VS Cognac

How is VS Cognac made?

VS Cognac starts with white wine grapes grown in designated regions of France, which are fermented and then double-distilled in traditional copper pot stills called alambics charentais. The clear eau-de-vie is aged in French oak barrels for a minimum of two years, where it develops its amber color and picks up vanilla, spice, and woody notes from the wood. Master blenders then combine eaux-de-vie from different years and vineyard areas to create the final VS expression, balancing youth and vibrancy with just enough oak influence to smooth out the edges.

How do you drink VS Cognac?

VS Cognac shines brightest in cocktails where its youthful energy and bright fruit notes can play well with other ingredients – think classic Sidecars, French 75s, or sophisticated Sazerac variations. While you can certainly sip it neat to appreciate its character, VS really comes alive when mixed, making it perfect for upscale cocktail parties and elegant evening gatherings. The cooler months from fall through early spring provide ideal timing for VS Cognac cocktails, as their warming qualities and rich complexity complement the season's desire for more substantial, contemplative drinks.

How do I choose good VS Cognac?

When selecting a VS Cognac, look for bottles from established houses like Hennessy, Rémy Martin, or Martell, as their consistent blending expertise shines through even at this entry level. Your cocktail choice should guide your selection—opt for a fruit-forward VS with bright apple and pear notes for classic drinks like Sidecars, while choosing a spicier, more robust expression for spirit-forward cocktails where the Cognac needs to hold its own against other bold ingredients. Don't overlook smaller producers who often offer exceptional value, and remember that a good VS should still display the characteristic warmth and complexity that makes Cognac special, just in a younger, more approachable package.

Nutritional Information

Typical Calorie Range per Ounce: 65-70 calories

Typical Carbohydrate Range per Ounce: 0-2 grams

Typical Sugar Range per Ounce: 0-1 gram

Typically Gluten Free: Yes

VS Cognac contains minimal carbohydrates and sugar since the distillation process removes most of these compounds from the original grape base. The calories come primarily from the alcohol content itself. While cognac is generally considered gluten-free due to being distilled from grapes rather than gluten-containing grains, we recommend checking the detailed product information on specific bottles to confirm gluten-free status, especially if you have celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity.

Scrolled this far? Your reward? VS Cognac Trivia!

1. VS Cognac must age for a minimum of two years, but here's the kicker: most producers age their VS blends for 4-8 years because two-year-old cognac tastes pretty rough. The "VS" stands for "Very Special," which sounds fancy until you realize it's actually the youngest category of cognac you can legally buy.
2. Napoleon allegedly created the star system for cognac rankings during his reign, but VS didn't exist back then. The modern VS classification was actually invented by Hennessy in 1865 as a marketing tool to help British customers understand quality levels. They borrowed Napoleon's star concept and turned it into letters that sounded more sophisticated.
3. VS Cognac contains anywhere from 40 to 200 different eaux-de-vie (individual brandies) in a single bottle. Master blenders keep some of these base spirits in their palette for decades, meaning your $30 bottle of VS might contain drops of cognac that's older than you are, just in tiny proportions.
4. The copper stills used to make VS Cognac can only be fired with direct flame - no steam heating allowed by law. This ancient rule means every drop gets kissed by real fire, and the slight temperature variations create subtle flavor compounds that you can't replicate with modern heating methods. It's like cooking over a campfire versus a microwave.
5. VS Cognac producers lose about 2% of their inventory to evaporation every year through the oak barrels - that's called "the angels' share." In the Cognac region of France, this creates a unique black fungus called Baudoinia compniacensis that grows on buildings and trees, literally feeding off cognac vapors floating through the air. You can spot cognac warehouses from miles away by looking for this telltale black coating.