Cognac

Cognac is named after the town of Cognac in France. Enjoy either heating a glass or warming your cognac in the glass over a flame. This process smooths out the Cognac as it passes by the palate. Just like Champagne, Cognac cannot be called Cognac unless it come from the region of Cognac. Many people will call this caramel colored liquid Brandy, but it is from Cognac then it is called so. It is produced in the region surrounding the town from which it takes its name, in the French Departements of Charente-Maritime.

In order to bear the name Cognac, the production methods for the distilled brandy must meet specified legal requirements. It must be made from certain grapes of these, Ugni Blanc, is the most widely-used variety today. It must be distilled twice in copper pot stills and aged at least two years in French oak barrels from Limousin or Troncais oak from these specific forests. Most cognacs are aged considerably longer than the minimum legal requirement, because cognac matures in the same way as whiskies and wine when aged in a barrel.