Need Cognac Help

[brazoseagle]

I am versed in just about every other booze category there is , except value cognac. I am familiar with the high end, extremely expensive aged stuff, but drinking that on a frequent basis is not my bag.

I would love some input on some great tasting, smooth complex cognacs that are not too terribly expensive, and readily found or ordered in the US.

Thanks!

[laficion]

I would love some input on some great tasting, smooth complex cognacs that are not too terribly expensive, and readily found or ordered in the US.

I would reccommend "HINE" as a true value and if you can find some, I would also add "OTARD"

Both excellent and a wide variety in both brands.

Here's wishing you luck in your quest.

[Plato]

Greetings friend,

I am really into cognac as well as other brandies.

The BIG 4 producers of Cognac that produce the majority of the cognac in France are: Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell, and Remy Martin. They are enormous corporations who have a VERY dominant market share. IMHO, all the big four major producers sell mediocre brandy at insanely high prices. To be honest, Cognac is pretty much EXTREMELY overrated and over hyped.

Here is a brief primer on Cognac if you don't know this already (I wrote it during my lunch break)

Cognac is a spirit made from grapes. That makes it brandy. All Cognac is Brandy, but not all Brandy is Cognac. Only brandy made in the Cognac region of France can be called Cognac. They make incredibly Cognac style Brandy

Onto the next must know thing about Cognac:

VS = "Very Special" Lowest grade of Cognac available.

VSOP "Very Special Old Pale" A small step above VS and is at least 4 years old

XO = "Extra Old". Minimum of 6 years old.

Okay, let's break this down and I'll show you why I think that Cognac's from these big four are overpriced. Hennessy VS, Courvoisier VS, Martel VS, and Remy Martin VS are all priced about the same. This trend continues with other Cognacs in each brands line (VSOP, and XO) and so on. I'll list the average prices that Hennessy is sold between in most stores:

Hennessy VS - $27.00 to $33.00 (2-3 Years old)

Hennessy VSOP - $45 to $60 (4 Years old)

Hennessy XO - $160-190!!! (Minimum of 6 years old)

For Cognac, the best value in cognac is Francois Peyrot 25 Year Old. Yep. 25 Years old. Its $89 bucks here http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=690003&cid=TPV-Winesearcher

-----

However, I think that better options are Spanish Brandy and German Brandy

Brandies that aren’t from France that I think BLOW away any Cognac (Except the Francois Peyrot 25 year…that’s an incredible bottle and value)

1) Asbach Uralt – Germany- This is a company that started in 1892 by a man who set out to make Brandy that would rival the best Cognacs. There is NOTHING smoother than this. No burn, no bite. It’s like liquid candy brandy goodness. Beautiful dark color. AND you can find it between $21 and $30 dollars.

2) Torres 10 – Spain – This is also delicious. You can find bottles between $19 and $30. This, like the Asbach Uralt, will BLOW AWAY Henny VS, VSOP, or XO. 10 Years old.

3) Torres 20 – Spain – You tried the Torres 10 and were blown away? Just wait till you try this. It’s even better. 20 Years old. Costs about $45 to $50 dollars in most stores. A masterpiece.

I loved Cognac, until I discovered Spanish and German brandies that were even better, and at a fraction of the price. Start with the Asbach Uralt. I promise you will not be disappointed. Then try the Torres 10. And with the low price of the Asbach Uralt and Torres 10, you can drink like a French king, for a fraction of the cost.

PM me if you have any more questions.

Mike

[brazoseagle]

Greetings friend,

I am really into cognac as well as other brandies.

The BIG 4 producers of Cognac that produce the majority of the cognac in France are: Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell, and Remy Martin. They are enormous corporations who have a VERY dominant market share. IMHO, all the big four major producers sell mediocre brandy at insanely high prices. To be honest, Cognac is pretty much EXTREMELY overrated and over hyped.

