Top 10 best value for money Cognacs

Cognac is no longer a spirit reserved for the connoisseurs of society and producers are flaunting an interminable range of value for money expressions.

These are the top 10 best value Cognacs of 2015

In order to compile a list of not-to-be-missed expressions, we’ve collated 10 of the highest scoring Cognacs from this year’s Global Cognac Masters.

Numerous categories were judged in this year’s competition, from Super-Premium and Ultra-Premium to Single Crus, and a wide range of Cognacs were awarded the top accolades of Master and Gold medals for their impressive quality.

The individual scores of each entrant have not been revealed, however these are 10 of the highest rated medalists in the competition, in no particular order.

While some expressions are not standard priced, our judges have given each Cognac listed here the seal of approval for offering excellent quality within their respective price categories.

Click through to the following pages to view the top 10 best value for money Cognacs of 2015.

To view the complete list of Global Cognac Masters medalists, click here.

Louis Jolliet VSOP

Louis Jolliet was a French Canadian adventurer of the 17^th century, known for his discoveries in North America. Notable outcomes from his numerous expeditions included the discovery of the upper Mississippi River in 1673. Inspired by the “spirit” of Jolliet, A. de Fussigny Cognac house crafted Louis Jolliet VSOP – a Cognac that is the “fruit of an ancestral savoir-faire and a passion for innovation”.

Price: approx £30

Producer: A. de Fussigny

Bache-Gabrielsen Cognac XO

Produced by the family-run Cognac house Bache-Gabrielsen, the XO expression is made using grapes from both Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne regions. Bache-Gabrielsen Cognac XO has a floral nose, with underlying vanilla and honey notes. The taste combines dried fruits with some spicy notes coming through on the palate. Global Cognac Masters judges described the Cognac as “subtle yet refined and deemed the brand worthy of a coveted Master medal.

Price: approx £70

Producer: Bache-Gabrielsen

XO Fine Champagne

A. de Fussigny’s XO Fine Champagne comprises a minimum of 50% Grande Champagne wines. The brand’s cellars are located near the river of Charente, providing ideal humid conditions for the Cognac to age in either Tronconnais casks or Limousin oak barrels. Judges hailed the expression for its “rich, earthy, nutty” flavour with a “nice integration of light vanilla and fruit” at this year’s Global Cognac Masters.

Price: approx £100

Producer: A. de Fussigny

Extra Grande Champagne

This is a “spirit you could sink in to”, according to the judges at The Global Cognac Masters 2015. It is produced by A. de Fussigny, which was founded in 1814 in the historical centre of Cognac, France, on the banks of the Charente River. The house combines traditional design with modern and innovative twists, with handwritten information on the label, including age, name and percentage, to give a more personal touch.

Price: €230-250

Producer: A. de Fussigny

Louis Royer XO

The Cognac house of Louis Royer can be traced back to 1853 and is known for crafting blends using all six terroirs of the Cognac growing region. Offering a combination of floral, fruity, spicy and woody notes, Louis Royer XO is incredibly complex and “indulgent, with deep rich chocolate notes and hints of chocolate-covered cherries”. The blend of eaux-de-vies used to create this particular expression is much older than the minimum age required for an XO Cognac.

Price: approx £115

Producer: Louis Royer

Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal

As its name suggests, Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal Cognac has a regal history. It marks an “extraordinary milestone” in the Cognac house’s history, when King Louis XV recognized the House of Rémy Martin for its quality and craftsmanship. Nose this Cognac and you’ll find notes of plum and fig marmalade, alongside notes of toffee and toast. Butterscotch, baked spices and hints of dark chocolate feature prominently on the palate, leading to a rounded, creamy finish.

Price: approx £50

Producer: Rémy Martin

Grosperrin Fins Bois 1975

This 1975 vintage Cognac is known for its floral and fruity eaux-de-vie, made using grapes from the Fins Bois region of Cognac. The Cognac house was founded by Jean Grosperrin, who worked as a Cognac broker in the region evaluating the quality of the eaux-de-vie and introducing interested third parties to one another. The Cognac was stored in one of the ORECO warehouses, which provide optimum humidity for ageing due to its close proximity to the Charente River. The nose offers aromas of nuts, leather and nougat, while the palate provides flavours of vanilla and cedar with a long, rich finish.

Price: approx £190

Producer: Grosperrin

Louis Royer Extra Grande Champagne

One of Louis XV’s best-known expressions, the Extra Grande Champagne is teeming with fragrant notes of orange blossom, cedar wood and rancio “nutty” notes. The expression is made entirely from eaux-de-vie taken made using grapes from the Grande Champagne region. Grande Champagne is widely considered to be the most respected crus in Cognac, and its terroir is characterized by a maritime climate and chalky soils over limestone and sand. In keeping with the Cognac appellation laws, the majority of Grande Champagne Cognac is made using Ugni Blanc grapes.

Price: approx £270

Producer: Louis Royer

Larsen Cognac Extra D’Or

Family-run Larsen Cognac has built itself a reputation as “The Cognac of the Vikings”. The business was first established in 1926 when Jens Reidar Larsen moved from his native Norway to France. Larsen Cognac Extra D’Or is made from eaux-de-vies spanning the Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne and Fins Bois crus. The aroma is rich with honey while the flavour doesn’t disappoint with tastes of rancio, a trace of Port and old tobacco.

Price: approx £90

Producer: Larsen SAS

Château De Plassac Cognac XO

Scooping a Gold medal in our recent Global Cognac Masters, Château de Plassac Cognac XO is described as a “dynamic, warm” expression. With caramel and vanilla on the nose, the palate is said to be “pure” and perfect for pairing with tuna tartare, mango and passion fruit. It is presented in a carafe and packaged in an engraved wooden box. The Cognac house of Château de Plassac has been in operation for more than 200 years and grows its own grapes in vineyards located at the border between Fin Bois and Bons Bois.

Price: approx £80

Producer: Château De Plassac