21 Greatest Cognac Manufacturers  | Enterprise Technique Hub

Though all cognac is brandy, all brandy isn’t cognac. Sipping cognac is extra luxurious than ingesting brandy. This crème de la crème of the brandy world is made in a particular French area and aged in French oak for at the very least two years. It undergoes two distillations to supply the “eau de vie.” Then, eau de vie is mixed, aged, and launched when the grasp distiller deems it prepared. Some cognac manufacturers can hint their vine-growing and distilling historical past to the 1200s. So, imbibers have engaged on this luxurious expertise for over 750 years.

Cognac has getting older classifications: VS (Very Particular) is aged for at the very least two years, and VSOP (Very Superior Outdated Pale) is at the very least 4 years. Cognac XO (Additional Outdated) is over 10 years outdated, whereas Cognac XXO (Additional-Additional Outdated) is 14 years or extra. Hennessy, Martell, Rémy Martin, and Courvoisier are the highest Cognac homes, producing round 45% of the world’s cognac. However that are the perfect cognac manufacturers?  

Right here is an in-depth evaluation of the 21 finest cognac manufacturers:  

1. Hennessy

Hennessy is the world’s main cognac model, based in 1765 by Richard Hennessy. This iconic cognac home is predicated in Cognac, France, and operated by Diageo. It produces cognac XO, VS, VSOP, and XXO for connoisseurs and informal drinkers. In Aug 2024, the Hennessy Cognac activation grew to become the first alcohol model to dominate the Sportopia basketball house. Hennessy engaged basketball gamers and followers on the courtroom and at a courtside bar to have a good time neighborhood and tradition. Every winner aged 18 and over acquired a restricted version Hennessy XO NBA bottle value $260. [1]

Picture supply: Hennessy

Execs: Hennessy is synonymous with cognac. The model is understood for its wonderful palates, good for cognac connoisseurs and informal drinkers. Hennessy XO cognac is revered globally. You should buy elegant blends like Hennessy VS if you happen to want combined drinks or cognac on the rocks with toasted flavors. Hennessy Paradis has gentle, fragrant flavors and an approachable style and end. This clean cognac is ideal for folks making an attempt cognac for the primary time.

Cons: Hennessy will be expensive.  

Worth Vary: $48-$14,300

2. Martell

Martell is a number one French cognac home with over 300 years of expertise. The model affords top-notch cognacs, together with the Martell XO, VS, and Cordon Bleu. In Dec 2023, Martell unveiled the new L’Or de Jean Martell Reserve du Chateau de Chanteloup. This distinctive expression from Maison Martell is a limited-edition mix of 1,400 completely different eau-de-vies aged in barrels constructed from 300-year-old oak. [2]

Picture supply: Martell

Execs: Martell has been producing high-quality liquors for over 300 years. The model makes use of the best grapes and a complete distillation and maturation course of to create cognacs for various palates and events. You should buy Martin XO if you happen to search a premium mix with a peppery trace and forest fruits. Martell VS additionally has wealthy, fruity notes like plum and apricot.

Cons: Martell’s high-end cognacs are costly. Many of the model’s recipes date again to its inception and should not swimsuit drinkers looking for trendy profiles. Nevertheless, Martell releases new spins and blends like Martell Cordon Bleu.

Worth Vary: $50-$3,400

3. Courvoisier

Courvoisier is among the world’s largest cognac manufacturers. Its traditional Cognac area distillery makes use of a meticulous course of to supply unbelievable cognacs with daring, fruity, and floral flavors. The model sells over 1 million nine-liter circumstances yearly. In Might 2024, Italy’s Campari Group acquired Courvoisier for US$1.17 billion from Suntory World Spirits. Campari opened an Aperol bottling plant in northwest Italy to double Courvoisier’s manufacturing capability. [3]

Picture supply: Courvoisier

Execs: Courvoisier makes use of premium grapes, like Petite Champagne, Grande Champagne, and Fins Bois. These components ship distinctive and gorgeous blends with nuance and depth. You should buy Courvoisier’s XO extremely clean cognac if you happen to want to sip your drink neat or over whiskey rocks. Courvoisier’s VSOP is ideal for savvy drinkers looking for an edgy and darker elegant end.

