National Cognac Day on June 4th invites you to enjoy one of the finest alcoholic drinks available. Cognac, which originates from a town of the same name in France, is a type of brandy enjoyed because of its distilled and fine taste. Cognac begins as a white wine that has been produced in one of six designated growing regions. This definition explains the axiom ‘ all cognac is brandy but not all brandy is cognac’. Ironically, the white wine from which cognac starts, is considered by most wine connoisseurs to be entirely undrinkable. But once it has been distilled in an alembic still and aged in oak casks for years, it is absolutely delicious.
Cognac comes in multiple grades and exploring them can be a great way to spend National Cognac Day. At the entry level cognac is great for making cocktails such as the Sidecar or French Connection. At the other end of the spectrum, single estate, unblended, vintage cognacs should be savoured, every sip enjoyed for its individuality and complex flavours. Hermitage specialise in producing cognacs with numbers on the bottles so you know exactly what you’re buying and each one is unique. National Cognac Day is the perfect opportunity to get to know one of the world’s most premium drinks.