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• Cognac brandy is a distilled wine specifically produced in the Cognac region of western France. Under French law, the beverage must be made from a select few variety of grapes and must be aged for at least two years in French oak barrels.

• Fast Facts

  1. Aged two years in oak barrels
  2. Grapes used: Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Folle Blanche
  3. Made from dry white wine, distilled in alembic copper pots
  4. Some cognacs sell for thousands of dollars
  5. Cognac production areas: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois and Bois Ordinaire
  6. The word champagne is thought to be a derivation of the word "compagne" and refers to the chalky soil which is found in cognac production regions
  7. Many cognac houses work with small producers who run their own farms in the cognac region
  8. Small growers sometimes also produce their own cognacs
  9. Single estate cognacs generally aged longer and more diverse in flavor

• Cognac Brands

  • Dupuy - Dupuy produces a variety of cognacs and products. Their "Very Special" cognac is derived from the Ugni Blanc grape and can be aged for up to ten years. Dupuy recommends drinking neat from a snifter or using in a flambe.
  • Grand Marnier - An orange liqueur, Grand Marnier is not cognac, but a beverage made from oranges, used often in cocktails. It is an 80 proof liqueur also consumed sparingly as a substitute for dessert wine
  • Hennessy - Three million cases of Hennessy cognac sell worldwide each year, making it one of the best selling distilled wines in the world. In 2003, CNN reported that Kim Jong Il is the world's number one purchaser of Hennessy.
  • Remy Martin - Remy Martin is one of the most prominent producers of "Champagne Cognac," meaning the brandy is produced from within the Cognac region in France. Remy Martin first distilled his cognac in 1724. Their premier cognac is called Louis XIII.

• Related Mahalo Pages

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