Cognac
Cognac (/ˈkɒnjæk/ KON-yak, also US: /ˈkoʊn-, ˈkɔːn-/ KOHN-, KAWN-, French: [kɔɲak] ⓘ) is a variety of brandy named after the commune of Cognac, France. It is produced in the surrounding wine-growing region in the departments of Charente and Charente-Maritime.
| Type | Brandy |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | France |
| Region of origin | Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
| Alcohol by volume | 40% |
| Flavour | Varies, though typically with characteristics combining nuts, fruit, caramel, honey, vanilla or other spices |
| Related products | Armagnac |
| Website | cognac |
Cognac production falls under French appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) designation, with production methods and naming required to meet certain legal requirements. Among the specified grapes, Ugni blanc, known locally as Saint-Émilion, is most widely used. The brandy must be twice distilled in copper pot stills and aged at least two years in French oak barrels from Limousin or Tronçais. Cognac matures in the same way as whiskies and wines barrel-age, and most cognacs spend considerably longer "on the wood" than the minimum legal requirement.