Cognac

After 8 years of drinking Cognac I'm still finding bottles that surprise me. The category has more depth than it's given credit for by people who haven't explored it properly. Served with a splash of water at its best, the nose continues to evolve in interesting directions. My advice to anyone star…

I drink Cognac roughly once a week and have done for 10 years. Not a connoisseur, just someone who enjoys it consistently. Served in a proper glass at room temperature after work it provides a reliable wind-down that nothing else quite replicates. The finish is comforting in its familiarity. I'm no…

I resisted Cognac for a long time based on a bad early experience. Then a friend insisted I try a properly made version served neat and everything changed. The smooth aftertaste I'd missed the first time was suddenly the point. Been drinking it regularly for about six months now and find myself act…

Quality Cognac sits at the premium end of my drinks budget and that's fine — it's an occasion drink for me. Served neat at the right moment it's hard to beat. The depth of flavour on a well-chosen bottle is extraordinary. That said, the price variation in this category is wild. You absolutely get w…

Something I've noticed with Cognac: the season changes the experience significantly. In summer chilled it's lighter and more refreshing, the complexity on the palate sitting differently in warm weather. In winter the same drink served the same way feels richer and more substantial. I now think abou…

I came to Cognac late — not until I was in my 4s. Had assumed it wasn't for me based on nothing in particular. A partner's recommendation changed that. Tried it on the rocks and the character was immediately interesting rather than off-putting. Several years on and it's firmly part of how I drink. …

Took a bottle of Cognac to a dinner party where nobody had thought much about it before. Served it on the rocks after the meal and it sparked a genuine conversation. The balance between sweetness and bite did the work — once people noticed it they couldn't stop asking questions. There's something s…

Cognac has a specific character that isn't universally appealing and I respect that. Some people find the complexity on the palate overwhelming. Served chilled it's at its most polarising — full flavour, no hiding. For those it clicks with, the payoff is enormous. I'm firmly in that camp and have b…

I expected more from this Cognac given the price point and the hype around the category. Served in a proper glass at room temperature as recommended. The smooth aftertaste was underwhelming compared to bottles at half the price I've enjoyed. The premium end of this market has a lot of marketing att…

One of the things I love about Cognac is the regional variation. The same category produced in different parts of the world tastes completely different. The complexity on the palate shifts dramatically depending on origin, and served neat those differences are most apparent. If you've only tried on…