Here is a brief primer on Cognac if you don't know this already (I wrote it during my lunch break)

Cognac is a spirit made from grapes. That makes it brandy. All Cognac is Brandy, but not all Brandy is Cognac. Only brandy made in the Cognac region of France can be called Cognac. They make incredibly Cognac style Brandy

Onto the next must know thing about Cognac:

VS = "Very Special" Lowest grade of Cognac available.

VSOP "Very Special Old Pale" A small step above VS and is at least 4 years old

XO = "Extra Old". Minimum of 6 years old.

Okay, let's break this down and I'll show you why I think that Cognac's from these big four are overpriced. Hennessy VS, Courvoisier VS, Martel VS, and Remy Martin VS are all priced about the same. This trend continues with other Cognacs in each brands line (VSOP, and XO) and so on. I'll list the average prices that Hennessy is sold between in most stores:

Hennessy VS - $27.00 to $33.00 (2-3 Years old)

Hennessy VSOP - $45 to $60 (4 Years old)

Hennessy XO - $160-190!!! (Minimum of 6 years old)

For Cognac, the best value in cognac is Francois Peyrot 25 Year Old. Yep. 25 Years old. Its $89 bucks here http://www.klwines.c...PV-Winesearcher

-----

However, I think that better options are Spanish Brandy and German Brandy

Brandies that aren't from France that I think BLOW away any Cognac (Except the Francois Peyrot 25 year…that's an incredible bottle and value)

1) Asbach Uralt – Germany- This is a company that started in 1892 by a man who set out to make Brandy that would rival the best Cognacs. There is NOTHING smoother than this. No burn, no bite. It's like liquid candy brandy goodness. Beautiful dark color. AND you can find it between $21 and $30 dollars.

2) Torres 10 – Spain – This is also delicious. You can find bottles between $19 and $30. This, like the Asbach Uralt, will BLOW AWAY Henny VS, VSOP, or XO. 10 Years old.

3) Torres 20 – Spain – You tried the Torres 10 and were blown away? Just wait till you try this. It's even better. 20 Years old. Costs about $45 to $50 dollars in most stores. A masterpiece.

I loved Cognac, until I discovered Spanish and German brandies that were even better, and at a fraction of the price. Start with the Asbach Uralt. I promise you will not be disappointed. Then try the Torres 10. And with the low price of the Asbach Uralt and Torres 10, you can drink like a French king, for a fraction of the cost.

PM me if you have any more questions.

Mike

Thank you very much!!!!

[DblToro]

Well done Mike, my hat is off to you "Connoisseur"

[Squarehead]

Try to get a St-Remy XO.This is a very smooth French Brandy for a fraction of the price of those overpriced and overated Cognac.I fooled many people with this brandy,just don't show the bottle.

[coblos]

However, I think that better options are Spanish Brandy and German Brandy

Gran Duque De Alba

[Plato]

Well done Mike, my hat is off to you "Connoisseur"

I appreciate the " " marks.

Who doesn't love booze?

[brazoseagle]

I appreciate the " " marks.

Who doesn't love booze?

Indeed!

[darinjanssen]

Good info Mike!! Nice to know about the designations..VS, VSOP, XO

[ckearns]

Mike, thanks for providing such an informative write-up. I never would have known to try Asbach Uralt without a recommendation like yours and I look forward to trying it. Cheers.

[Puros Y Vino]

Plato explained it beautifully.

The big four of Cognac, Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell, and Remy Martin. Do have some nice offerings.

I find the smaller producers make excellent Cognacs. I enjoy Camus and HINE. HINE has a "Cigar" blend. It was good but I like their other lines more. Remy Martin Champagne Cognac is very good.

Whatever you do, try and avoid the new Cognacs endorsed by rappers. They're overly sweet abominations.

Good luck.

[Stalebread]

(snip)

1)Asbach Uralt Germany- This is a company that started in 1892 by a man who set out to make Brandy that would rival the best Cognacs. There is NOTHING smoother than this. No burn, no bite. Its like liquid candy brandy goodness. Beautiful dark color. AND you can find it between $21 and $30 dollars.

(snip)

Good information. I think I'm going to try this one.

Just finished a bottle of Rémy Martin XO Excellence and was looking at Delamain Vesper Grande Champagne for my next bottle. But the Asback sounds very interesting.