Cons: Some Courvoisier’s cognacs have a vivid, floral end. Though the flavour profile isn’t overwhelming, it’s noticeable and distracting for some drinkers.

Worth Vary: $23-$11,000

4. Rémy Martin

Rémy Martin is a legendary cognac home within the coronary heart of the Cognac area. The model affords in style XO, VSOP, and VS cognacs. In 2024, Rémy Martin launched the brand new XO Night time and a restricted version expression to mark its 300^th anniversary. XO Night time has a minimalistic, mirrored black decanter, the XO stamp, and Rémy Martin’s signature centaur. This cognac targets night-time celebrations in high-end golf equipment, rooftop bars, and stylish lounges. The Rémy Martin 300^th anniversary cognac debuted at $2,735. [4]

Picture supply: Rémy Martin

Execs: Rémy Martin has over 300 years of expertise in cognac manufacturing. The model affords complicated and creative cognacs. Its VSOP is among the world’s prime vintages. You may also purchase Rémy Martin’s XO velvety clean cognac that pairs completely with completely different meals menus.

Cons: Rémy Martin’s high-end cognacs are costly. Nevertheless, you will discover reasonably priced choices for lower than $50.

Worth Vary: $40-$12,735

5. Jean-Luc Pasquet

The Pasquet household has owned and operated their Grande Champagne, France, winery since 1730. The model makes use of native yeast to provoke fermentation, producing cognac with distinct flavors and with out added sugar or caramel. Pasquet is understood for its natural cognacs made by hand in a single winery. Its vivid L’Natural 04 blends two eau-de-vie aged 4 and 5 years in Limousin oak barrels. This cognac is dry and excessive in acidity, offering a substitute for the normal VSOP. It reveals the class and uniqueness of every stage of maturity as a substitute of mixing with a number of age statements. [5]

Picture supply: Cognac Pasquet

Execs: Pasquet is the go-to model for never-chill-filtered, sugar-free natural cognacs. Its drinks epitomize the distinct flavors of the Grande Champagne area. Pasquet is extra reasonably priced in comparison with the highest 5 cognac manufacturers.

Cons: Pasquet produces complicated cognacs with distinct noses, vivid flavors, and lasting finishes. Though it has restricted selection, the gathering caters to all cognac lovers. You should buy the Jean-Luc Pasquet L’Natural 10 with two natural eau-de-vie aged 10 and 12. This cognac has tobacco, gingerbread, and cocoa notes with hints of orange and ginger.

Worth Vary: $22.80-$425

6. Meukow

Meukow’s cognac story started in 1862 when two brothers, Auguste-Christophe and Gustave Meukow, arrived in France from Russia. They created a cognac with a particular Russian type. By 1880, Meukow had received its first award. The model expanded its market presence and assortment to incorporate XO, VSOP, and VS cognacs. Meukow additionally affords restricted version cognacs just like the Meukow XO Grande Champagne. [6]

Picture supply: Meukow Cognac

Execs: Meukow is understood for its heritage and craftsmanship. The model makes use of a singular getting older course of, the best components, and conventional strategies to create its signature cognacs with distinctive taste profiles. You should buy the sunshine and fruity Meukow Cognac VS or the wealthy and sophisticated Meukow Cognac XO to benefit from the style of historical past and custom in each sip.

Cons: Meukow designs its cognacs to enchantment to classy cognac drinkers, not novices. For instance, Meukow XO has a tannin-rich and fruit-forward profile, whereas Meukow VSOP has a fancy taste profile with vanilla, oak, and spice notes.

Worth Vary: $40-$6,000

7. Hine

Hine is an unbiased cognac home based in 1763 by Thomas Hine. The model produces licensed premium cognacs from Grande and Petite Champagne grapes within the French brandy area. Its drinks fall into the “high-quality champagne” class. In Aug 2024, Hine appointed SipWell to develop its journey retail presence throughout the UK, US, and Asia. [7]

Picture supply: Hine

Execs: Hine produces premium cognacs from Grande and Petite Champagne grapes, guaranteeing they please most palates. Its cognacs endure maturation in Jarnac, France, or the UK. Every maturation journey yields distinct notes. Hine additionally affords richly flavored vintages.

