To celebrate World Cognac Day today (4 June), we’ve rounded up 10 Cognacs that took home top honours at our recent blind tasting.
From high-end luxury bottles to more accessible and affordable options, there are plenty of expressions to sample this World Cognac Day. To find out the best of the best, two panels of judges – all seasoned Cognac tasters – got together at the start of May, at Fazenda Bishopsgate in London, for our 2024 Cognac Masters blind tasting.
Cognac has a long history and a strong dedication to its craft, but the category is evolving, with producers looking towards younger consumers and to modernise their products. If you’re wondering which Cognacs currently stand out on the market, these 10 medal-winning bottles are a good place to start – from the big prestige brands to the new producers ready to shake up the scene.
Starting from the top, Martell came away with the competition’s most prestigious honour, the Taster Master, for its classic XO expression that pays tribute to the house’s founder, Jean Martell.
Tasted in the ultra-premium segment of the XO category, Martell XO blew the judges away for its “cinnamon buns and oak spice” notes on the palate. Judge Ruchira Neotia said: “It was melodic in how harmonious the blending is,” while judge Matt Chambers called it “an absolute belter”. High praise indeed.
Martell is the second biggest-selling Cognac in the world. In this year’s Cognac Masters, the brand’s Noblige and VSOP Cognacs were also awarded Gold medals, as were its Single Cru Petite Champagne and Single Cru Borderies expressions.
Moving over to the VSOP – Premium heat category, Larsen’s VSOP stole the show, picking up the first Master medal of the day.
The Cognac went down very well with the judges for its “lovely silky texture”, and was also described as “very luxurious”. Flavour-wise, it delivered delicious notes of “apricots and caramel” that “gently build spice”. And it represents great value for money, too.
“If you spend £30-£50 on this, what more could you expect?” remarked Chambers. “It’s exactly what a typical VSOP should be: bold, fruity, sweet, with underlying spice. The balance was great.”
For those looking for a single estate expression to wind down a summer’s evening with, you could do worse than family-owned house ABK6’s VSOP.
In the VSOP – Single Estate flight, the Cognac was the sole Masters recipient, commended by the judges for its flavours of “almond and marzipan” on the palate, with “peach and apricot”. The judges also found its aroma to be “very typical” of a VSOP style.
The brand’s products are created entirely in the Abécassis family’s vineyards in France – from vine to bottling. Its Grande Champagne VSOP and Réviseur Petite Champagne VSOP Cognacs also took home Gold medals, if you fancy exploring the house’s full range.
Newcomer Maison L’Époque had a debut to remember. The brand has only officially launched this month, but it made an immediate impression on our judges for its complex flavour profile. Offering “fudge, Medjool dates, Christmas cake, a touch of dark cocoa and booze-soaked dried fruits”, a Master medal was its prize.
Made from eaux-de-vie from the Grande Champagne region, the Cognac is inspired by the Baroque art movement from the early 17th century – that bottle is sure to turn heads from your back bar.
Rémy Martin’s 1738 Accord Royal won a Gold Medal in last year’s competition – no small feat, but it levelled up this year by winning a Master medal in the no-age-statement super-premium segment.
Described by judge Antony Moss as having a “lovely mix of brightness and depth, including violet and sultanas”, its super smooth profile makes it the perfect Cognac for a Sidecar co*cktail.
Imperial Cognac’s Famille Lanville was awarded a Master medal in one of the competition’s final rounds, for XXO Single Crus.
Notes such as “furniture polish, raisins, dates, caramel and oak” had the first-time entrant down as a winning expression in the eyes of our judges, who also praised it for its “deliciously complex” profile.
Maison Ferrand – which uses grapes grown solely in the Grande Champagne region – will have to make some room in its trophy cabinet after leaving the competition with four medals.
The Cognac notably had success in the VS Cognacs section with its 1840 expression – made to an original recipe from 1840. As with previous years, it took home Gold and found a place in our judges’ hearts for its “rich and indulgent” aromas on the nose, while showcasing “distinct ageing” on the palate.
Courvoisier, the Cognac said to be a favourite of Napoleon Bonaparte, was given a new lease on life recently when it was purchased by Campari from Global Suntory Spirits for a billion-dollar sum.
Even with a new owner, the quality of its liquid remains the same. In the XO – Ultra Premium flight, the brand scooped up a pair of Golds for its XO and XO Royal expressions, as well as another in the VS – Premium round for Courvoisier VS.
Singled out for its “dry wine notes and a rounded texture”, the XO Royal is inspired by Cognacs made for Europe’s royal courts, making it ideal for special occasions – even if they don’t involve kings and queens…
Launched last year as a Cognac for the ‘new generation’, ex-Pernod Ricard executive Guillaume Thomas and his cousin, fourth-generation master distiller Amaury Thomas, are carrying on the work of their grandfather, Raymond, who has been making Cognac for years from the family’s vineyard and supplying eaux-de-vie to prestige brands.
Martingale marks Maison Thomas’ first proprietary bottling and the pair’s pedigree is on full display in this fresher and more fragrant style of Cognac. It won over the judges for its aromas of “floral and citrus peel” and tastes of “vanilla, butterscotch and orange essence”, nabbing a Gold medal in the process.
Last but certainly not least, the Naud family’s Extra Cognac closed out the day in fine style, securing the competition’s final Gold medal in the Vintage Ultra-Premium round.
Jean-Michel Naud and his son Pierre handpicked the eau-de-vie and taste-tested each batch individually before blending, and their level of care was clear to see. Its “lovely jammy palate” and “round and full-bodied” profile made it an instant hit with our judges.
Its striking packaging – dressing in royal purple and with gold labelling – makes it a great gift option for someone special too.
