“Cognac is the liquor of the gods” said Victor Hugo, a famous French writer from the nineteenth century, and this quote summarizes it all!
Cognac is one of the most refined liquors in the world, enjoyed every day by many consumers: each second, seven bottles of cognac are sold somewhere in the world…
The region around the town of Cognac seems to have been chosen by the gods as it leverages many features available in this geography:
- A soil that has a unique composition that helps create the ideal wine to make cognac
- A climate that allows the grapes to grow optimally
- A wealth of traditional knowledge acquired over the centuries in France: wine-making, distillation, the science of cask-making, the wood maturation.
- The proximity of the Charentes river has helped historically for the trade, supporting the growing business.
In 2021, the sales of the Cognac rose by nearly 31% in value to $4.1 billion, and the volumes were up 16% to 223.2 million bottles, according to the Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) industry group.
The cognac sales to the U.S. represents 52% of the worldwide market, and increased by 11% in 2021!
Four brands (the BIG FOUR) represent 90% of the market:
Through scientific research, the cognac production area was defined and segmented in six “crus”. The first significant geological work was done by Henry Coquard, a geologist, in 1860. It is still in use today and is composed of six vineyards differentiated by the composition of the soil, the landform, the solar exposure, and the climate.
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT COGNAC?
- Whisky Gourmet organizes a Gin course open to all: Cognac 360°
- We also conduct a Cognac high-end tasting session: https://whiskey-gourmet.com/product/cognac-tasting-online-discover-and-enjoy-this-great-liquor-in-the-comfort-of-your-home/
Ask questions here: https://whiskey-gourmet.com/contact-us/
Check the next tasting events here: https://whiskey-gourmet.com/shop/