The Top Cognac Under $50

Martell's VSOP Medallion Cognac incorporates eaux-de-vie between four and seven years old, with the average age said to be closer to six years of age. The blend incorporates grapes from four of six Cognac crus, with an emphasis on the Fins Bois and Petite Champagne regions. This is contrary to most of Martell's line, which heavily emphasizes the Borderies region. Note: This style is being phased out and replaced with Martell VSOP Aged in Red Barrels.

Frapin 1270 Cognac honors the beginnings of the Frapin family legacy, stretching back 21 generations to 1270. Still family-owned and single estate produced, Frapin operates 240 hectares of vineyards in the Grande Champagne region, also known as the Premier Cru de Cognac. This release is a VS Cognac aged for approximately five years, and is largely intended for use in cocktails. Frapin 1270 hit the U.S. market in April 2019.

Camus VSOP Cognac is part of the core range of cognacs from the largest family-owned cognac house. All cognacs from the house include at least some eaux-de-vie from the Borderies region. The VSOP is part of its collection of intensely aromatic cognacs. The wines are distilled on the lees and a technique called "Instensity" is used in the distillation process where the "heads" that present the best aromatic qualities are selected rather than being redistilled and set aside. The eaux-de-vie is matured in small, lightly toasted fine grain French oak. Aged a minimum of 4 years.

HINE is a cognac house which only uses eaux de vie from Grande and Petite Champagne growing regions. Their H by HINE is created using 20 different eaux de vie with a minimum aging of 4 years. HINE is a producer which distills its wine on the lees providing a roundness to their cognacs.

The Dobbé family has been producing cognac for eight generations, going back to around 1787. The family estate covers 35 hectares, two-thirds of which are in Petite Champagne, with the remainder in Fins Bois. Its cognacs are aged in Limousin oak barrels. The VSOP expression is bottled at 40% abv.

Planat is a cognac brand established in 1828 by Abel Planat. Their VSOP is one of three affordable bottle offerings from this producer with the eaux de vie coming from all six areas of cognac production.

This VSOP offering from Courvoisier is a Fine Champagne Cognac meaning it is comprised of the top two sub-regions in Cognac: Grande Champagne (at least 50% of the blend) and Petite Champagne. Cognacs are prized from these areas due to the high chalk content in the soil which makes the vines work harder to get water which results in better wine.

Made with ugni blanc grapes, Cognac Park VSOP is a blend of brandies from the Fins Bois, Petite Champagne, and Grande Champagne crus. The eau-de-vie sits in lightly toasted new casks of French Limousin oak for 8 months, before being transferred to older, used casks for a total of 8 to 12 years of maturation. After blending, it is bottled at 40% ABV.

Pierre Ferrand doesn't classify their cognacs with the standard VS, VSOP, XO, etc. classifications. Using their own labeling, Ambre, their youngest standard expression, is an average of 10 years. Ferrand uses mostly ugni blanc grapes with a small portion of colombard grapes used and all were sourced from the Grande Champagne area.

Dating back to 1724, Rémy Martin has a long and storied history in Cognac. This marque, 1738 Royal Accord, pays tribute to one of Rémy Martin's earliest accolades when the French King Louis XV bestowed a reward of excellence on the distillery. A blend of various eaux-de-vie, this Fine Champagne Cognac is a step up from Rémy's flagship VSOP.