The Top Things to Do in Cognac

The Three Drinkers in Cognac explores everything drinks in the beautiful region of Cognac, from the namesake star of the show to Grand Marnier to our own gin experimentation… but there are a lot of amazing things we couldn’t fit in too!

As much as we adore it, there is much more to Cognac than Cognac, so if you’re eying up a tour of the region or a quick day trip from Bordeaux, here are some other interesting things to get up to! Allons-y!

For the history lovers

Explore the Château de Cognac

Overlooking the Charente River, the Royal Castle of Cognac began life as a fortress built to halt Norman invasions in the 10th century, but in the 15th century it became a more peaceful place as one of the most beautiful stately homes in Europe. One of France’s most famous kings, Francois I, was born there in 1494 and despite this heritage it nearly fell into disrepute centuries later. That was until a certain Baron Otard stepped in, making the most of the robust walls to age the eaux-de-vie of his namesake Cognac House. The tour encompasses all of this and so much more including secret underground cellars, prison cells, Cognac production (and tasting) as well as stunning Gothic and Renaissance architecture around every corner.

For bookings, try the official website here.

Caverns and caves

Situated a short drive east of Cognac is Caves Quéroy, a dramatic and magical cavern set into the surrounding forest. For under $10 for an adult, a tour guide escorts you through explaining the rich history of the surrounding area as well as all the stalagmites (or is it stalactites?) you can dream of. Further afield, there is the unforgettable Monolithic Church of Saint-Jean of Aubeterre to the south and the famous Caves of the Régulus – troglodyte caves cut into the cliff dating back millions of years.

There is no website for Caves Quéroy unfortunately, but Trip Advisor has a bit more info!

For the foodies

Amazing restaurants

One of the homes of luxury drinks was always going to have mastered gastronomy as well, wasn’t it? Unsurprisingly, top-class restaurants line the streets and river and, well, pretty much everywhere. L’atelier des quais provides one of the best views of medieval Cognac and there are no less than 7 Michelin starred restaurants too, from the traditional L’Essile to the modern La Poulpette to the creative geniuses La Ribaudiére (who we visit in the show!).

Sweet treats

Let’s not forget also about decadent chocolate makers like Chocolaterie Letuffe and mouth-watering boulangeries such as Maison Lemetayer that also treat Aidy and Helena on their travels. Chocolate and Cognac is an iconic pairing so stopping by somewhere like this to buy the perfect pairing for your Cognac is a must.

Place d’Armes

Inspired by the covered markets of the 19th century and designed by architect Victor Ballard, the iron-roofed Place d’Armes market is the liveliest in the whole region. Open Tuesday through to Sunday, it’s a food lover’s dream with mouth-watering selections of breads, pâté, organic produce, saucissons, seafood and most famously, that beautiful local cheese. Graze on the stalls with a glass of wine as you go, or take your buys to the nearby Charente River – glorious.

For the ACTIVE TRAVELLERS

Travel The Charente River

Cognac is the focal point of the region, but it’s small and easy to explore on foot so it’s worth making your way to some of the local towns and villages. Luckily, the stunning Charente river connects most of them! 147km of the river is navigable from Rochefort near the coast, to Angouleme inland. There are various places along the river where you can rent canoes, kayaks, pedalos or larger cruisers and if you’d rather stay on terra firma, bikes and e-scooter rental is common along the riverbank too and you can be at nearby Jarnac in under an hour.

For canoes in Cognac: try the Cognac Canoe Club
For boat hire in Cognac: try Les Canalous

Off-road biking and adventure sports

This part of France is also known for its picturesque cycling routes, particularly heading west out of Cognac towards the Atlantic. Whether you picture casually gliding through the French countryside, weaving through the forests or want to fully get your Tour de France on, there are routes for you. There are also adventure sports like treetop courses, zip lines, archery, orienteering races and horse riding at nature centres like Le Chambon Station, just a 20-minute drive from the centre of Cognac.

Explore cycle routes here!

For the relaxers

Jardin Public

When the sun is shining, there are few places better to kick back, relax, picnic, or read a book than this spot. Despite being in the centre of the town, it’s incredibly tranquil with historic buildings, beautifully maintained gardens, picturesque streams, fountains, and ducks ambling around for good measure. If you can’t pull together a glorious picnic from the shops and markets of the New Town then we’re sorry but there’s just no hope for you! 

