Greenhouse, Steven (1987-12-17). "Seagram Makes an Offer for Martell". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-03-24. While a VSOP cognac must be aged for a minimum of four years, an XO or “extra old” cognac requires a minimum of 10 years (up from six years, as of 2018). However, this legally only applies to cognac and armagnac, so you’ll still find the term used widely on other French brandy to demonstrate that it's “extra old”. Brandy is a spirit that demands attention: fragrant and elegant, smooth and rich, and dark and brooding all at the same time. Thought it was just a sweet drink suitable for drawing rooms and cigars? Think again.

Jean Martell came from the Channel Island of Jersey to devote himself to studying the art of Cognac and creating ties with local wine-growers. Rémy Martin defines excellence in a bottle and combines everything a good brandy should have. This XO is a Fine Champagne, produced by blending up to 400 different eaux de vie. It’s a thoroughly good quality bottle, combining 85 percent of the product sourced from the Grande Champagne region with the remaining 15 percent taken from the Petite Champagne region. Most wine-producing countries also make brandy, ranging from Greece’s Ouzo to Peru’s Pisco and Italy’s Grappa. In 2018 Remy chose humanitarian and rapper, King Kaka, to be their brand ambassador for its ‘One Life Live Them’ campaign. The Kenyan, whose real name is Kennedy Ombina, champions many worthwhile causes in both his home country and further afield.VS: Very Special: the second youngest brandy and the term covers brandy that’s been aged for a minimum of three years. Calvados: A type of apple brandy, also produced in France that’s either double or single-distilled and is aged in oak barrels. Eight cases of Martell Cognac was taken by Paul-Emile Victor, an explorer, and Cognac connoisseur, on a polar expedition.

Brandy can be produced anywhere in the world but Cognac has to be made from white grapes from specific French terroirs. Both generally contain 35–60 percent ABV. Brandy is typically made from grapes but can also be produced from another fermented fruit mash. However, a brandy made from a different fruit is typically called just that, for example, “apple brandy” or “pear brandy”. If you’d rather enjoy a simpler creation, brandy goes particularly well with a range of different fruit juices. Lemon is the top choice, offering a blend of tart notes to combine with the spirit’s sweetness. Orange, cranberry, and lime juice are also excellent choices. For more traditional mixers, a brandy and coke is a popular request, while mixing brandy with lemonade releases more citrus notes. What are the top five best brandy brands? Vintage: A term used for a bottle of brandy (or, commonly, Armagnac) for when a particular year’s harvest is all that’s gone into the bottle. These bottles are very expensive due to their rarity and age. Methodology: How we select, test, and rank the best brandy and Cognac on the market Martell achieves almost 100% of its sales through export. Only a small fraction gets consumed in France.

In 2010, Martell renewed its sponsorship with the Palace of Versailles, which began in 2007, by supporting the restoration of the Queen's antechamber. [14] Products [ edit ] Map of the Cognac region

The design of each bottle of Martell captures and conveys the history, elegance and savoir-faire of the oldest of the great cognac houses in France, from the blue ribbon and tradition-inspired label, to the telltale arch at the base.The beauty of brandy lies in its aging process, making this element of its production arguably the most important. When we put together the shortlist for the best brandies and cognacs on the market, we kept each bottle’s age at the forefront of the decision-making process. A brandy can also be designated as an Hors d’Age, which translates from French as “beyond age” and covers the spirits that have been aged for at least six years and often for decades, or “vintage” which covers those produced from the very best years. A vintage brandy is the best of the best and should only be sipped neat. Finally comes the aging process. Brandy is typically aged in oak barrels to ensure flavor and quality. Some brandies, especially Spanish varieties, are aged using the Solera system, where the barrels are changed each year. After a period of aging, which varies depending on the country producing the liquid and the type of brandy, the spirit is bottled and prepared for retail. In 1795 a marriage between the Hennessy and Martell families [6] cemented a strategic alliance that created an effective duopoly in the cognac market. Another marriage followed in 1865. [6] While still in competition, the two companies also made joint decisions, for example introducing the star grading system at the same time. [7] This semi-formal relationship was dissolved in 1947 after the death of Maurice Firino-Martell. [8] A factor that determines the sweetness and floral notes of Martell’s cognac is the terroir or the actual land that the grapes are grown on. The region of Cognac is divided into six different vineyard areas. The climate of the region gives Martell’s cognac very rich aromas and smoothness. What determines a cognac’s color?

Brandy and cognac are truly a connoisseur's choice when it comes to distilled spirits. Their smooth, warming character makes them excellent for sipping after meals, while VSOP (very superior old pale) is best served as an apéritif. Or you can give a proper end to your dinner with a glass of calvados. Sweet and fruity, this apple brandy pairs well with rich desserts like chocolate cake and tiramisu.Martell is among the oldest brands of Cognac in the world with 300 years of history. This brandy is made from white grapes exclusively grown in Cognac, specifically Charente and Charente-Maritime regions of France. The resulting wine from grapes is then distilled twice in copper stills to make eaux-de-vie. This is then aged in oak for a minimum of two years for the VS then blend to make specific flavors of Cognac. Martell production is unique, following a strict method of production and distillation called Charentais Alambic. Martell is amongst the most popular brandies in the world and is celebrated for the elegance in its taste. Incidentally, the reason these abbreviations are in English is because cognac has been exported for many years and the first importers spoke English.