How can I choose a fine cognac?

Cognac is brandy distilled in the cognac area of ​​France. There is a scale of evaluation that helps choose a fine cognac that is based on age, mixture and sometimes on the age of the wood of the barrels in which it is stored. The highest degree of fine cognac is extra old or xo. It is assumed that the wine distillation process began as an attempt to reduce its volume to avoid taxes. Traders soon learned that a distilled wine product was more efficient and sometimes more popular than the wine itself.

While brandy is the most commonly distilled grapes, other fruit can be used to create a product. Peaches, apples, plums and berries are popular fruit used to make Brandia. In the United States is a popular Apple brand called Applejack and made of fermented must. There are very high standards to be fulfilled to mark the brandy as cognac. Grapes must be from the French region of cognac and the resulting wine must be distilled twice in copper photographs. Brandy then must be aged in FRAncouzian barrels for at least two years.

The assessment measure designed to select a fine cognac refers to the time that brandy ages. Very special (vs) is the youngest cognac and ages for at least two years. Very special old pale (VSOP) means brandy not less than four years old. The XO designation is reserved for fine cognacs that age at least six years, although the average age is much older. While the age's evaluation is meant as general quality instructions, cognac lovers claim that fine cognac can be found with VS rating, while some smaller cognac can carry XO rating.

Another factor that needs to be considered when choosing a fine cognac is the price. Cognac prices differ wildly and bottles of up to 200 years can be purchased for exaggerated amounts. Cognac, which is 40 to 50 years old, is considered perfect age, although the price of these bottles generally forbids the average drinkerSti very often. In 2011, the VS Cognac bottle can be sold for only $ 10 in USD (USD), although a fine cognac can sell for $ 60, not much more.