Cognac : as an aperitif or a digestive ?
Cognac is a wine eau-de-vie made from a blend of white grapes and produced in the Poitou-Charentes region. It has a rich history and exceptional expertise. Like its cousin whisky, this spirit can be drunk as an aperitif or as a digestive.
To each his own way to drink cognac
There is not only one way to taste this spirit. Pure, iced or in cocktails, cognac lends itself to all interpretations. The essential element: choosing the right cognac and the right glass for the chosen tasting method.
In its purest form
If you wish to taste your cognac pure, we recommend the use of a tulip glass, whose elongated and narrow shape brings out all the richness of the eau-de-vie. The addition of a drop of water in a tulip glass will reveal the fruity, floral and spicy aromas of the cognac.
Iced, the cognac takes on a smoother texture and a velvety mouthfeel. For a tasting on the rocks, serve your cognac in a large tumbler glass that can accommodate two ice cubes. By holding the glass in your hand, you will accelerate the melting of the ice cubes to reveal all the aromas of the spirit.
In cocktail
With its fruity, floral and spicy aromatic profile, cognac offers many possibilities for cocktails. Cognac is traditionally enjoyed as an aperitif with tonic water or ginger ale. This tasting brings out luscious notes of fresh fruit and liquorice.
Among the classic cognac-based cocktails are VSOP cognac
Place all liquid ingredients in a mixing glass and stir for about 20 seconds. Pour into a cup decorated with orange peel.
On the other hand, cognac can be used to replace the main ingredient of classic cocktails, such as the Mojito or the Old Fashioned.
In the kitchen
Flambéed or in a sauce, cognac will offer an aromatic richness to your dishes. It can be used in cold sauces, such as cocktail sauce, but also in flambéing meats or shellfish. For dessert, it can also be flambéed on crepes Suzette or cooked fruits, such as peaches.
How to enjoy cognac : aperitif or digestive ?
Depending on its age, cognac is not intended for the same tasting. Some are perfect as an aperitif, while others can be enjoyed as a digestive.
The different types of cognac
Cognac is classified according to its age. Each category is indicated by letters:
- VS cognac (Very Special) describes a spirit composed of eaux-de-vie aged in oak barrels for at least two years. More lively in the mouth than other cognacs, it has particularly fruity aromas.
- VSOP stands for Very Superior Old Pale. It contains in its blend a brandy aged at least four years. It will tend to be sweeter than VS cognac, with woody notes.
- XO cognac is an "Extra Old" cognac, as its eaux-de-vie are aged in barrels for a minimum of ten years. This time spent in barrels gives it a rich and sumptuous mouthfeel, with aromas of spices, chocolate, caramel and dried fruits.
- Extra cognac, like an XO, is made from eaux-de-vie that have rested for a minimum of ten years in casks. But it ages well beyond the requirements and its average age varies between 15 and 25 years.
Cognac for the aperitif
A VS or VSOP cognac is generally a young, powerful cognac that lacks maturity. It is therefore recommended to taste it as an aperitif. It can be drunk on ice, as the cold will attenuate its alcoholic strength to leave room for the aromas.
Thanks to the cocktail kits signed CAMUS, you can also make cocktails worthy of the greatest mixologists, like the Nuit de Jasmin cocktail imagined by Cyril Cioli. To prepare it, you will need:
- 4 cl of Camus Cognac Special Dry Borderies
- 2,5 cl of yellow lemon juice
- 1 cl of elderflower liqueur
- 1 cl of jasmine syrup
Mix all the ingredients in a shaker, pour it into a glass, add a lemon peel as decoration and enjoy! You will find the ingredients to make this cocktail in our 
Cognac as a digestive
As a digestive, choose an XO cognac or Extra aged for about fifteen years to take advantage of their maturity and intense aromatic profile. Taste the cognac of your choice neat in a balloon glass. Hold the glass in your hand to warm the cognac and bring out all its aromas.
A cognac tasting by the CAMUS House
Tasting a cognac is an art. Is there a better place to taste this spirit than a family house with undeniable know-how? It is possible to discover the whole range of vintages and special editions of the CAMUS House, in the heart of the estate. Each tasting includes a guided tour of the family home with an expert for an extraordinary experience. You will have the choice between :
- Horizontale Intense Classique tasting, to discover the slow alchemy of aging of CAMUS cognacs. It includes a tasting of Very Special, VSOP and XO.
- Verticale Fine Island tasting, to dive into a collection of cognacs with a maritime character.
- Verticale Borderies Signature tasting, to discover the DNA of CAMUS and the Borderies, the most exclusive of the cognac crus.
These tasting sessions will allow you to discover the full aromatic palette of the different cognacs, as well as the versatility of this exceptional spirit, which can be enjoyed on any occasion.
