Our Highest Rated Cognacs

Delamain was established in 1920 and is still (mostly) family-owned. They are a cognac house which uses only eaux-de-vie from the highest cru in Cognac, the Grande Champagne region. Delamain Pale & Dry XO Cognac is named for its pale color and dry style of cognac. It is also the youngest release from the house with an average age of 25 years. There is no caramel color added and the proof is brought down with older cognac at a lower proof rather than with water.

Hennessy's XO first debuted in 1870, crafted by Maurice Hennessy for friends and family. The blend incorporates over 100 eaux-de-vie with ages up to 30 years. It's said to be the first XO ever released, with Hennessy dubbing that name himself. According to the brand, that's why the full name is technically Hennessy The Original X.O.

Maxime Trijol is a cognac house that has been growers and producers since the mid 1850's. They also purchase wine from other families in cognac to help supplement what they create. They have a Grande Champagne VSOP bottling as well, but this is their Classic VSOP bottling.

Maxime Trijol is an independent, family-owned cognac house with vineyards in both Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. They do purchase wines from other families to supplement what they produce before distilling. The oak they use for aging is mostly Tronçais and Limousin.

This cognac was specifically designed to enjoy with a cigar. Cognac from both Petite and Grande Champagne as well as the Fins Bois and Borderies are used to create this cuvée. Unusually for cognac, some of the brandy has been aged in new oak to accentuate the barrels influence and this is bottled at 84 proof rather than the traditional 80 proof that is standard.

Amédée Edouard Dor established this cognac house back in 1858 when he began amassing a collection of fine vintage cognac. Their house collection includes cognacs that predate the phylloxera blight which destroyed most of the vineyards in France and other European countries. They were aged in wood for 70+ years before being carefully transferred into glass demi-johns. The house still has these cognacs stored as the pride of their collection. This cognac, however, is far from 70 years old. The cognacs, sourced from both Petite and Grande Champagne are aged at least four years in oak.

Maison Ragnaud-Sabourin is a family-owned cognac house and they only bottle cognacs from the Grande Champagne region. The Fontvieille is named for their oldest plantation of vineyards on the estate and the cognac is comprised from three grapes: 60% ugni blanc and 40% folle blanche and colombard. Though they have classified this as an XO, the number on the bottle (35) is the minimum age of the cognac.

Bernard Gauthier & Fils is a grower-producer cognac which means that this family house grows the grapes, makes the wine, and distills the eau-de-vie for the production of their cognac. This bottling contains eaux-de-vie which have been aged between 20-30 years.

Daniel Bouju is an independent cognac house which dates back to 1805. The family's estate is in Saint-Preuil in the Charente in the Grande Champagne region. Ugni blanc is their grape of choice and they age in Limousin oak and refuse to use coloring or boisé (mix of sugar, oak chips, and lower proof brandy) to their products.

This expression is the youngest released from Courvoisier and uses eaux de vie that range in age from 4-7 years. The grapes are primarily sourced from the Fins Bois region with some Petite Champagne used as well.