[Plato]

Good information. I think I'm going to try this one.

Just finished a bottle of Rémy Martin XO Excellence and was looking at Delamain Vesper Grande Champagne for my next bottle. But the Asback sounds very interesting.

I would definitely try it. Let me know what you think. Shoot me a PM when you try some

Cheers,

Mike

[TankerT]

OK. I've had lots of Cognac, Brandy... etc.

Bought a bottle of Asbach Uralt last night. I swear. I'll make sure I always have a bottle of that stuff on hand. Hands down, fantastic.

[Plato]

OK. I've had lots of Cognac, Brandy... etc.

Bought a bottle of Asbach Uralt last night. I swear. I'll make sure I always have a bottle of that stuff on hand. Hands down, fantastic.

Hell yeah dude!!!!!

I love the stuff. It's like brandy candied smooth goodness. I'm really glad you tried it. Once you've had it, you'll never go back to over priced entry level cognacs. Dude, you HAVE to try Torres 20. Or Torres 10, the Spanish brandies. Equally good, if not better. But slightly different style than the Asbach Uralt.

Also, I've never had them, but I guess Asbach makes other brandies that are even older and more expensive. Uralt is only their entry level brandy. I can't even imagine how good their slightly more expensive stuff is. However, it seems impossible to find, even online. I think that it's so good, that most of the production ends up staying within Germany. It is the best kept secret in Germany, and the world of brandies IMHO.

Glad you liked the Asbach. Spread the word! Friends don't let friends drink over priced and over rated French cognacs!!!

Cheers,

Mike

Edited October 14, 2011 by Plato

[bolivr]

Thanks Mike, this is great info!

[ckearns]

Mike, great tip about the Asbach. I picked up a bottle and have been sampling it over the last week. It's very good, but not 100% for my taste. I'm not sure why, but my palate doesn't care for grape based liquors. Thanks for sharing about this product.

[Plato]

Mike, great tip about the Asbach. I picked up a bottle and have been sampling it over the last week. It's very good, but not 100% for my taste. I'm not sure why, but my palate doesn't care for grape based liquors. Thanks for sharing about this product.

CKs,

To each their own! Who knows, maybe you will discover a passion for brandy a decade from now.

Cheers!

Mike

[ckearns]

CKs,

To each their own! Who knows, maybe you will discover a passion for brandy a decade from now.

Cheers!

Mike

Good point, Mike. I hope my tastes change, but I know its something about grape based liquors because I can't stand grappa either.

I had all mine like I would a single malt. Maybe I should have tried it in a snifter. How do you take it?

[bolivr]

Mike, thanks for the Asbach tip. Got some today and am impressed. Very classy drop, about 40 aussie dollars here, well worth it compared to the fake caramel and vanilla abominations that get around, Cheers

[Stalebread]

I would definitely try it. Let me know what you think. Shoot me a PM when you try some

Cheers,

Mike

I've now had a couple of shots out of the Asbach Uralt. It is smooth and with little heat. I'm just not sure about the flavor. More than anything, I think I have to admit that Cognac and the like are much less my drink than a good sipping rum. I'm even starting to like Calvados more than Cognac.

.

[mtaill]

My "go to" are Hennesy and Camus, both XO

[Deemancpa]

working my way through the San Francisco Spirit winners 2011 Best Cognacs. I've enjoyed the majors, started looking for other brands to expand my experience.

Best in Show Double Gold Medal Landy XO

others I've purchased: Leopold Gourmel age du fruit, Comandon XO and A. De Fussigny XO

D-

[dan5974]

I know this is an old thread that hasn't been responded to in a while,but Pierre Ferrenad Ambre is a good value at about $40 US.I think all of the Ferrand Cognacs I've tried are great.The most expensive I've had in their range was the Seleccion de Anges($99) so I can't tell you about their high end offerings,but I imagine they'd be quite good.For a little more money the Delemain Pale & Dry XO($83) is great.The funny thing is I've loved Cognac for years,but now I gravitate toward Scotch.