was launched in 1912, it was the first extra-aged Cognac to have its own name. The maison’s pinnacle expression, however, didn’t launch until 2009, as L’Or de Jean Martell. This ultra-luxury and rare Cognac blends thousands of eaux-de-vie from the four finest terroirs in the Cognac region, including Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. For example, L’Or de Jean Martell blends more than 400 eaux-de-vie and starts at $4,600, while L’Or de Jean Martell – Réserve du Château Chanteloup blends 1,400 eaux-de-vie to warrant a $7,500-plus price. 

Maison Martell continues to make history; at the end of 2023, the Martell Single Cru Collection was introduced as a result of Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud’s desire to showcase the authentic taste and personality sourced from three of Cognac’s six crus (almost like terroir in wine or luxury gin brands). Martell Single Cru Fins Bois is lush and juicy; Martell Single Cru Petite Champagne is more intense, spicy, and nutty; and Martell Borderies presents a rich, velvety texture with floral hints.

Hardy

A relatively younger Cognac brand dating back to 1863, Maison Hardy crafts one of the most celebrated and expensive Cognacs in partnership with Lalique. The first collaboration debuted in 2012 with only 333 carafes holding a blend of eaux-de-vie from 1906, 1908, and 1914. The Cognac presents nutmeg and leather on the nose and a cigar box, cedar, and orange peel palate; and it has an exceptionally long finish. 

Perhaps the ultimate Hardy collector’s item is Hardy Cognac Lalique Le Printemps. The brand released just 300 bottles in 2014, each going for over $17,000. This Cognac is floral with dried prunes on the palate, which the Lalique decanter evokes with its blossoming glass stopper, inspired by the finest of perfume bottles. This launch was the first in a series of four carafes depicting the seasons, including Hardy L’Ete, Automne, and Hiver, all presented in a stunning leather case and the finest expressions from Grande Champagne.

Rémy Martin

This year, Rémy Martin celebrates its 300th anniversary. Throughout its long history, the maison has had multiple firsts, including the Fine Champagne designation in 1938, which blends Petite Champagne and Grande Champagne crus. Its Cognacs are well-suited for aging. That’s not to say you can’t sip Rémy Martin XO or Tercet Cognacs upon release, but cellar a bottle for a special celebration, and the maison assures you’ll be delighted with how the flavors continue to soften and give way to some nutty characteristics after extra time in the bottle. Today, the maison has a strong focus on sustainability in the vineyard and in production. It has replanted more than 115,000 oak trees since 2015, focuses on biodiversity in the vineyard, dedicated 15% of its Grand Champagne vineyards to research, and will reduce the carbon footprint of its bottles by 50% by 2030. 

A.E. Dor

A Cognac producer as well as a negociant (merchant), A.E. Dor was the brainchild of Amédée-Edouard Dor, who in 1858 veered from his traditional Cognac family lineage to create his own brand based on collecting and preserving the finest Cognacs. Dor sourced eaux-de-vie from premium Cognac houses and decanted ones he felt had reached their maturity in oak barrels to demijohns — large glass bottles — and sealed them with wax. Many of these original demijohns are still resting in The Paradis — the innermost niche in the cellar — untouched for over 200 years. But some bottles have come to market, garnering attention for the masterful art of blending and taste of history. One of the most expensive releases to date is A.E. Dor Tres Vieille Reserve No. 5 ‘Louis-Philippe’ Grande Champagne Cognac, an 1840 vintage bottled in 1979, for a starting price of $25,000.

Ferrand Cognac

More than four centuries old, Ferrand Cognac produces Cognacs inspired by the 10 generations of winegrowers and Cognac makers from the brand’s origins. Its prestige release in current production is Ferrand Cognac Légendaire, a limited-edition Hors d’Age Cognac (meaning “beyond age”; this is the highest quality in terms of age category a Cognac can have). Each cask of Légendaire produces just 500 bottles, so each release is one of a kind. It comes in a rather ornate crystal decanter that is handblown by experts at Waltersperger and is partially covered by a vineyard-inspired design. If you can find it, it’s well worth searching out Pierre Ferrand Ancestrale Cognac, an expression aged for 70 years that’s often described as a mélange of rustic flavors on the palate, with quintessential notes of tobacco and leather. It’s no longer produced, but you can find bottles on the secondary market. Another exceptional bottle is Pierre Ferrand 1975 Collection Privé Cognac, an expertly aged vintage that depicts the distinct seasons of 1975 with a profile of rancio (nutty) and exotic wood.

D’Ussé Cognac

D’Ussé Cognac is a modern expression that appeals to a younger generation of Cognac drinkers, portraying tradition with its production at the 200-year-old Château de Cognac. Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z and one of the senior-most cellar masters of the modern generation, Michel Casavecchia, launched D’Ussé in 2012. In general, its blends are known for bearing bold flavors and a smooth texture that’s a result of two different eaux-de-vie blended at the historic Cognac house. 

Both the VSOP and XO are approachable bottles, but the limited-edition releases drastically jump in price. The D’Ussé 1969 Anniversaire Limited Edition Grande Champagne Cognac was produced to honor Jay-Z’s 50th birthday with a single-barrel blend from Château de Cognac. The expression showcases aromas of fresh walnut and hazelnut with some candied apple before a woody and stewed-fruit palate. Jay-Z personally signed 50 of the diamond-shaped decanters for close friends and family, and only about 100 others were released to the general public and are now listed for over $10,000.

Cognac Pasquet

When one hears about expressive organic Cognacs, single-estate Cognac, and single-cask Cognac, Cognac Pasquet is top of mind. The Pasquet patriarch founded the family-run maison in 1970, and today, his son Jean Luc Pasquet oversees the operations of its extensive collection. Notably, the Trésors de Famille collection celebrates a range of single-estate and single-cask Cognacs, so it produces an extremely limited number of bottles. One example is the 377 of Le Cognac de Claude, described as a “fruit bomb” with “incredible tannins.” 

Grand Marnier

This household name may be famous for its bulbous bottle of orange-flavored liqueur that’s a key ingredient in Cognac cocktails and others, such as margaritas, sidecars, and Cosmopolitans, yet it has more of a storied history, which all Cognac drinkers should know. Baccarat crystal specialists designed the silhouette to mimic a traditional copper pot still used to distill Cognac and trademarked it in 1892. It remains the distinguishable symbol of the brand across its collection, from the first series of 100th-anniversary limited-edition cuvées that the house released in 1927 to the more recently released styles like Grand Marnier Grande Cuvée Quintessence. The brand remains unconventional with its addition of house-distilled bitter Bigaradia oranges it blends into its Cognacs, and in some special editions, including the coveted Grand Marnier Navan, other essences, such as vanilla, appear.

Rare Hare Lapine

Rare Hare is not a Cognac brand nor a Cognac house, but a limited-edition spirits company that releases luxury tequila, whiskey, and Cognac. It launched in 2022 but has already commanded $1,000 for its 60-year Cognac, Lapine, which recognizes one of the most exceptional vintages of the 20th century (1961). The Herbelot family sourced the original grapes in Échebrune, where the grapes were distilled and barreled for 60 years rather than sold to an established Cognac house. Lapine offers stone fruits and candied berries on the nose; lychee, buttered toast, and honeysuckle on the palate; and a subtle but long finish with hints of French vanilla and coffee.

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