Cognac VSOP

VSOP stands for Very Superior Old Pale. It is an age statement: the youngest eau-de-vie in the bottle has spent at least four years in oak. Older brandies may be included, younger ones may not. The age of a cognac is therefore always determined by the youngest component of the blend.

On the label, another term for the same age class may appear instead of VSOP, such as Réserve, Vieux, Rare or Royal. After bottling, cognac does not mature any further, so a VSOP stays a VSOP in the bottle.

The age of cognac is tracked with so-called comptes. An eau-de-vie starts on the day of distillation in compte 00. The distillation season runs until 31 March; on 1 April of the year after the harvest the brandy moves to compte 0. Every year on 1 April it moves up one compte.

Compte 2 stands for more than two years of maturation, compte 4 for more than four years, compte 6 for more than six and compte 10 for more than ten years. A VSOP requires at least compte 4. The maturation must take place without interruption and exclusively in oak casks, of fine-grained oak from Tronçais or coarse-grained oak from the Limousin.

The difference lies in the minimum maturation time of the youngest eau-de-vie. A VS (Very Special, also known as 3 Etoiles or Sélection) has matured for at least two years. A VSOP for at least four years. An XO (Extra Old, also Hors d’âge or Extra) for at least ten years. For XXO a minimum of fourteen years applies.

In between there are further intermediate grades: Supérieur for three years, Vieille Réserve for five years and Napoléon for six years. A VSOP is therefore always older than the minimum for a VS and can be younger than an XO. Whether a cognac is drunk neat, on ice or in a cocktail depends on the drinker; the rules only say something about age.

Cognac is a protected designation of origin for brandy from a defined area around the town of Cognac. The production conditions were laid down in 1936 and the crus in 1938. The current specification was re-established in June 2026.

The wine comes mainly from ugni blanc, supplemented by folle blanche and colombard, among others. That wine is distilled twice in an alambic charentais, the discontinuous ‘à repasse’ distillation. The pot, head, swan neck and condenser coil must be made of copper. The eau-de-vie then matures for at least two years on oak. At sale, the alcohol percentage is at least 40 percent.

The region has six crus: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois and Bois Ordinaires, also called Bois à terroirs.

The designation of origin is mandatory: Cognac, Eau-de-vie de Cognac or Eau-de-vie des Charentes. In addition, the volume and the alcohol percentage are on the bottle. The age statement, such as VSOP, is optional, but if it is there the youngest eau-de-vie must meet the minimum.

Sometimes a cru is also on the label, for example Petite Champagne. Then all the brandy in the bottle must come from that cru. Fine Champagne is a blend of Grande and Petite Champagne with at least 50 percent Grande Champagne. If it says only Cognac, the blend can come from the whole area.

The VSOP cognac in the shop almost all comes from France. There are two VSOPs from Rémy Martin. There are also bottles from Baron Otard, Braastad, Château Montifaud, Claude Thorin, Courvoisier, Davidoff, De Luze, Dupuy, Frapin, Godet, Joseph Guy, Louis Royer and François Peyrot, and the Rare VSOP from Hine.

This is how cognacs of the same age class sit side by side, from different houses and sometimes from different crus. On the label you can see whether a bottle comes from a single cru or from the whole region. If you are unsure which VSOP suits an occasion, or you are looking for a gift, call the shop or drop by at the Brink 2 in Bathmen.

The shop is at Brink 2 in Bathmen. Open Tuesday to Friday from 09.00 to 18.00 and Saturday from 09.00 to 17.00. For advice, call 0570 541 278 or email info@bockje.nl.