Cons: Hine is premium cognac model. Its cognacs are costly.

Worth Vary: $60-$13,500

8. Camus

Camus is a cognac model based in 1863. This cognac home has handed down its custom, heritage, and wealthy historical past for 5 generations, nurturing a outstanding legacy of taste and distinction. The model seeks to diversify its portfolio past cognacs. In Might 2024, Camus introduced plans to produce natural and fragrant Chinese language whiskies from 2025. The model invested $30 million in Nov 2023 to construct a whisky distillery in Bozhou, China. [8]

Picture supply: Camus

Execs: Camus affords fragrant and versatile cognacs. It makes use of a patented depth distillation methodology to pick out and extract essentially the most potent spirit parts earlier than mixing them. This distinctive method delivers cognacs with full-bodied, fruity aromas and intense taste profiles.

Cons: Camus’ high-end cognacs are expensive. The silky-textured Camus XO is ideal for cognac lovers with a whole lot of {dollars} to spare. Nevertheless, you will discover reasonably priced choices like Camus VSOP Borderies Single Property cognac.

Worth Vary: $47-$17,000

9. Frapin

Frapin is among the oldest cognac manufacturers. This family-owned cognac home began rising vine and distilling liquors in 1270. The model affords hand-craft cognacs harvested and aged in its 240-ha vineyards within the Grande Champagne space. In Might 2024, Cognac Frapin 15-Years received a gold medal within the Cognac Masters’ XO Single Property class. The judges acknowledged the cognac’s savory notes with raisins, sultanas, caramel, and spice. [9]

Picture supply: Cognac Frapin

Execs: Frapin has over 750 years of expertise in cognac manufacturing. The model caters to all cognac drinkers. Newcomers can drink the Frapin 1270 with a fragile taste, good in combined drinks and on the rocks. Frapin Cognac XO VIP is the go-to possibility for cognac connoisseurs looking for an fragrant, multi-faceted drink.

Cons: Frapin’s top-end cognacs are costly.

Worth Vary: $77-$48,760

10. François Voyer

Voyer is a cognac model owned by cellar grasp Pierre Vaudon from the Grande Champagne area. The household can hint its manufacturing historical past to 1811 in Fins Bois. This model produces the Premier Cru de Cognac from Ugni Blanc grapes, aged earlier than and after distillation to achieve the specified taste profile. Its top-selling cognacs embody Voyer VSOP, Napoleon, XO, Additional, and Hors d’Âge. The model additionally affords the 1993 classic, Personelle n°7, and Ancestral n°8. [10]

Picture supply: Cognac Voyer

Execs: Voyer produces high-quality cognacs, good for connoisseurs and newcomers. The model affords delicate, tasty, tinged cognacs with well-balanced oaky notes. You should buy the Voyer VSOP for round $55 to take pleasure in mushy and clean flavors.

Cons: Voyer’s blends are usually not as heady as different varieties. Nevertheless, they ship the model’s signature cognac style and velvety texture. 

Worth Vary: $32.99-$1,976

11. Bache-Gabrielsen

Bache-Gabrielsen is a medium-sized family-owned cognac home established in 1905. The model is understood for mixing cognac and whiskey notes. In 2022, Bache-Gabrielsen launched its first French whisky, BGW. This drink attracts on the model’s ancestral household know-how and the attribute notes infused by French oak casks. [11]

Picture supply: Bache-Gabrielsen

Execs: Bache-Gabrielsen fuses traditional cognac flavors with new American-style casks to create distinctive blends. The model makes use of genuine American Tennessee oak casks as a substitute of normal Cognac-region oak barrels, guaranteeing the cognac has traditional whiskey notes. Bache-Gabrielsen is ideal for cognac, whiskey, and scotch lovers. 

