About French Cognac
Since its accidental
discovery in the 17th century, the French brandy known as cognac
has reached a level of near-mythical status in mainstream consumer
cultures, for the uniquely mysterious, effect it seems to have on
its followers. Today, just the brand names of certain fine
cognacs are practically synonymous with elegance, style, 'class,'
and even sex appeal throughout the western world. Hennessy,
Courvoisier, Delamain, Hine, and many other popular brands have
become legendary status symbols among even the most unexpected
social circles, including many prominent figures in American
hip-hop culture, due in large part to wildly popular endorsements
by African-American music icons like Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, and
Nas – who are widely credited with making America the largest
current market for French cognac sales worldwide.
Cognac can be made only in the region of southwestern France surrounding the small town in Charente for which it is named. Under French law, for any eau de vie – ‘water of life,’ the clear brandy cognac is made from – to be considered authentic cognac, it must not only come from the region, but follow an extremely strict and carefully enforced set of distilling practices. The process typically involves double-distilling very particular types of highly-acidic local white grapes in special copper pot stills, followed at least two years aging in oak barrels.
Afterwards, most cognacs are diluted with purified water, leaving the finished product at around 40% alcohol by volume. Opinions on the best cognacs frequently vary, as do proper methods for drinking it; popular cognac glasses range from long, slender ‘tulip’ shapes to stumpy, stemless ‘fish-bowls,’ depending on personal taste and the aromatic properties of the brandy.
And, while individual drinking rituals and preferences are as unique and strange as their adherents, cognac’s nearly absurd prevalence in worldwide pop culture stands as a reminder that cognac isn’t just a private indulgence for the social elite, anymore. Mass-produced cognac posters of surreal, art deco cognac-themed images like Cappiello’s “Cognac Monnet” have been making the rounds on popular college poster websites like allposters.com for years, ranging in price from $9.99 to a ludicrous $300. Yet, for the serious cognac collector, perhaps that seems like a drop in the bucket, considering that the world’s most coveted bottles reach upwards of $100,000, or, in the case of Henri IV’s 100 year old gold-dipped and diamond-encrusted Dudognon Heritage, $2 million a bottle. À votre santé.
Cognac can be made only in the region of southwestern France surrounding the small town in Charente for which it is named. Under French law, for any eau de vie – ‘water of life,’ the clear brandy cognac is made from – to be considered authentic cognac, it must not only come from the region, but follow an extremely strict and carefully enforced set of distilling practices. The process typically involves double-distilling very particular types of highly-acidic local white grapes in special copper pot stills, followed at least two years aging in oak barrels.
Afterwards, most cognacs are diluted with purified water, leaving the finished product at around 40% alcohol by volume. Opinions on the best cognacs frequently vary, as do proper methods for drinking it; popular cognac glasses range from long, slender ‘tulip’ shapes to stumpy, stemless ‘fish-bowls,’ depending on personal taste and the aromatic properties of the brandy.
And, while individual drinking rituals and preferences are as unique and strange as their adherents, cognac’s nearly absurd prevalence in worldwide pop culture stands as a reminder that cognac isn’t just a private indulgence for the social elite, anymore. Mass-produced cognac posters of surreal, art deco cognac-themed images like Cappiello’s “Cognac Monnet” have been making the rounds on popular college poster websites like allposters.com for years, ranging in price from $9.99 to a ludicrous $300. Yet, for the serious cognac collector, perhaps that seems like a drop in the bucket, considering that the world’s most coveted bottles reach upwards of $100,000, or, in the case of Henri IV’s 100 year old gold-dipped and diamond-encrusted Dudognon Heritage, $2 million a bottle. À votre santé.
