What is the difference between brandy and cognac?

Answer 1

Brandy (short for brandywine, from Dutch brandewijn—burning wine) is a general term for distilled wine, usually 40–60% ethyl alcohol by volume.

Cognac, named after the town of Cognac in France, is a brandy, which is produced in the region surrounding the town. It must be made from at least 90 percent Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, or Colombard grapes.

Answer 2

A recent post on Floc de Gascogne and Armagnac prompted some enquiries about the difference between Armagnac and Cognac - and indeed French Brandy.

First and foremost, both Armagnac and Cognac are "Appellation Controllee" which means that any product carrying the name has to come from a defined geographic area, and be made according to strict rules to ensure conformity and quality.

For Armagnac this is an area on the Southwest of France mainly in the Gers and Gascony, between Bordeaux and the Landes forests and the Pyrenees.

Cognac is made further north of Bordeaux around the Charentes river. The grape varieties used tend to be different, but the other distinguising feature of Armagnac is that it is produced using a continuous still process. This tends to yield a spirit which is richer in aroma-containing impurities - it is after all the impurities which give a brandy character. Hence Armagnac tends to be more "fragrant" than Cognac, although Cognac will tend to be more elegant and cleaner in taste.

In truth it is difficult to claim that one is better than the other - they are different in style and I have favourites in both styles.

There is also a difference in the history. Cognac was largely developed by entrepreneurs - Hennessy (Irish), Courvoisier, Remy Martin, Martell for example - names which are big brands in themselves. In Armagnac however, production was and is a more rural artisan affair - small producers spread over quite a large geographical area - so there are few big brands of Armagnac.

French brandy however can be produced anywhere in France, and is applied to any grape-based spirit distilled from wine. These tend to be less refined, but cheaper and depending on the need (e.g. for cooking or cocktails) they can be great value for money.

Answer 3

Brandy (short for brandywine, from Dutch brandewijn—burning wine) is a general term for distilled wine, usually 40–60% ethyl alcohol by volume. In addition to wine, this spirit can also be made from grape pomace or fermented fruit juice. Unless specified otherwise, brandy is made from grape wine. It is normally consumed as an after-dinner drink.

Cognac, named after the town of Cognac in France, is a brandy, which is produced in the region surrounding the town. It must be made from at least 90% Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, or Colombard grapes. The rest of the cognac can consist of ten selected grapes. However, most cognac is made from Ugni Blanc only. It must be distilled twice in copper pot stills and aged at least 2 and 1/2 years in French oak barrels in order to be called cognac.

Answer 4

Cognac is only allowed to be called that if it is produced in the small French hamlet of Cognac a bit like Champagne and stilton but Brandy can be made anywhere and still be called brandy

Answer 5

Cognac is a brandy, but it comes from a denominated area, a Cognac area in France.

Brandy can be made anywhere in the world (from grapes of course).

Answer 6

From $5-200 per shot in a bar. LOL, A lot of info given already. To simplify:

All Congacs are brandy but not all brandies are Cognac.

Answer 7

Cognac is from the Cognac region in France (but its Brandy) The name is preserved for Brandy made from grapes from that region only

Answer 8

Cognac is brandy but just from the region of Cognac, they have special Appellation Controle as it has a special taste. I prefer Spanish Bradly myself its a lot smoother!!! (and cheaper)

Answer 9

Cognac is a brandy from Cognac. Brandy is a distilled wine. Traders could transport the more concentrated more stable brandy than they could transport wine.

Answer 10

Cognac is "Appellation Controllee" which means that any product carrying the name has to come from a defined geographic area, and be made according to strict rules to ensure conformity and quality

French brandy however can be produced anywhere in France, and is applied to any grape-based spirit distilled from wine. These tend to be less refined, but cheaper and depending on the need (e.g. for cooking or cocktails) they can be great value for money.