Updated July 2026.
Cognac taste is not a BNIC class. Cognac is grape brandy from the delimited Cognac region, bottled at 40% or more. BNIC grades are age floors — VS at least 2 years, VSOP 4, XO 10 (since 2018) — not flavor scores. Drinkers often cite oak, dried fruit, or spice; that is bar talk. Typical US bottles print 40%. A 1.5-ounce pour at 40% is one NIAAA drink.
Related: Hennessy taste, brandy taste, D’USSÉ vs Hennessy.
Grade vs pour
| Language | 1.5 oz drinks |
|---|---|
| Cognac floor | 1.00 at 40% |
| VS / VSOP / XO | — |
| “Oak / dried fruit” | — |
| Typical US bottle | 1.00 |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 drinks. Four pours are four drinks. Pour math: Hennessy drinks.
Sources
- BNIC age grades. 27 CFR 5.145 brandy. Typical US 40%.
- NIAAA December 2025. Taste adjectives are not a legal type.
- BNIC / 27 CFR 5.145 ≥40%