Cons: Bache-Gabrielsen’s cognacs with whiskey tones will not be palatable for all drinkers.

Worth Vary: $30-$600

12. Hardy

Hardy is a cognac model based in 1863 by Anthony Hardy within the French Cognac area. The model is understood for its spherical, mellow, and refined cognac type. In Aug 2023, Hardy rebranded its core vary and reintroduced its premium assortment with Lalique. The adjustments got here just a few months earlier than the model’s 160^th anniversary. [12]

Picture supply: Hardy Cognac

Execs: Hardy affords a complete cognac assortment vary, together with VS, VSOP, VSOP Natural, and XO. Its 10-year-old-and-above vary with Lalique options the model’s elite version decanters. Hardy additionally supplies the Status Assortment with ultra-aged cognacs.  

Cons: Hardy’s high-end cognacs are costly. Nevertheless, they’re value each penny.

Worth Vary: $29-$11,500

13. D’Ussé

D’Ussé is a comparatively new cognac model based in 2012 by esteemed cellar grasp Michel Casavecchia and American rapper Jay-Z (Shawn Carter). It was initially created at Château de Cognac, one of many oldest French cognac homes. In Apr 2024, Agathe Boinot succeeded D’Ussé founding cellar grasp Michel Casavecchia. Boinot is the youngest feminine cellar grasp of a number one cognac home. [13]

Picture supply: D’Ussé

Execs: D’Ussé’s founding cellar grasp, Michel Casavecchia, established the model as a contemporary expression of cognac with integrity, boldness, and authenticity. Its XO has a wealthy taste and a well-balanced end, whereas VSOP has distinct woodsy notes. You may order D’Ussé bottles with personalised engravings and ship them to family and friends as presents.

Cons: D’Ussé has a restricted cognac selection. It affords solely two choices: the D’Ussé XO and D’Ussé VSOP.

Worth Vary: $79-$271

14. AE Dor

Dor is a cognac home based in 1858 by Amédée Edouard Dor. The model makes a speciality of whimsical taste profiles and distinctive maturations. Its intensive vary consists of VS, VSOP, XO, and uncommon classic releases. Dor caters to completely different shoppers, from novices exploring the cognac world to seasoned lovers looking for distinctive expressions. [14]

Picture supply: AE Dor

Execs: Dor is understood for its refined class and distinctive craftsmanship. The model affords high-quality cognacs with distinctive taste layers, from vivid, bursting citrus notes to darker chocolate hints. This cognac home has a bottle for each palate.

Cons: Dor’s entry-level cognacs price greater than the market’s common.

Worth Vary: $75-$9,250

15. Dudognon

Dudognon traces its distilling historical past to 1776. This cognac model operates a legacy distillery in Lignières-Sonneville, France, inside the Grande Champagne area. Its present proprietor, Claudine, follows within the footsteps of her father and great-grandfather. She makes use of wood-fired stills like her ancestors, creating blends from Ugni Blanc grapes and different conventional varieties like Folle Blanche and Montils.

Picture supply: Maison Dudognon

Execs: Dudognon makes a speciality of pure, sugar-free, and caramel-free cognacs. Its blends supply genuine cognac flavors with a definite grape punch. Dudognon is among the most reasonably priced cognac manufacturers, good for novices.

Cons: Dudognon has restricted cognac varieties. Nevertheless, its assortment supplies one thing for all cognac lovers.

‎Worth Vary: $39.98-$601

16. Monnet

Monnet traces its historical past to 1838. This model produces sunny and vivid cognacs in Jarnac, France. Monnet’s signature spin additionally affords oaky, fruity, and floral notes. The fragile steadiness between wealthy oak and vivid floral flavors helps Monnet stand out within the cognac world.

Picture supply: Monnet

Execs: Monnet has honed its craft and fine-tuned its cognac distillation and maturation course of since 1838. It’s the go-to model for reasonably priced drinks for stunning events.

Cons: Monnet produces a small vary of cognacs. This method limits your choices to some varieties.