Honestly, every corner of the Cognac commune is easy on the eye and the same for the countless smaller villages up and downstream. Loaded with history, beautiful drinks, mouth-watering food and rolling French countryside there is so much to see.

There are plenty of stunning places to stay in and around Cognac, but for the true five-star experience, we have to recommend the stately Hotel Chais Monnet & Spa. Converted from Monnet Cognac’s old cellar, it only opened in 2018. With its own elegant brasserie, expansive spa, jazz bar, lounge and Michelin-starred restaurant (Les Foudres)… it is more than fitting of the luxury brandy itself.

If you want to learn more about the inevitable star of the show though, check out Our Beginner’s Guide to Cognac here!

What Do the Letters on Cognac Bottles Mean, and Which Should I Try?

The labels on drinks are often confusing, especially to a newbie looking to explore a new liquor. It might seem like a small thing, but browsing the supermarket shelves and seeing all kinds of new words, terms and acronyms can be overwhelming enough to put people off all together. After all, if you’re spending a good chunk of change on something, you want to know what it is! So, without further ado…

What do the letters on Cognac bottles mean?

The letters on Cognac bottles are age statements, with each set of letters setting a minimum age for the Cognac.

Now, Cognac will include different blends, so this only sets a minimum age for the youngest blend meaning most of the liquid may actually be older. Let’s go through the letters you will most commonly come across.

Firstly, there are VS and VSOP bottles, most regularly used in Cognac cocktails like those listed in our Beginner’s Guide, and shown throughout The Three Drinkers in Cognac:

VS

This means Very Special, and the youngest Cognac will have been aged for at least two years. By the way, if you see three stars, this means the same thing!

Martell VS Single Distillery

This is a bold and intense 2017 Cognac that uses eau-de-vie from one distillery, rather than a selection as is the norm. The citrus zest gives way to juicer plum in one of the smoothest liquids at this price point.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £29.99

VSOP

This means Very Superior Old Pale and is a blend of barrels of which the youngest is at least four years old. If you see VO (Very Old) then this means the whole thing is four years old.

Courvoisier VSOP Cognac

This VSOP from iconic Courvoisier won the prestigious Master award for Super Premium VSOP at the Luxury Masters. It’s matured for between 8 and 12 years so well beyond the minimum requirements of a VSOP, and is sourced from the renowned Grand Champagne and Petite Champagne Cognac regions. Vanilla and citrus give great depth and the warmth is super soft and pleasant with touches of coffee, brown sugar, buttered toast, oakiness, and cinnamon.

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £36.95 / US $45.99

Beyond this, you will find variations of older cognac that may include terms like ‘Napoleon’ which is unofficial but usually refers to an age of at least six years, and some Vintage bottles that will print a distillation date but not a bottling date. More common though are XO and XXO:

XO

This means Extra Old and the youngest Cognac in the blend must be 10 years old or above. Bear in mind that if you have XO from before April 2018, that minimum is dropped to 6 years because the rules tightened up recently!

Rémy Martin XO

A blend of Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, this is a quality Cognac masterfully produced by the historic Rémy Martin. Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard grapes are all used before 10 years of oak ageing. During this time, the grapes intertwine, and complex layers of oaky vanilla, caramel and spice are infused. It’s perfect for sipping with warm pastry notes to be explored alongside honied fruits and welcoming baking spice. Deliciously rich and smooth and many Cognac lovers’ go-to.

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £163.99 / US $236.99

XXO

No prizes for guessing this one, it’s Extra Extra Old, using Cognac of at least 14 years of age.

Hennessy XXO Cognac

Head turner, collector’s bottle, whatever it is this is a very special XXO Cognac. The minimum for XXO is 14 years, but many of the blends in here are aged for much older, with some sat in French oak for more than 50 years. All that time results in so much richness with expressive notes of bitter orange, nutmeg, liquorice, subtle peppermint, and delicate spice. Complex, elegant and so refined, you could sit with this Cognac for hours.

Size: 1L
ABV: 40%
Find here: £520

There is another term that you’re likely to come across if you fall for Cognac as hard as we have and that’s Hors d’âge:

Hors d’âge

Outside of Age. This is a term assigned by Cognac’s governing body for liquids that are usually much older and want to distinguish themselves beyond the XXO minimum and display high quality. 

