The Cognac region lies in the two départements of Charente and Charente-Maritime and is the third largest vineyard in France. A genuine Cognac can only come from this designated region of France and the best Cognac is made with grapes coming from the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne regions in the area where the soil is high in chalk content – making it ideal for Cognac production. Key grape varieties used to produce Cognac are Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard. Grapes are pressed and then double distilled in a traditional copper Charentais pot still. After the heart of the spirit (or best part) is extracted after distillation, the resulting liquid is fairly clear. The spirit then matures in traditional oak barrels made with Limousin oak and this maturation gives Cognac its rich colour and flavour. During this ageing process, a certain percentage of the liquid evaporates naturally and is known as ‘the angel’s share’. Authorities guarantee the age of a Cognac for the first 6 years of its ‘life’ and these are defined as: VS or *** is a minimum of 2 years old, VSOP is a minimum of 4 years old and XO is a minimum of 6 years old.
The house of Rémy Martin has been at the heart of spirit making in the Cognac region since 1724. In-the-spirit recommends Rémy Martin VSOP – regarded as the world’s favourite VSOP Cognac – as it is a rich and vibrant gold colour with oaky aromas, hints of vanilla and liquorice, a silky texture and a perfectly balanced blend of ripeness and smoothness. Delicious to enjoy on its own, Rémy Martin VSOP also brings its rich, smooth flavour to many classic cocktails such as the classic Sidecar.
Rémy Martin VSOP Cognac is 40% ABV.