Branson Cognac vs Remy Martin: Full Comparison (2023)
Last Updated on August 22, 2023 by Lydia Martin
You probably couldn’t tell which is which between a Branson cognac and a Remy Martin bottle if they stood side by side on a liquor shelf. This was actually the basis of a giant lawsuit between these two brands.
This article will discuss the Branson cognac vs Remy Martin brand to end the relentless battle of which among the two cognacs is ultimately better.
Remy Martin & Branson Cognac Compared
Remy Martin and Branson cognac are both big and respectable brands. However, Remy Martin has definitely cemented itself as a household name in the cognac industry than Branson.
Remy Martin has roots in the 1700s and is one of the oldest cognac brands, founded by Frenchman Remy Martin. Today, the brand sources its Eaux-de-vie from the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne crus.
Conversely, Branson cognac is fairly new, only released in 2020. The brand is owned by rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and launched under Sire Spirits.
50 Cent admitted that he’s no expert in cognac production, so he brought in Raymond Ragnaud as the watchful expert.
Main Differences
History
Remy Martin has a long, extensive history in the cognac industry. It was founded by Remy Martin, a winemaker by profession, who decided to start his own cognac trading house.
The brand takes pride in being the only cognac house founded by a winemaker.
You have the Remy Martin brand to thank for all the gorgeous VSOP bottles available today — the Remy Martin VSOP Fine Champagne was the first of its kind.
Then-cellar master Andre Renaud created it in 1927.
On the other hand, Branson was founded in 2019, and the bottles were released to the public in 2020.
This hip and young label positioned itself away from traditional cognacs by presenting itself as being accessible, fun, and cool, much like its founder, rapper mogul 50 Cent (born as Curtis Jackson).
Of course, with Sire Spirits heralding it, you can expect the spirit to have the same finesse and elegance as other cognacs already in the game.
The brand currently has four expressions: Phantom, Royal, VSOP, and XO.
Production Process
Remy Martin uses traditional production methods by distilling the lees in small copper stills and ages them using Limousin oak barrels. The contents within the barrels, often of different-aged spirits, are blended to create a cognac.
Today, the brand is responsible for 80 percent of the world’s Fine Champagne cognac supply.
On the other hand, we have Raymond Ragnaud to thank for the fine spirit, Branson cognac. Ragnaud is the fifth generation distiller in his family who owns Raymond Ragnaud cognac.
He hand-picks grapes from the Grande Champagne cru and uses an original pot still from the 1800s to distill the spirit.
He then blends the spirit with barrels aged from 4 to 50 years to make an incredible bottle despite its youth in the industry.
Base Ingredients & Alcohol Content
Remy Martin is made exclusively with Eaux-de-vie from the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne crus, with at least 50 percent of it from Grande Champagne.
The grapes within these regions grow in chalky soils, which results in incredibly fragrant Eaux-de-vie that responds positively to extended maturation inside barrels.
Similarly, Branson cognac is made from select Ugni Blanc grapes from the Grande Champagne cru.
All Ugni grapes are hand-picked, pressed, fermented in vats, and then distilled on the lees to achieve the spirit’s elegant and fragrant aromas.
Remy Martin and Branson cognac are bottled with at least 40 percent ABV.
Tasting Notes
| Tasting Notes | Branson | Remy Martin |
| Palate | Vanilla, dried fruit, licorice, ripe peach, and cinnamon | Caramel, fruits, vanilla, and some butterscotch |
| Aroma | Floral, spicy, fruity, with a hint of tobacco | Salted caramel and a hint of woodsmoke |
| Color | Golden bronze | Vibrant gold |
| Finish | Long and smooth, no palpable burn | Long and lingering, with oaky notes |
Ownership & Distillery
The Remy Martin brand is owned by Rémy Cointreau, a French family-owned alcoholic drinks company producing cognacs, liqueurs, and champagne.
The company’s other brands include Cointreau, Westland Whiskey, and The Botanist Gin.
Remy Martin is produced at the Remy Martin Distillery in Cognac, France.
Branson cognac is owned by famed rapper Curtis Jackson, otherwise known as 50 Cent.
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Bottle Design & Copyright Infringement Issue
In 2021, Remy Martin filed a lawsuit against Sire Spirits and, by extension, Branson cognac for allegedly copying their bottle design.
Remy Martin couldn’t help but notice the stark resemblance between the bottle design of their famed Remy Martin XO (the second best-selling XO in the world) and the Branson XO. [1]
According to the brand, Sire Spirits deliberately copied their bottle design so they could benefit from the established reputation their brand already has. They called it “nearly indistinguishable and a near-exact reproduction.”
Well, 50 Cent wasn’t going to take that lying down. He filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, saying that the bottle design was “way more common than Remy Martin thinks.”
He claimed Remy Martin was bullying a brand much smaller than them and that they had no right to prohibit other brands from selling a curved bottle of cognac (or any other alcohol).
Suffice to say that in 2022, the court sided with 50 Cent. The cases against Sire Spirits and Branson cognac were dismissed, and the judge’s verdict was that there had been no infringement.
Price & Value
Remy Martin’s expressions have a wide price range — you can get anywhere from a $100 bottle to a thousand-dollar bottle.
On the other hand, Branson cognac bottles are way cheaper.
Their most expensive bottle is the XO bottle, which costs around $250. You can get their VSOP for less than $100 at most stores.
FAQs
Which is smoother, Remy Martin or Branson cognac?
Remy Martin is a smoother sipper than Branson cognac. Sipping on Branson cognac was a pleasant surprise, but there’s just something about Remy’s overall texture and mouthfeel that makes it a better sipper.
Is Branson cognac better for cocktails than Remy Martin?
Yes, Branson cognac is better for cocktails than Remy Martin.
Fun fact: Branson cognac was introduced to the world via a nightclub, so you can tell which direction this cognac is going (think: parties).
On the other hand, Remy Martin has a more traditional vibe, meant to be sipped on its own when you’re trying to unwind and relax.
So, Which Is Better, Remy Martin or Branson Cognac?
This is a bit of a toss-up, but our team thinks Remy Martin is better than Branson cognac. While Branson cognac is not bad, we could tell it lacked the richness and fullness of well-aged Remy Martin bottles that have been in the business for years.
Remy Martin is more robust, flavorful, and nuanced, which ultimately makes it more fantastic, in our opinion.
We’ll give Branson cognac a few years in the industry to ripen fully and give it another shot.
Reference:
- https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.70032/title.50-cent-celebrates-small-victory-in-remy-martin-lawsuit
