Cognac

Cognac is brandy from a strictly defined region north of Bordeaux, twice distilled in copper pot stills and aged in French oak. It has been a Hong Kong staple for generations, particularly at banquets and as a gift.

What the letters mean

The grades are a minimum age of the youngest spirit in the blend, nothing more:

VS (Very Special) — at least 2 years.
VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) — at least 4 years.
XO (Extra Old) — at least 10 years since 2018, up from 6.
XXO — at least 14 years.
Hors d'Âge — no legal definition; used for the house's oldest stocks.

Most houses blend well above the minimum, so a good VSOP can beat a poor XO.

The 2024 duty change matters here

Hong Kong cut spirits duty in October 2024: the portion of the import price above HK$200 dropped from 100% to 10%. Because Cognac sits mostly at the higher end, this category became noticeably cheaper — more than almost any other spirit on this site.

How to serve it

A tulip glass, not a balloon snifter — the wide bowl and warming hands drive off alcohol and burn your nose. Room temperature, no ice for anything above VSOP.

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