André Petit Hors d’Age Grande Reserve de Famille 1990 Cognac

As we say, Hors d’âge overlaps with other age statements so don’t think that this category is ‘better’ than the others. It’s all down to personal taste and how you plan to use the Cognac, so every category brings something to the party. This André Petit bottle is less intense and more mellow, with woody, earthier notes, and richer subtle fruits. The 3 decades of ageing, on top of traditionally old methods at the time, has created a distinctive style that’s longer in the mouth and so satisfying. A glass of sophistication indeed.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £147

As is the case with exploring most new drinks, it’s sensible to start in the mid-ranges. There’s no need to splash out on something you’ve never tried before, but at the same time, you don’t want to be burnt by a low-quality Cognac that puts you off it all together.

We suggest pulling together some of the simple cocktails in our Beginner’s Guide with a bottle of VS or VSOP Cognac, and then exploring some older sippers!

The Best Sidecar Variations

As is the way with many of the most loved cocktails we enjoy, the origins of the Sidecar are not exactly clear. Named after the motorcycle attachment that was at the peak of its popularity then, it was invented sometime around the first world war, either in London or Paris. Harry’s Bar in Paris claims a soldier arriving in a sidecar invented it there, the Ritz in Paris insists on something similar and on British soil, Pat MacGarry of Buck’s Club in London is often cited as the creator. Who knows?!

What we do know is, it’s a simple mix of cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice that has become a bartender’s essential. This simplicity however also lends itself to some cracking twists, so see which of these Sidecar variations takes your fancy!

The Original – for the Cognac lovers

As the most famous cognac cocktail, you can see Aidy and Helena explore the original Sidecar in the third episode The Three Drinkers in Cognac. Historically, the ‘French school’ of bartending teaches equal parts, whilst the ‘English school’ advises two parts Cognac to one parts Cointreau and lemon. This is all about personal taste and we like plenty of Cognac with a touch less lemon so the former can be the rightful star of the show, but experiment!

Ingredients
30ml cognac (we used Rémy Martin 1738)
20ml orange liqueur (like cointreau)
10ml fresh lemon

Method
Shake with plenty of ice, strain and pour.

Top Tip: To make the cocktail into more of an experience, rub lemon over the glass so that you smell it before you taste it!

Sidecarmalade – for the marmalade lovers

Thought up by Aidy and Maxime during the same episode mentioned above, this is a twist inspired by local ingredients, but one that you can easily do at home too! Verjus means green juice and is essentially unfermented grape juice but with flavours reminiscent of lemon and lime. This is a little tart so delicious, sweet marmalade is added for a gorgeous balance of sweet and tangy citrus.

Ingredients
30ml cognac (we used Rémy Martin 1738)
20ml orange liqueur (like cointreau)
10ml verjus
Dollop of marmalade

Method
Brush some marmalade around the inside of the glass so it’s glistening and shake everything with plenty of ice so the marmalade is mixed evenly throughout, then simply strain and pour! 

Amaretto Sidecar – for the Amaretto lovers

If you’re a fan of sweeter cocktails then step this way because instead of cognac, we’re using Amaretto here. There’s still a generous splash of lemon juice to offset this, but the nuttiness and indulgence of the wonderful Italian liqueur with the intense orange and vibrant lemon is so flavoursome. Use plenty of ice though!

Ingredients
60ml amaretto
20ml orange liqueur
20ml fresh lemon juice
Optional garnish: orange slice

Method
Shake with plenty of ice, strain and serve. Simple and ready to enjoy.

Bourbon Sidecar – for the Bourbon lovers

Bringing those classic whiskey notes of oak, warm spice, and vanilla, this is a much less fruity and floral number than the original. It’s a deeper, more brooding twist but with the help of a little syrup, the overall feel actually isn’t miles away from the cognac version so it’s definitely worth a try.

Ingredients
50ml Bourbon
25ml Cointreau
12.5ml fresh lemon juice
1tsp simple syrup
caster sugar
orange twist for garnish

Method
Roll the rim of the glass in a little lemon juice so caster sugar sticks to it. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice until ice cold. Strain into a glass and garnish with the orange twist - delicious!

Boston Sidecar – for the rum lovers

If you’re not familiar with the Boston Sidecar, then it’s kind of a Daiquri-Sidecar hybrid. Also, Between the Sheets is basically the same drink but with lemon instead of lime so if you’ve ordered one of those and enjoyed it then give this a go. The tropical notes of the rum plays off the rich and fruity cognac nicely, with the lime and triple sec providing vibrance and needed bitterness.

Ingredients
20 ml light rum
20ml brandy
20ml triple sec
15ml lime juice

Method
Sidecars are so simple – just shake everything with ice and strain into a cocktail glass! Garnish with orange or lime if you wish!

