Updated March 2026.
Cognac is brandy distilled from wine in the Cognac AOC. The workhorse grape is Ugni Blanc (Saint-Émilion). BNIC/AOC rules set the place and the age grades — VS, VSOP, XO — not the proof. US brandy sits under Typical US Hennessy, Courvoisier, and Martell cores used in prior rewrites print 40% ABV — one NIAAA drink per 1.5 ounces, brand pages often omit ABV. Read the neck.
Related: cognac vs brandy, cognac for beginners, brandy types.
Wine first, then the still
| Keep | |
|---|---|
| Raw material | Wine, mainly Ugni Blanc |
| Place | Cognac AOC (France) |
| US class | Brandy — 27 CFR 5.145 |
| VS / VSOP / XO | BNIC age floors, not proof |
| Typical US core | 40% — confirm the neck |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 drinks. Four pours are four drinks. Pour math: Hennessy drinks.
Sources
- BNIC / Cognac AOC: wine brandy; Ugni Blanc is the main variety. Age grades VS / VSOP / XO.
- TTB 27 CFR 5.145. Typical US 40% from prior official/control-board tiles. NIAAA December 2025.