Any Cognac aficionados here?

[JulesMaximus]

I was out to dinner with friends last night and had some Remy Martin cognac with dessert, man was it good. Anyway, anyone have any good recommendations? I was checking out Bevmo and was thinking of picking up a bottle of Remy Martin 1738 Accord Royal as it isn't overly expensive yet it is very highly rated.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Armagnac is much better than Remy.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Oooh, I might have to pick up a bottle of this!

http://www.bevmo.com/Shop/ProductDe...dy/DeLord/Delord-25-Yr-Old-Bas-Armagnac/22463

 

[K1052]

I'd actually suggest doing some of the domestics first then moving into the french stuff. There are a lot of variations in the worlds of Armagnac and Cognac that bear some research, particularly if you're spending 60-100 a bottle.

Osocalis and Germain-Robin both have some excellent stuff.

 

[gotsmack]

Armagnac is much better than Remy.

That's what they tell you in parts of the country where it is difficult to get XO or better grade Cognac.

With that being said, you can get a super high end bottle of rum that drinks like something 10x the price if it were a brandy.

If I was to spend the money though, I'd get Calvados, $150 a bottle is were the bang for the buck drops off steeply.

 

[lxskllr]

I like cognac, but it's a rabbit hole I don't want to jump down. Scotch is expensive enough, and I prefer it. I don't need another expensive alcohol hobby.

 

[NetWareHead]

I like Cognac. Not really a fan of remy but the Ferrand line of cognacs is tasty and smooth. I gave my dad a bottle of 30 year for his birthday one year and he enjoyed it.

 

[gevorg]

I'd actually suggest doing some of the domestics first then moving into the french stuff. There are a lot of variations in the worlds of Armagnac and Cognac that bear some research, particularly if you're spending 60-100 a bottle.

Osocalis and Germain-Robin both have some excellent stuff.

domestic "stuff" tastes like cough syrup

 

[K1052]

domestic "stuff" tastes like cough syrup

There are lots of bad domestic (and foreign) brandies. The two makers I listed are not almong them. Their alambics are without question on par with what the French do.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I like my cognac with some ice, and maybe with some juice. Then it's tasty.

 

[KLin]

The first time I heard of cognac was in high school when I read Rogue Warrior. I thought it was pronounces cawg-knack.

 

[smackababy]

Only cognac I've had was Courvoisier, and it was nothing special. I'm sure there are much better ones though.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Only cognac I've had was Courvoisier, and it was nothing special. I'm sure there are much better ones though.

There are various cognac offerings that Courvoisier produces with different ranges in price and taste.

There is this one for about $25/bottle.

Or this one for $95/bottle.

I have had the $25 one and agree, it is nothing special.

 

[MongGrel]

I like cognac, but it's a rabbit hole I don't want to jump down. Scotch is expensive enough, and I prefer it. I don't need another expensive alcohol hobby.

Agreed, and I rarely even do Scotch these days myself.

 

[smackababy]

There are various cognac offerings that Courvoisier produces with different ranges in price and taste.

There is this one for about $25/bottle.

Or this one for $95/bottle.

I have had the $25 one and agree, it is nothing special.

I don't even know what grade it was. It could have been the cheap one, and it is likely it was.

 

[Virge_]

Louis XIII for special events, Remmy XO for everything else.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Remy XO. Find it at the Asian supermarkets for $130.

You can find Remy 1738 for about $70.

 

[Fern]

That's what they tell you in parts of the country where it is difficult to get XO or better grade Cognac.

With that being said, you can get a super high end bottle of rum that drinks like something 10x the price if it were a brandy.

If I was to spend the money though, I'd get Calvados, $150 a bottle is were the bang for the buck drops off steeply.

Damn I love Calvados.

Fern

 

[BladeVenom]

I love Calvados to, but it's a different drink.

For a basic cognac, I like Meukow VSOP.

 

[gotsmack]

I love Calvados to, but it's a different drink.

For a basic cognac, I like Meukow VSOP.

I know. Just wanted to throw out some related options for consideration.

There are rums that taste like Cognac and Calvados is a close cousin to Cognac.

 

[Tiamat]

I was out to dinner with friends last night and had some Remy Martin cognac with dessert, man was it good. Anyway, anyone have any good recommendations? I was checking out Bevmo and was thinking of picking up a bottle of Remy Martin 1738 Accord Royal as it isn't overly expensive yet it is very highly rated.

1738 is a great compromise between xo and vsop. Most of the character of the xo for close to vsop price. courvoisier xo is my favorite at the xo level. It is priced nicely at 85$ at costco. Cognac gets expensive very quickly but once you get a taste for it, it is worth trying whatever you can find at whatever the cost. Louis xiii Remy is quite expensive but has excellent character especially when matched with a dessert from a pastry chef at a good French restaurant.

Sipping rums is a whole lot less expensive and also an interesting trip. I recommend Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva which is a Venezuelan rum and costs only 30$. Blows all the other rums I've had outta the water at any price, the most expensive of which I have is mount gay 1703.