Overall Rating: 3.7 out of 5 stars
Nose: Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Taste: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Price: Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Availability: Common

Martell can usually be counted on to create an excellent cognac, and Noblige is no exception. A blend of a hundred eaux de vie, this is a unique cognac for its price range, if not the best value. It hints at being old, and has great character with vanilla and even a woody note not generally present in cheaper cognac. Its a solid cognac, with its only real drawback being a little on the pricey side for the quality, with bottles being had on the internet for about $50 for a 750ml.

Martell company website.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Nose: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Taste: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Price: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Availability: Common

A very nice cognac from a very famous house. The VSOP from Remy Martin is a winner on all fronts, its quality is worth its price, it smells great, and the taste is out of this world. Hard to expect anything different from the maker of Louis XIII, however. Remy Martin’s VSOP has a bit of burn, but a flavor that hints of vanilla and fruit. This is just a good cognac, and can be had for under $40 on the internet if you shop around carefully.

Remy Martin Company Website

Cognac tasting is one of the things we truly enjoy, here at Cognac Review. We’ve spent a lot of time with our noses in glasses, arms extended while admiring the color and clarity, and with our taste buds sprinkled with flavors almost too complex for deciphering. Cognac is something we take very seriously, and like many aficionados, we believe in promoting proper tasting and etiquette. First and foremost, it must be said that while similar, cognac should not be tasted using the same methods for wine or other spirit tasting. Here is the generally accepted method of proper cognac tasting:

• It is necessary to have a proper tasting glass. Most tasters will use a tulip shaped glass of medium size. Not too small, but not a fishbowl either.
• Pour a small amount of cognac into the glass (15-20ml). Hold the glass so that your hand is cupping the bottom of the “bowl” part of the glass. You want to “warm” the cognac using the natural heat coming from your hand. 5-7 minutes should be enough for a cognac poured from room temperature.

  Naturally, if the cognac was kept cold or in the sun (bad news…) adjust the duration of the “palm warming”. Never use fire or any other expedited method of warming. This is an often overlooked step that is essential to releasing the full aroma of the cognac for smelling, and is often the cause of muddied or overlooked scent notes.

• Hold the cognac to a light so that you can see any sediment or cloudiness in the liquid. Take note of this, as a good cognac should have good clarity and no sediment (in most cases). Gently slosh the cognac against the sides of the glass, notice any “legs” or “tears” that run down the glass. This is a sign of good age.
• Smell the cognac. Now, this is primarily a matter of personal preference, but there are a few guidelines to be aware of. If you stick your nose too far into the glass, you’ll have a good chance of “ruining” your nose due to high alcohol presence, especially on the younger V.S. cognacs. Likewise, if you’re too far from the glass, you’ll have a hard time picking out lesser defined, soft scent notes. Try a few distances until you strike the balance of good, well rounded scent. Some of the most common notes are vanilla, nuts, flowers and caramel. Gently slosh and repeat.
• Finally, taste the cognac. Take small sips (1-3ml) and let the cognac coat your mouth and tongue. Take note of how the cognac feels to the mouth, is it warm or does it outright burn your mouth? Contemplate the balance between this, bitterness and acidity. Notice the “shape” of the taste. Does the cognac feel rounded and astringent? Is it soft and oily? Warm and leathery with a strong floral aftertaste? This is best discussed with friends and can sometimes benefit from being paired with a cigar, some coffee or chocolate.

Don’t be surprised if it takes you quite a few tastings before you can start to really tell the difference between brands or grades of cognac. Some are never able to fully appreciate cognac flavor, and others can taste like a connoisseur from the start. Be mindful that cognac is quite alcoholic and know your limits.

Now that you know how to taste cognac properly, why not head over and read some of our cognac reviews and find yourself some great bottles!

Having seen a healthy 7.2% rise in shipments in 2006, the global Cognac market is set for continued growth over the coming four years, according to a new report from just-drinks, with continued progress in key major markets such as the UK, the US and China and an increasing contribution from new and emerging markets such as South Africa and Mexico. Ben Cooper reports.

Read the full article at: Just-Drinks 

Overall: Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Taste: Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Price: Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Availability: Most places

Korbel scored with this one. Its just a cheap brandy from California. Its crude, yet pleasurable. You just can’t beat this for mixing, cooking, or even just drinking a snifter after work. At around ten bucks, its as good as most $20 cognacs, and even competes with a few $30 ones. Flavors of sweet caramel dominate, the finish is medium length and not unpleasant. Mix it with cola and ice and you have something that will please almost anyone. I’ll even go so far as to say that Korbel under-prices the stuff, and in its class, it is king.

Korbel Company Site

Overall: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Taste: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Price: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Availability: Easy on the internet, limited otherwise

One of the least-expensive armagnacs, but don’t let that fool you. This formidable drink will delight anyone searching for an introduction to the cousin of cognac. Easy to drink, not too much burn, and with delightful hints of tobacco and vanilla, Armagnac de Montal VS is the perfect companion to a cigar for those whose budget won’t allow the extravagant prices of other armagnacs. You can get a bottle at around $28 , not that much more than a so-so bottle of cognac. Try it, you’ll like it for the price.

Armagnac de Montal Company Site

Overall: Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Taste: Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Price: Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Availability: Everywhere

Everyone knows the name Courvoisier. Napeoleon knew it nearly two centuries ago, and we all know it now. Unlike some other famous brands, Courvoisier deserves its name and reputation. Priced extremely reasonably, Courvoisier VS is one of the few VS-level cognacs out there that’s really worth drinking on its own, rather than using it for cooking and mixing. Ranging around $25 for 750ml, its cheap enough for an everyday drink, but has a smoothness and flavor on level with the VSOP’s of a number of other makers. Subtle flavors are subdued, unsurprising for a VS, but the smooth delivery and delightful finish makes this one of the best buys for the price.

Courvoisier Company Site

Overall: Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Taste: Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Price: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Availability: Hard to Find off the internet

From one of the great Cognac distillers, Selection des Anges is a gorgeously mature cognac exhibiting surprisingly rich flavors of licorice and vanilla, complete with a long finish, smooth delivery, and beautifully dark gold color. I admit to being in love with this cognac, in its class little compares and unlike most Ferrands, the pricing is about right with 750ml bottles available for around $100. Its not easy to find around town, but is readily available on the internet. Ferrand delivers with Selection des Anges, and for its class, it can be considered one of the best.

Pierre Ferrand Company Site

Overall: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Taste: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Price: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Availability: Fairly common

Good stuff for the price tag. It’s smooth, with hints of vanilla, caramel and a bit of oak. Hardy knows how to price its products, and at about $35 for 750ml, this Cognac shouldn’t dissappoint. Hardy is one of those companies that just seems to produce a solid, consistent product, and for the price you get an 8 year old cognac aged in oak casks in one of the most attractive and elegant bottles in the price range. You just can’t go wrong with this VSOP.

A.Hardy Company Site

Overall: Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Taste: Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Price: Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
Availability: Everywhere
Hennessy is an old name in Cognac, and their upper-end products are worthy of the name, but they should probably not be attaching it to this cognac. Priced about $30 most places, its a bit too high-priced for mixing and cooking, and there are simply much better products out there for filling a snifter at the same, or lower, price. If playing copycat to the lyrics of a hip-hop song is your thing, then this is your drink. For the serious cognac afficianado on a budget, its just not a good deal. Improvement is needed, Hennessy.
Hennessy Company Site