Cognac - Whats good?

[TheAngryDog]

I've started to drink a bit of Cognac. I'm starting slow with Remy Martin VSOP.
What do you fine drinker's of PH quaff when you're partaking in some Cognac goodness?

[jet_noise]

Armagnac. Smoother, smokier. Once tried you'll never want Cognac again

regards,
Jet

[Fishtigua]

jet_noise said:

Armagnac. Smoother, smokier. Once tried you'll never want Cognac again

Agree.

For a special occasion, try this.

http://www.bbr.com/products-8285-berrys-own-select...

Aldi does a Calvados VSOP for £18, which is good value. Give it a try.

Most Cognac production goes into poncey bottles and sold to rich idiots at silly prices. If you want a nice XO, better to go to a House rather than buying some of the big branded ones, you're paying for the name.

A nice bit of history here.

http://www.bbr.com/whiskies/cognac

[TheAngryDog]

jet_noise said:

Armagnac. Smoother, smokier. Once tried you'll never want Cognac again

regards,
Jet

Is that a different brand or a different drink all together? Any recommendations?

Fishtigua said:

Agree.

For a special occasion, try this.

http://www.bbr.com/products-8285-berrys-own-select...

Aldi does a Calvados VSOP for £18, which is good value. Give it a try.

Most Cognac production goes into poncey bottles and sold to rich idiots at silly prices. If you want a nice XO, better to go to a House rather than buying some of the big branded ones, you're paying for the name.

A nice bit of history here.

http://www.bbr.com/whiskies/cognac

Any recommendations on a House one to try?

[Fishtigua]

TheAngryDog said:

Any recommendations on a House one to try?

I've always liked Hine.

http://www.hinecognac.com/cognacs.asp?cognac=famil...

[TheAngryDog]

Fishtigua said:

TheAngryDog said:

Any recommendations on a House one to try?

I've always liked Hine.

http://www.hinecognac.com/cognacs.asp?cognac=famil...

Thank you. 40 Eur doesnt look bad to me.

[don4l]

Try some Spanish brandies. They are far superior to the French ones.

I used to like Remy, but now I would sooner have "Ciento Tres" (103) - one of the cheapest Spanish brandies.

Magno is very drinkable, and when you get to the aged brandies, then you get some serious quality.


"Carlos III" is also quite good.

[vournikas]

Fishtigua said:

TheAngryDog said:

Any recommendations on a House one to try?

I've always liked Hine.

http://www.hinecognac.com/cognacs.asp?cognac=famil...

Very much this.

A pub a few miles away has a decent selection of cognacs / armagnacs, and we always go for the Hine Antique.

[TheAngryDog]

don4l said:

Try some Spanish brandies. They are far superior to the French ones.

I used to like Remy, but now I would sooner have "Ciento Tres" (103) - one of the cheapest Spanish brandies.

Magno is very drinkable, and when you get to the aged brandies, then you get some serious quality.


"Carlos III" is also quite good.

Thanks, I will look into some Spanish ones.

vournikas said:

Fishtigua said:

TheAngryDog said:

Any recommendations on a House one to try?

I've always liked Hine.

http://www.hinecognac.com/cognacs.asp?cognac=famil...

Very much this.

A pub a few miles away has a decent selection of cognacs / armagnacs, and we always go for the Hine Antique.

Thanks, looks like Hine is definitely worth looking into!

[prand]

https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-1736.aspx

Hine Rare gets a big thumbs up,great value.

[TheAngryDog]

prand said:

https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-1736.aspx

Hine Rare gets a big thumbs up,great value.

I may have to get some of that! I guess comparing this with RM is like comparing Bucks Fizz with MOET?

[jet_noise]

TheAngryDog said:

jet_noise said:

Armagnac. Smoother, smokier. Once tried you'll never want Cognac again

regards,
Jet

Is that a different brand or a different drink all together? Any recommendations?

Fishtigua said:

Agree.

For a special occasion, try this.

http://www.bbr.com/products-8285-berrys-own-select...

Aldi does a Calvados VSOP for £18, which is good value. Give it a try.

Most Cognac production goes into poncey bottles and sold to rich idiots at silly prices. If you want a nice XO, better to go to a House rather than buying some of the big branded ones, you're paying for the name.

A nice bit of history here.

http://www.bbr.com/whiskies/cognac

Any recommendations on a House one to try?

C vs A
On the Spanish brandy question I find most a little sickly, sweet without body. Apart from Torres 10&5 yo which I have. Think alcoholic molasses, yummy

regards,
Jet

[dapprman]

I'm an Armagnac and Calvados man personally. I normally only buy (or get bought) my Calvados from small distilleries in Normandy as I find much of the stuff we get in the UK is poor quality. Some of the best I was was given was actually from a back street distillery (which everyone in the area knew about) where you took your won bottles.

[steveT350C]

An Italian, Vecchia Romagna...

http://www.thedrinkshop.com/products/nlpdetail.php...

A family favourite

[RichB]

I love cognac and armagnac (calvados too but as that's made from apples it's a different drink so no point comparing it).

I keep a few different bottles of each but usually Janneau VSOP for Armagnac. As for Cognac it's simplistic to say Remy Martin is like bucks fizz. All manufacturers make everyday, better and excellent spirits and I am sure Remy make a fantastic 15 or 18 year old VSOP.

Personally I think it's like single malts, you need to try quite a few (& often) to see what suits your personal taste, one man's wine is another man's poison. You need to decide if you like the darker spirits with more of a caramel flavour or paler ones which can be smoother but with less of a kick. Having said all that, I do like the Hine Rare VSOP recommended by several on here.

[Mobile Chicane]

Hennessy VSOP for me. Woody and spicy, but yet smooth.

Try it with iced water as an aperitif.

[audikentman]

Try this £23 a bottle available in store or delivered from Ocodo.

http://www.waitrosecellar.com/armagnac/waitrose-ar...

[jet_noise]

audikentman said:

Try this £23 a bottle available in store or delivered from Ocodo.

http://www.waitrosecellar.com/armagnac/waitrose-ar...

That's my regular w/e post prandial.
Similarly priced supermarket offerings from Sainsbury or Tesco do the job too,

regards,
Jet

[55palfers]

Dare I mention Metaxa?

Helping the Greek economy too.

[TheAngryDog]

I might pop into waitrose tonight. Haven't been to our local one yet, usually send the Butler