Wat betekenen VS, VSOP en XO?

Het is de minimale rijping van de jongste eau-de-vie in de melange: VS minstens twee jaar, VSOP minstens vier en XO minstens tien.

Hoe schenkt u cognac?

Op kamertemperatuur in een tulpglas. Een grote ballon laat de alcohol te snel vervliegen.

Is er hulp bij het kiezen?

Ja, daar zijn we voor. Bel 0570 541 278 of mail info@bockje.nl.

Verzendt ’t Bockje naar het buitenland?

Ja, naar ongeveer veertig landen. Mail info@bockje.nl als u wilt weten of uw land erbij zit.

Copper stills of a cognac distillery in Cherves-Richemont in the Charente

One hundred and forty-seven cognacs. One shop.

33houses

137from France

20with the XO designation

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Photo: Sémhur (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Chapter 01 · What you taste

Wine that has been through the still twice

Cognac starts as a sour, light white wine, almost always from ugni blanc, which is distilled twice in a copper still and then matures in French oak. The wood gives colour, vanilla, nut and dried fruit. VS, VSOP and XO are minimum ages for the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend; older work may be in it.

Filter all cognacs

Chapter 02 · VS

VS is the youngest designation

With VS, the youngest eau-de-vie has had the shortest maturation of the three. These cognacs are lively and fruity and hold on to the grape, even in a long drink or cocktail. The region is sometimes stated separately, such as Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne or Fins Bois.

The VS cognacs

Chapter 03 · VSOP

VSOP spends longer in wood

VSOP spends longer in wood than VS. The fruit is still there, but vanilla, baked apple and nut come forward and the cognac becomes rounder. This is where the houses show their house style most clearly. The letters stand for very superior old pale, from the time when cognac went mainly to Great Britain.

The VSOP cognacs

Chapter 04 · XO

XO is the oldest of the three

XO has the longest minimum maturation of the three. The fruit has then dried to fig, date and orange peel, with leather, tobacco and old cupboard alongside. The heavy, almost savoury note called rancio only develops after long maturation. Serve neat, at room temperature, in a tulip-shaped glass, and take your time.

The XO cognacs

Four designations

Start with the designation

The four designations on the shelf

Click on a designation and the list below shows only those bottles.

Other25 Cognac VSOP23 Cognac XO20 Cognac VS20

88 of the 147 cognacs have a designation on the label.

147 cognacs from € 6.99 to € 2,599.00

Filter everything on the filter page

The list shows a cross-section of the stock, spread over all sections. The number above it is the entire stock, which is on the filter page.

Wij verkopen geen alcohol aan personen onder de 18 jaar. NIX18

In stock today

Eight of the 147 cognacs in the shop

FrapinFrapin Cognac 15Y45.3% · Other€ 94.99

Cognac Claude Thorin VSOP Cognac by Claude Thorin

Claude ThorinClaude Thorin VSOP Cognac40% · Cognac VSOP€ 42.99

Cognac Frapin Cognac XO Special Edition Rudy Gobert by Frapin

FrapinFrapin Cognac XO Special Edition Rudy Gobert40.5% · Cognac XO€ 129.99

CamusCamus Elegance VS40% · Cognac VS€ 34.99

MeukowMeukow Icone cognac40% · France€ 54.99

Cognac Martell Cognac VSOP Red Barrel by Martell

MartellMartell Cognac VSOP Red Barrel40% · Cognac VSOP€ 57.99

Cognac Menard Cognac Reserve Extra by Menard

MenardMenard Cognac Reserve Extra40% · France€ 54.99

Cognac Chateau Montifaud XO Christmas Edition by Château Montifaud

Château MontifaudChateau Montifaud XO Christmas Edition40% · Cognac XO€ 58.99

What is in the shop

33 cognac houses

The biggest names per group, with the number of bottles alongside.

Choose by price

Why here

Cognac from a wine and spirits shop that knows its shelf

Cognac is distilled wine from a demarcated area near the town of Cognac, double-distilled in copper stills and matured in French oak. The letters on the bottle (VS, VSOP, XO) say how long the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend has matured.

This page lists every brand we stock, followed by the number of bottles. Click on a name for that brand's page.

The biggest brands

Six houses of which we stock a whole range

15 bottles

Frapin Cognac 1270

€ 48,79

View the bottle

13 bottles

Hennessy VS

€ 19,99

View the bottle

11 bottles

Château Montifaud VS

€ 19,99

View the bottle

8 bottles

Remy Martin VSOP Mature Cask Finish

€ 34,99

View the bottle

7 bottles

Godet Cognac VS Classique

€ 32,99

View the bottle

6 bottles

Camus Elegance VS

€ 34,99

View the bottle

Briefly explained

VS, VSOP and XO: what the letters mean

In brief
33brands in stock
121bottles
Frapinlargest range
BathmenBrink 2, or online

Almost every bottle of cognac carries letters that indicate how long the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend has matured. VS means at least two years, VSOP at least four and XO at least ten.

Note the word youngest. A cognac is almost always a blend of different vintages, and the designation refers to the youngest of them. In practice, an XO often contains much older cognac.

Cognac comes from a defined area around the town of the same name, is distilled twice in copper stills and matures in French oak. Serve it at room temperature in a tulip glass. In a large balloon glass the alcohol evaporates too quickly.

The letters refer to the youngest cognac in the bottle. An XO often contains much older stuff.

The full overview

All 33 brands we stock

Search by name or jump to a letter.

Search for a brand33 brands

B4 brands

C6 brands

D4 brands

F1 brand

Frapin15

G1 brands

Godet7

H4 brands

I1 brands

Isard2

J2 brands

L1 brands

Louis2

M4 brands

N1 brands

Naud4

P2 brands

R2 brands

View the whole shelf

121 bottles, with current price and stock.

View all bottles

Frequently asked questions

How much cognac does ’t Bockje have?

121 bottles of van 33 merken.

What do VS, VSOP and XO mean?

It is the minimum maturation of the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend: VS at least two years, VSOP at least four and XO at least ten.

How do you serve cognac?

At room temperature in a tulip glass. A large balloon glass lets the alcohol evaporate too quickly.

Is there help with choosing?

Yes, that is what we are here for. Call 0570 541 278 or email info@bockje.nl.

Does ’t Bockje ship abroad?

Yes, to about forty countries. Email info@bockje.nl if you would like to know whether your country is included.

Keep browsing

All cognac brands from A to Z

Brink 2, Bathmen

The entire stock is in the shop, not in a warehouse. Feel free to drop by, or call 0570 541 278: we are happy to help.

Wij verkopen geen alcohol aan personen onder de 18 jaar. NIX18

Tuesday to Friday 09.00 – 18.00
Saturday 09.00 – 17.00
Monday and Sunday closed

One hundred and forty-seven cognacs. One shop.

Wine that has been through the still twice

VS is the youngest designation

VSOP spends longer in wood

XO is the oldest of the three

The four designations on the shelf

Filter the bottles

Eight of the 147 cognacs in the shop

33 cognac houses

Choose by price

Cognac from a wine and spirits shop that knows its shelf

Six houses of which we stock a whole range

Frapin Cognac 1270

Hennessy VS

Château Montifaud VS

Remy Martin VSOP Mature Cask Finish

Godet Cognac VS Classique

Camus Elegance VS

VS, VSOP and XO: what the letters mean

All bottles in the shop

All 33 brands we stock

View the whole shelf

Frequently asked questions

How much cognac does ’t Bockje have?

What do VS, VSOP and XO mean?

How do you serve cognac?

Is there help with choosing?

Does ’t Bockje ship abroad?

Keep browsing

Brink 2, Bathmen