How old is xo brandy

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Prices were accurate at the time of publication. Subscribe to Wine Enthusiast Newsletters Get the latest news, reviews, recipes and gear sent to your inbox. Cognac Vieux Rectangle. Published on October 15, It can be produced using grapes or fruit. Calvados, for instance, is an apple brandy from the Normandy region in France. Cognac , meanwhile, must be made from white grapes from one of six different terroirs; the Ugni Blanc grape variety is its primary ingredient, and grapes from " Grande Champagne " terroir are the most coveted.

The liquid must be distilled twice, and its distillation season lasts from October 1 through March Cognac must come from the Cognac region in Southwest France, which is known for its superior terroir the soil, climate, and topography that contribute to grape-growing conditions. After distillation, the liquid is blended and aged, which is what really makes cognac special. At Hennessy, for example, a tasting committee of 7 people meets from 11 a.

It takes 10 years of training before one can join the committee, according to the brand's ambassador Jordan Bushell. Cognac must be aged for at least 2 years in French oak, at which point it's labeled "V. Very Special. Sipping a glass of cognac—especially a V. The Sidecar , for example, is a classic cocktail that uses cognac as its primary ingredient.

Brandy, of course, can also be sipped neat or in cocktails the Jack Rose is among the most popular. Very Special — Cognacs are those whose youngest eau-de-vie is at least two years old and V. Very Superior Old Pale — Cognacs whose youngest eau-de-vie is at least four years old. The aging designation is determined by the youngest eau-de-vie blended in the Cognac, not the oldest. On April 1, , Cognac ageing designations are about to undergo their first major change since The new requirement for the youngest eau-de-vie to be at least ten years old may required some Cognac Houses to change the blendings of their X.

Nearly all Cognac Houses produce an X. Cognac master blenders generally select their finest eaux-de-vie from the best growing crus for longer aging. Hennessy X. The House of Hennessy also holds the distinction of creating the first Cognac to be designated V.

Hennessy XO. Courvoisier X. This Cognac is aged years in French Oak barrels.