Worth Vary: $44-$454

17. Pierre Ferrand

Pierre Ferrand is a cognac model based within the 1800s. It produces artisanal cognacs on the Maison Ferrand distillery in Ars, Cognac, France. In Might 2024, Esquire featured the Pierre Ferrand Double Cask Reserve Cognac on its 2024 Greatest 5 Cognacs to purchase record. [15]

Picture supply: Cognac Ferrand

Execs: Pierre Ferrand makes use of Angeac-Champagne grapes grown in chalky soil, which infuse a particular and interesting style into the cognac. Its strong maturation course of enhances the grapes’ traits and produces cognacs with wealthy, oaky flavors.

Cons: Pierre Ferrand affords fewer cognac varieties in comparison with prime manufacturers. 

Worth Vary: $46-$3,580

18. Bisquit & Dubouché

Bisquit & Dubouché is a high-end French cognac model based by Alexandre Bisquit in 1819. The home was offered to Pernod Ricard in 1966 and resold to the South African group Distell in 2009. Campari Group acquired Bisquit Cognac from Distell and relaunched it as Bisquit & Dubouché. Its top-selling merchandise embody the Bisquit & Dubouché Status cognac. The model additionally affords VS, VSOP, and XO cognacs.

Picture supply: Bisquit & Dubouche

Execs: Bisquit has over 200 years of heritage and expertise in cognac manufacturing. The model was the official cognac provider for King George VI of England and Winston Churchill’s favourite cognac.  

Cons: Bisquit has restricted selection.  

Worth Vary: $64.99-$810

19. NAUD

NAUD is a distillery in Pinthiers, France, established by Emile Perrier in 1923. Perrier’s descendants, Jean-Michel and Pierre Naud are perpetuating the legacy of founding grasp distiller. In 2017, Pierre Naud reopened the model’s Pinthiers distillery and began producing cognac utilizing outdated recipes and 5 pot stills within the plant. The brand new NAUD model affords cognac Additional, VSOP, VS, and XO. 

Picture supply: NAUD Spirits

Execs: NAUD makes use of tried-and-tested conventional strategies handed down for 5 generations and the best grapes from the Charentais hillsides. Its double distillation over an open hearth and lengthy getting older course of delivers roundness and fragrant richness to NAUD cognacs.

Cons: NAUD affords restricted selection, with solely 4 cognac variations.

Worth Vary: $148-$888

20. Maxime Trijol

Maxime Trijol is a family-run cognac home established in 1859 in Cognac, France. 5 generations of the Trijol household have practiced their ancestors’ conventional cognac manufacturing strategies for over 160 years. Their distillery has twenty-two 2500-liter stills and provides cognacs to drinkers in over 50 international locations worldwide.

Picture supply: Maxime Trijol

Execs: Maxime Trijol produces high-quality cognacs utilizing five-generation conventional strategies. Its small, close-knit workforce is led by cellar grasp Jean-Jacques Trijol, who oversees the distilling, manufacturing, and bottling processes. This Maxime Trijol XO Grande Champagne is an award-winning cognac.

Cons: Maxime Trijol produces just a few cognacs based mostly on its conventional recipes. Its assortment could not meet the wants of all drinkers.

Worth Vary: $33-$1,954

21. Augier Cognac

Augier is among the oldest cognac homes, established in 1643 by a wine service provider. The model declined within the 19^th and 20^th centuries attributable to stiff competitors from massive cognac households. In 2013, Pernod-Ricard acquired Augier and restored its manufacturing capabilities. The model now affords the daring and wild Le Sauvage and high-quality Le Singulier champagne mix. Its third cognac, L’Océanique, has a coastal character from the lesser-known Bois Ordinaires terroir.

Picture supply: Cognac Augier

Execs: Augier has 380 years of heritage and expertise. The model makes use of conventional distillation, non-chill filtration, and no components or synthetic colours, preserving the cognac’s steadiness and fragrant complexity.

Cons: Augier is a small-time cognac boutique with restricted manufacturing capability. The model limits your selections to Le Sauvage, Le Singulier, and L’Océanique.

Worth Vary: $44.50-$2,662

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