What is Cognac? Cognac is a particular type of brandy from the Cognac region in France. To understand Cognac, one needs to understand brandy in general. Brandy is made from grapes — unlike whiskey, which is made from grain, or rum, which is made from sugar. Read below to learn all about cognac.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
Cognac Pairings
Where Cognac is From
History of The Cognac
Cognac, in its current form, can be traced back to the 16th and 17th centuries, when the Dutch were trading a great deal in the Cognac area. They realized that distilling wine allowed it to be transported far more reliably because wines tended to go bad when carried long distances in those days.
At first, the Dutch traders only distilled once and added water once the brandy made it to Holland. They initially thought of it as a wine concentrate but soon discovered it was very enjoyable on its own, especially after a second distillation, and then Cognac as we know it was born.
Cognac was enjoyed all over the world for centuries, but it’s taken on particular cultural relevance in the US in recent decades due to its adoption by many in hip-hop culture. In 2001, the artist Busta Rhymes released his song, “Pass the Courvoisier.” Courvoisier is a major producer of Cognac, and sales began to rise from the increased awareness of Cognac among young Americans. Hip-hop stars promoting recreational products have had a major impact on other industries as well. Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg are a few other artists closely associated with Cognac.
Cognac Summary
Cognac is a particular kind of brandy from the Cognac region in France. It’s made by distilling white wine and aging in French oak barrels. It’s been enjoyed by everyone from kings to rappers, and it can add pleasure and refinement to your evenings.