Tahona Sidecar – for the tequila lovers

Only the lemon juice remains from the original here, with tequila the show stealer. Refreshingly tart with a little sweetness, this is a bold cocktail buzzing with bright citrus that balances out perfectly.  

Ingredients
45ml tequila (a good reposado works well)
30ml dry/orange curacao
15ml fresh lemon juice
Orange twist (garnish)

Method
Combine everything in a mixing glass and get shaking with ice. Strain into a pre-chilled glass and away you go!

We love our mixology at The Three Drinkers, so see our best riffs on the Old Fashioned here!

What are the six Cognac growing areas and how do they differ?

Throughout The Three Drinkers in Cognac, Aidy and Helena explore the beautiful Cognac region in South-West France, nestled between Bordeaux to the South and the Loire Valley in the North.

But, within Cognac itself, there are six distinct growing areas called ‘Crus’, each with different terroir, which refers to the soil, geography, and climate of a vineyard. This is very important because it affects the grapes in subtle ways and therefore, the liquid!

What are the six Cognac growing areas?

From most lauded to most rustic, the six Cognac ‘cru’ areas are Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, and Bois Ordinaires.

Note: Even within each area, the terroir can change considerably over just a hundred metres. Also, Cognac houses often use eaux-de-vie from different areas, so the location of their production may not be the same region that their eaux-de-vie comes from. However, there are general characteristics you can expect to come across from each growing area:

Grande Champagne

If you look at a map of Cognac growing areas, this small, fairly hilly sub area will appear as the bullseye. The heart of the region, Grande Champagne has chalk soils and the liquids here are fine, light, saline, often floral on the nose and usually age for a long time.

Why do they call it Champagne? It’s worth pointing out that this has nothing to do with the more famous region of Champagne in Northern France; it’s just that the word ‘champagne’ comes from other old French word ‘campagne’ and refers to countryside with chalky soils.

Major villages: Cognac and Ségonzac

Petite Champagne

Confusingly, Petite Champagne is slightly larger than Grande Champagne but less hilly, though the eau-de-vie is similar in profile. Generally, the soil is more compact than its neighbour and as a result, the water flows very slowly retaining moisture even in dry summer periods. The blends are seen as slightly less prestigious and less finessed than Grande, but the cognac is still top-notch.

The eaux-de-vie created in the Grande and Petite Champagne regions are the most sought-after in the entire region, and usually command the highest prices, though it’s worth pointing out that increasingly, cognac lovers want to experiment with the distinct traits of all these areas.

Another term you may see is,‘Fine Champagne’, which is not a separate terroir, but a blend of eau-de-vie from Grande and Petite Champagnes.

Major cities: Jonzac and Barbezieux

Borderies

By far the smallest of the six crus, decomposed limestone results in a plateau of clay soil with flint stones which has a big impact on the grapes grown here. The Cognac is fine, rounded, and smooth, with violet, nutty and toffee aroma, and less ageing is required for the liquid to reach its most enjoyable form.

Major village: Burie

Fins Bois

Here in the largest of the vineyards, you will find very chalky, and extremely clayey soil, sometimes up to 60% clay and usually red too. The Fins Bois border the above three regions but generally take up an area in the North called ‘Pays-Bas’. The character of Fins Bois Cognac is rounded and smooth, again with less ageing required but a much fresher, more grape-forward aroma.

Major villages: Angouleme, Saintes and St-Jean d’Angely

Bons Bois

Forming a belt around Fins Bois in all directions is the Bons Bois crus, with some clay but mostly sandy soil towards the coast, as well as in the valleys and southern vineyards. Vines are often sparsely grown, entwined amongst other crops, and surrounded by forests.

Parts of the region boast very high-quality chalk and produce exceptional Cognac with great character, so this is list is by no means a case of, ‘best to worst’ – variety is the spice of life!

Major cities: Saujon, Montlieu-la-Garde

Bois Ordinaires

Apart from one tiny part towards the South of Cognac, Bois Ordinaires lies along the coast and includes the islands of Ré and Oléron. Relatively little of the land is designated for Cognac production, but of what there is, the extremely sandy soil produces eau-de-vie that ages the fastest and carries a distinct maritime flavour.

Major cities: La Rochelle and Rochefort

Age is another massive factor in the quality and flavour of Cognac but that can be a little more confusing so check out our comprehensive age statements guide here to get your head around it! For more general information, consult our Beginner’s Guide!