Cognac

[ggiese]

The killer with spending $20 on a bottle of cognac, chances are you'll waste $20. The whole purpose of enjoying a cognac is the sip on something with complexity - a cognac that has significant age to it (e.g. VSOP or XO at a minimum). It's very rare to have an exceptional VS cognac.

In that price range - and I think a "nice" cognac - is Claude Chatelier VS Cognac. The only place you can find it is at Trader Joe's I believe. It's about $22 a bottle and I would pair it with a Arturo Fuente Anejo because of the nicely aged wrapper that also has a nice sweetness to it.

I really enjoy a more full body cigar with fine cognac - something like the Padron 1926 Maduro or a Cuban Montecristo. Those combos works very well.

If you're interested in that kind of cognac like "sweetness" (and I know it's not an exact match) - as a cheaper alternative I really enjoy pairing a full body cigar with Amaretto. Not to toot the horn of Trader Joe's, but I have found a gem there in a $8 Amaretto. It's a great alternative to the much more expensive DiSoronno (though noticeably thinner in consistency).

BTW - Trader Joe's also has a 10 yr old Single Malt Highland Scotch bottled under their own name in the $23 range that is just killer. I don't know which distillery is producing it, but it no doubt competes with the best.

[CoventryCat86]

Don't drink $20.00 bottles of Cognac, that's like saying you'd like to get into drinking wine and "not wanting to spend much" you go buy a bottle of Thunderbird or MadDog 20/20 and then conclude that wine "sucks."

The three lowest grades of Cognac are:

V.S.
V.S.O.P.
X.O.

in that order.

I'm a Remy Martin fan and I personally don't really like the V.S. at all. The V.S.O.P. is better but still not to my liking. The X.O. is very good but it's going to run you over $100.00 a bottle. Remy Martin has two higher Cognacs, the Millennium (which I think has been replaced by Coupe Shanghai) and Louis XIII. The Louis XIII is over two grand (closer to $3K actually) a bottle and the Coupe Shanghai runs about $600.00. I had the opportunity to enjoy a glass of Louis XIII once in my life and it was extraordinary and I loved it. I've also had the old Millennium on a few occasions and yes, it's good but not six times better than the XO.

Go to a bar or a restaurant and buy a glass of each and you'll see for yourself. Who knows, maybe you'll be able to stomach the V.S.O.P and maybe even the V.S. but don't go buy a bottle of any ole V.S. Cognac unless of course you truly do like Thunderbird and MadDog 20/20.

EDIT: In a restaurant, a small glass of the Millennium or now the Coupe Shanghai will run you around $65.00. I was at a restaurant once that had that listed and I asked them if they had any Louis XIII. They said they did, I said "How much?" the answer was "$125.00" which I've heard is a deal since some high end restaurants are known to charge $200.00 a glass. I had enough points on my casino comp. card a few years ago to be able to enjoy a glass of the Millennium for free. As I mentioned, it's very good but not six times better than the Remy Martin XO.

[DanB6177]

Great info much appreciated. Good to know whats what. Thats what I think I will do, wait to buy a bottle until ive tried them in singles. Or I may just get a bottle of one of the ones you guys mentioned.Thanx

[ggiese]

So I'm experimenting for Dan, pairing the Trader Joe's Claude Chatelier Cognac with a FF Opus X Losy City Lancero. The Cognac was priced at $21.99 - right in Dan's price range and by all other measures, should be a decent cognac for the price (I'm generally impressed with the Trader Joe's exclusive brands - they tend to be reasonably priced, and of good quality).

This Cognac is of good quality - it is not a Brandy, but truly a Cognac (Brandy being produced anywhere, while Cognac being produced only in certain areas of France). It compares very well to other VS Cognacs I've had, but is definitely not aged as well as I like. It has a distinct spiciness to it owing to it's youth - Yet a complexity that I did not expect from such a young Cognac. I just wish it was not so young to really enjoy the complexity of the Cognac (to CC86's point about not drinking a cognac of less than at least a VSOP or XO. Likely if this Cognac was well aged, it would be exceptional.

There is a sweetness to it, but it is not overly sweet, and in fact it finishes pretty dry. There is a bit of a smokiness that is pairing well with the cigar. The spiciness also goes well with the Opus X - and, in fact, I'm thrilled I'm smoking a cigar that is more full bodied to well compliment the Cognac. I'm picking up hints of vanilla and I can quite put my finger on the specific flavors, but there is a bit of a buttery richness on the finish.

Bottom line - not an unpleasant experience, but would much have rather enjoyed a VSOP or an XO (or better).

[ggiese]

In retrospect - after having my cigar with this cognac - I found I enjoyed the cigar much more than the cognac... A great cigar with a decent Cognac. I would have liked to enjoy both equally. Says something about what pairings you should create- and choose a bit more mediocre cigar with a lesser aged spirit.

I also think they should license the sale of amplifiers. I'm sure the garage band in my neighborhood believes they're really rocking the world - but the vocals are leaving a lot to be desired. I'm hearing applause, but I have to believe it's really their audience encouraging them to wrap it up. I strangely feel compelled to invest in some voice lessons for their band.

Oh, crap... Now my cats and dog are harmonizing with them.

[DanB6177]

Thanx ggiese for the experiment. Been talking to a few guys I work with that enjoy cognac and have some good tips. Found a cigar bar that has VSOP and XO so popping in there hopefully this week. I wanted to try it at home ( I really dont go to bars often) but liquor stores dont sell it by the glass lol. But I think now i wanna try the lost city instead of the cognac

[illilli]

But I think now i wanna try the lost city instead of the cognac

You seem to have your priorities straight!