FIVE OF THE BEST: COGNACS FOR COCKTAILS
A bottle of Cognac belongs in every home bar. It’s the base of classic cocktails such as a Sidecar and a Vieux Carré and can also be enjoyed with mixers like ginger ale or soda in a long serve. But which Cognac should you choose? Older Cognacs have more complex flavours and come with a higher price tag. So younger Cognacs – VS and VSOP – are generally considered better for cocktails. Some Cognac houses have also produced blends that are specifically created for use in cocktails. Here are some bottles that are perfect for mixing, to get you started…
1 Courvoisier VSOP Exclusif
£39.95/70cl The Whisky Exchange
Developed especially for use in cocktails, VSOP Exclusif is made with eaux-de-vie from the four top growing regions in Cognac: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies and Fins Bois. A smooth Cognac boasting sweet flavours of apricot, plum, caramel and cocoa, mingling with ginger, cinnamon and vanilla spice. Makes a classy Sidecar. LF Alcohol 40%
2 Frapin 1270
£36.99-£42.82/70cl Amathus Drinks, Laithwaites, Master of Malt, The Bottle Club, The Drink Shop Named for the year the Frapin family settled in southwest France, first as wine-growers then as distillers, this VS Cognac is intended for cocktails. Made with grapes grown exclusively in Grande Champagne, it boasts a floral nose with accompanying aromas of leather. A palate of orchard fruit, caramel, cinnamon and dried fruits is rounded off with dry, toasty spice. LF Alc 40%
H by Hine VSOP 3
£34.95-£40.15/70cl Amathus Drinks, Hard to Find Whiskies, House of Malt, Master of Malt, Slurp, The Bottle Club, The Little Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, VIP Bottles
Made with grapes grown in the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne regions, H by Hine is another Cognac that has been blended specifically for mixing cocktails and is praised by bartenders for its versatility. Appealing floral notes of jasmine and iris sit atop a body of butterscotch, caramel and vanilla. Chopped almonds, hazelnuts, black pepper and ginger come in on the finish. LF Alc 40%
4 Hennessy VS
£34/70cl Widely available
One of the ‘big four’ Cognac houses (along with Rémy Martin, Courvoisier and Martell), Hennessy is the best-selling Cognac brand globally and its popular VS expression is used in cocktails by bartenders around the world. A blend of about 40 different eaux-de-vie, it offers aromas of spicy oak and nutty caramel, with more woody notes on the palate plus vanilla spice, a fruity character and a waft of florality. JS Alc 40%
5 Seignette VS
£28-£32.95/70cl Amazon UK, Distillers Direct, House of Malt, Master of Malt, Ocado, Tesco,
The Secret Bottle Shop, The Whisky Exchange
The original Seignette Cognac house was founded in 1804. This contemporary homage to the label is made by American distiller Sazerac, which owns the Domaine Breuil de Segonzac Cognac house. It’s a light VS style that has plenty of spice on the nose and palate. Pleasantly fruity and smooth, with flavours of dried apricot, candied peel and crystallised ginger, plus creamy vanilla and spicy oak. Versatile and good value. JS Alc 40%