Helena and Aidy explore all kinds of cultural and gastronomic sites around the picturesque Cognac region in The Three Drinkers in Cognac, but it’s no surprise that the namesake spirit features heavily.
Probably the most common form of cognac available is VS cognac, so let’s break down exactly what this means, how to drink it, how it differs from other letters you might see and crucially, where to head to try some of the good stuff!
What is VS Cognac?
First off, just in case you haven’t consulted our Beginner’s Guide, cognac is a brandy that originates from the region of the same name in South-West France. This part of Charente quickly up a reputation for the best brandy in the 18th century, and since then heritage cognac houses have been perfecting the craft.
Within cognac production, you’re likely to find different letter combinations on the bottle. These letters signify the age statement. In the case of VS cognac, this stands for Very Special and means that the youngest eaux-de-vie in the blend will have been aged for at least two years. You might also see three stars instead which pretty much means the same thing!
Although VS stands for Very Special, this is actually the youngest cognac age statement and other letters signify higher minimum ages.
How Does VS Cognac differ to VSOP and XO Cognac?
In short, where VS Cognac must be at least two years old, VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) must be four and XO (Extra Old) ten! There are older categories too so if you want to know more about what the different letters on cognac bottles mean, head here for a full breakdown with bottles to try from each.
Generally, the more time cognac spends in the barrel the nuttier and richer it becomes. VS, on the other hand, tend to be more vibrant and fresher, so this isn’t a case of one being better than the other.
How is VS Cognac drunk?
Though still thought of as a luxury drink, VS cognac is most commonly used in an array of cognac cocktails. As you’ll see in the show, cognac cocktails are versatile and delicious and VS or VSOP is usually used because it often has less complexity than much older blends. Having said that, because every cognac is a blend of eaux-de-vie of various ages, there are no hard and fast rules!
Because Cognac is made up of different blends like this, it means that depending on the mixer, fruits or herbs used in the cocktail, different notes of the cognac will be drawn out – hence why bartenders love it.
You can find The Best Cocktails to Make with Cognac here, but VS bottles work great in long drinks with soda, ginger beer, lemonade, and mixers like that.
VS is far from ‘cocktail fodder’ though. With years of barrel ageing still under its belt, it has stunning depth and character so just a little ice or drop of water is also a common way to serve VS Cognac. Or just neat because some drinkers find cognac too bland with too much dilution. At the end of the day, exactly how VS cognac is drunk is totally up to you. If you enjoy it that’s all that matters, right?
Which VS Cognac should I try?
Courvoisier VS
Situated in Jarnac, Courvoisier dates back to 1835 and as the star of Busta Rhymes’ ‘Pass the Courvoisier’ song, it was at the forefront of making cognac cool again. Though a VS, Courvoisier VS is a blend of youthful and aged cognacs so has a balanced profile featuring fresh apple and citrus and subtle florality. This is the cognac Napoleon took away with him during his years of exile too, so it must be good!
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £29.95
Remy Martin VS 1980s
This is a piece of history, hence the hiked VS price. Dating back to 1724, Rémy Martin are cognac legends, and this is a charming bottling of their VS release from the 1980s. Unfortunately, unlike wine, once cognac has been bottled it stops maturing but this is still a rarity that few will ever get to try.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £150
Seignette VS Cognac
The swan on the bottle is taken from the coat of arms of the Seignette family, whose roots go right back to the 1600s in and around Cognac. This is a much more contemporary release with notes of candied apricot and ginger, soft vanilla and an unusual spicy complexity for a VS.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £29.89
Martel VS Single Distillery
Unlike most VS bottles, Martel VS uses eaux-de-vie from only one distillery, so this is a richer, more intense spirit than most. Zesty citrus and sweet juicy plum play off against one another in a stand-out smooth texture.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £29.99
Hennessey VS
Over 40 different eaux-de-vie are blended for Hennessey VS which spends 2 years in French oak for a superbly full-bodied cognac carrying notes of dried fruits, subtle spice, and mellow vanilla. In fact, the entire age statement grading system was created by Maurice Hennessey so in a way, this is the definitive VS cognac!
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £39.44
For more information about the rich world of cognac, check out the Beginner’s Guide. And if you want some delicious cocktails to make these VS bottles sing, go here!