French Superstars: Cognac Vs. Armagnac

Cognac Vs. Armagnac

France has long been a producer of high-quality brandies, with Cognac leading the pack as one of the most internationally recognized types of brandy around. Although not as widely known as Cognac, France has another distinct type of brandy with an equally rich heritage, Armagnac. While both are grape-based brandies with some similarities in production, they each carry distinct origins, production methods, flavor profiles, and history. 

Origins

Cognac shares its name with the region it's produced in, the Cognac region, which lies on the western side of France and comprises six zones: Grand Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bon Bois and Bois Ordinaire. The two oldest zones of the Cognac region are Grand Champagne and Petite Champagne, not to be confused with the Champagne region of France known for the sparkling wine of the same name. 

Similar to Cognac, Armagnac shares the same name as the region it is produced in as well, the Armagnac region, which is located in southwestern France and contains three zones: Bas-Armagnac, Armagnac-Tenareze, and Haut-Armagnac. The Armagnac region is smaller than that of cognac, which contributes to smaller volumes of production and lesser global recognition in comparison to Cognac. 

Production

The production of both Cognac and Armagnac is strictly regulated, and both use many of the same grapes. However, where Cognac primarily uses Ugni Blanc as the primary grape, Armagnac uses a grape unique to itself, Baco 22A, which is a hybrid grape made to be resistant to diseases. It’s this grape that contributes to Armagnac’s rich texture. 

Where the two brandies differ the most is in the distillation process. Cognac is twice distilled using traditional copper pot stills. This process creates a lighter spirit as a result. In contrast, Armagnac is usually distilled once using a continuous column still. This distillation process is slower and retains more of the grape character. This gives the final product a thicker and richer texture than that of Cognac. 

Both Cognac and Armagnac are aged in oak barrels after the distillation process, and are often blended and labeled with indicators like V.S.O.P. to denote the minimum age of what is blended. However, with Armagnac, it is more traditional to bottle a vintage rather than a blend. 

Age Designations

Like other brandies, both Cognac and Armagnac use different age designations for their blends. 

• V.S - This stands for Very Special and means it has been aged a minimum of 2 years.

• V.S.O.P. - This stands for Very Superior Old Pale and means it has been aged a minimum of 4 years

• X.O. - This means Extra Old and means that it has been aged a minimum of 10 years

• Hors d’Age - This translates to “beyond age”, and is often used for the oldest and prestigious bottlings

Flavor Differences

Due to the difference in grape usage and distillation techniques, Cognac and Armagnac each have unique flavor profiles. Typically, Cognac will be smoother and lighter with notes of vanilla, citrus, and fruit. Armagnac on the other hand often has a richer and broader range of flavors. Generally it will have an earthy quality and may have notes of prunes, nuts, toffee, and licorice. The higher level of variation in Armagnac comes from a less blending than Cognac, with many quality Armagnacs being vintage bottled. 

Popularity

In terms of global reach and popularity, Cognac comes out on top. Because the Cognac region borders ocean ports, it has always been more popular and had a greater reach outside of Europe. In addition to this, the biggest Cognac houses have become major global brands whose products can be found in nearly any bar. These big four are Hennessy, Courvoisier, Remy Martin, and Martell. With the massive reach and recognition they have acquired, they have become instantly recognizable brands to people around the world. 

In contrast to Cognac, Armagnac has a smaller scale of production, and is often produced by family-run estates rather than large commercial producers like Hennessy or Remy Martin. With this production difference, Armagnac tends to be more artisanal and as a result has less global recognition when compared to cognac. 

Cognac and Armagnac are two of the highest-quality brandies available around the world and each come with their own unique identities. Cognac offers a polished spirit, ideal for those looking for a consistent profile. Armagnac offers a more individualistic experience and provides a great opportunity for those looking for depth and variety in their brandies. Exploring both expressions can be an exciting journey for those looking to expand their brandy knowledge and for those who are just dipping their toes into what brandy has to offer.