Cognac anyone?

[cigarsam]

Was wondering if anyone wanted to share some favourite cigar - cognac combos?

Having grown up with my Dad smoking Cubans and drinking Cognac, I was surprised to come on here and see that nobody really makes the same connection (Whisky seems much more popular).
I have found that the Cognac ageing system works really well in this order;


Vs (Very Special) - for milder cigars
VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) - for medium cigars
XO (eXtra Old) system of aging cognac goes nicely with - for full bodied cigars

This I find makes sure that the cognac doesn't overpower the cigar or vice versa. - (an XO cognac would be too strong for a mild cigar for example)

Anyway, for anyone interested in trying out a reasonably priced cognac to test to see if its right for you I would advise the Camus VSOP Elegance which is beautiful with a romeo y julietta no.2 or anything similar.

If anyone is interested in comparing any rarer cognacs I will be more than happy to dive in to my Dad's supply

Sam

[butternutsquashpie]

Hmmmmm, interesting but that seems to cater normally towards the norms of pricing: older (and thus more expensive) cognacs go good with the expensive cigars. I find that to not be the case.
My preference is the Camus VS with a nice chocolatey and smooth draw. Last one I had was the Siglo III with the Camus VS (Best combo so far). You definitely could not do that with an Otard or a Remy VS cause they're just not as well crafted and smooth as Camus.

However, XO would go with any full bodied like you suggested (except for the hennessey XO, that's in its own category) and actually, they'd go with almost any cigar i would know of. But when you're spending $250 (160 pounds) on a bottle of XO, you're not gonna waste that pairing it with a Romeo Y Julieta #2. VS cognacs would generally overpower most cigars if you don't heat it up at least (i like mine in a toaster oven for 2 minutes before drinking). VSOP i find can go with anything, I could even pair a Cohiba Robusto with it if i figure an XO with the robusto just makes me feel like i'm wasting too much money.

As for rare cognacs, I enjoy the ABK6. 'ere in Canada, we don't have much of a selection what with out government controlled liquor board and all.....
But my favourite is still tied between Camus and Otard. Cheap (compared to my single malts) and can go with almost anything.

[DavidD]

Martell VSOP is my personal choice - for all cigars - as I find it allows the cigar to give up its individual flavours without being overpowering. During the winter months, I have gone back to an old favourite - black coffee with a nip of brandy and for that I use 3 Barrels - I see no point in wasting Cognac in a hot drink.

[cohibaIV]

Remy Martin VSOP is my tipple of choice with a decent Robusto..

[senor_robusto]

hine 'rare champagne' cognac, remy martin vsop, hennessey vsop, martell vs..... i've had XO cognacs before, but these are my go to cognacs!!! i'm also quite partial to janneau vsop armagnac!! haven't had cognac in a while, been enjoying my whisk(e)y too much!!! lol

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-11129.aspx

http://www.thedrinkshop.com/products/nlpdetail.php?prodid=257

i'm also quite partial to remy's 'couer de cognac' and hennessy's 'fine de cognac'.....

alex

[sipikaj]

Hennesey VS for me, average price but delivers on taste.

[butternutsquashpie]

Hennesey VS for me, average price but delivers on taste.

For the price of a Henny VS, you can get a much better bottle of VSOP from Otard, Camus or Martell. Much better (in my opinion) too.

[Puff Scotty]

I have found that the Cognac ageing system works really well in this order;
Vs (Very Special) - for milder cigars
VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) - for medium cigars
XO (eXtra Old) system of aging cognac goes nicely with - for full bodied cigars

This I find makes sure that the cognac doesn't overpower the cigar or vice versa. - (an XO cognac would be too strong for a mild cigar for example)

Thanks for sharing your opinion Sam...
but in all honesty I find your system totally flawed..
the age of a Cognac has nothing to do with the strength IMHO.

[Stevieboy]

Enlighten us o wise one....

[tippexx]

I think Dave means that the strength %VOL of any alcoholic drink is what it is when it goes into barrel. Ageing is to accentuate the taste and flavour, but cannot increase the % alcohol content.

[Stevieboy]

Who's Dave?

[tippexx]

Who's Dave?

Puff.

[cj121]

Mmm, maybe I'm not getting it, but I didn't read the OPs strength being relative to alcohol, but more to flavour.

[tippexx]

but I didn't read the OPs strength being relative to alcohol, but more to flavour.

or to time.

Brandy is a liquor distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice. Brandy products without a specified source are distillled from grape wine. Introduced to Northern Europe by Dutch traders in the 16th century, the name brandy comes from the Dutch word brandewijn, meaning "burnt wine".

Any wine which has alcohol content of more than 15% is a brandy. Pale is the type of Cognac or Brandy(depending on the type of grapes used to in making the liquor)

A type of brandy that is produced only in the Cognac region of western France, the agricultural district of the Charente -Maritime about 100 miles north of Bordeaux on the coast of France. It is commonlly recognized as one of the finest and most elegant liqueurs in the world. Not a drop of any other wine or brandy should be ever allowed to enter a bottle of Cognac. The Cognac region is divided into six districts, with the Cognac of Grand Champagne considered the best. Cognac is coded on the label by the following letters: V (very), S (superior), O (old), P (pale), E (extra or especial), F (fine), X (extra). French law states that Cognac with 3 stars be aged at least 1? years old to be rated VS & 4 years to be rated VSOP (althought 7-10 years is pretty common). By french law the words Extra, Napolean, Reserve and Vieille may not appear on the label unless the cognac has been aged at least 5? years.

[cj121]

That's helpful Arf, but I guess my query was about Puff's inference. His post said the OPs system was flawed in terms of age equating to strength. I didn't get the impression that's what he was implying. That's where I got fudged.

edit: not being much of a cognac drinker, are older ones generally stronger in flavour?