A few rules you can count on to make sure you’re buying the very best:

It’s sometimes worth trading up to an XO (Extra Old), which is made with spirit that’s been aged a minimum of six years. The spicy and exquisite is an excellent representation of the form. Look for the independents. Most of the Cognac we get in Canada is produced by big houses owned by multi-national liquor companies, but family-owned Hine Cognac is a near-perfect exception. is a bright and complex brandy that tastes like pear balanced with spice and dry cocoa. Borderies, Petite Champagne, and Grande Champagne are the premier micro-regions. And to taste the difference microclimate makes, splash out on a bottle of Not really a rule, but is an easy-drinking, full-bodied Cognac that comes with Jay-z’s seal of approval. It opens with intense maple syrup and then eases into cinnamon-raisin territory. When in doubt, mix it into a cocktail. People used to cry at the thought of even adding water to a VSOP. Now, companies like Courvoisier actually encourage it, pointing out that their VSOP goes great in eggnog, Champagne cocktails, and, everybody’s favourite cure for the common cold, the