Top 10 award-winning Cognacs and brandies
While global sales of Cognac might be showing signs of slowing, the category of grape spirits still retains its diverse flavour appeal, impressing the judges at this year’s Brandy and Cognac Masters.
Cognac has no doubt faced challenges in the last couple of years, affected by the introduction of US tariffs, uncertainty in the Chinese market, and declining interest in its home soil in France. However, the refined appeal of the spirit’s flavour has remained unchanged, only growing with increased focus on innovation and terroir. Signs in recent reports from companies such as Rémy Cointreau show that the category is regaining traction in the global market.
Global brandy producers are also gaining consumers’ attention worldwide, bringing much-needed diversity and excitement of discovery to the wider grape spirits category.
As part of The Global Spirits Masters Competitions, The Cognac Masters 2026 and The Brandy Masters 2026 brought a total of 60 expressions to the blind tasting table at The Singer Tavern in London. Liquids were poured from classic French producers to lesser-known brandy-producing countries, offering a great spectrum of delightful sippers.
To offer a glimpse of the pours, we have gathered 10 standout Cognacs and brandies from this year’s annual competition, including some unexpected winners.
Cognac Frapin Château Fontpinot XO
This Master medal-winning XO single family estate Cognac from Frapin is produced entirely at Château Fontpinot, which claims to be the only estate in the first Cru of Cognac to hold the title of 100% Grande Champagne with an international presence.
The eaux-de-vie is distilled with lees – leftover yeast particles and sediment from the fermentation process – resulting in finesse and elegance achieved through long ageing in dry cellars in the heart of Cognac.
At the blind tasting, the XO was described by the judges as representing one of “the bigger show-stopper styles” of Cognac with an “almost regal” aroma. The expression was praised for its “opulence and elegant, velvety palate”, highlighted by leathery, dusty notes with dried fruit and baking spices.
D’Usse VSOP
For 200 years, Château de Cognac has crafted some of ‘the world’s finest Cognacs’. Bacardi-owned D’Usse VSOP is aged for at least four and a half years in French oak barrels in the castle’s dry, humid cellars, delivering a distinctively bold, full-bodied, and smooth taste. While Cognac is traditionally enjoyed neat, D’Usse was designed to stand out in cocktails and richer stirred sips.
The brand’s VSOP received acclaim at the competition, earning a Gold medal for its character, with notes of juicy dried fruits, coffee, and caramel. Judges described it as “an overall enjoyable Cognac”, highlighting its “sweet nose” and “firm texture.”
Aznauri Black Barrel
This “delicious” brandy from Odesa, Ukraine, took home a Master medal at this year’s blind tasting. Praised for its “great balance of sweetness and dryness” by the panel, Aznauri Black Barrel is crafted from carefully selected grape spirits aged up to 10 years in heavily charred oak barrels.
Created for today’s consumers who value confidence, individuality, and sophisticated taste, this brandy offers a modern twist on premium craftsmanship. Its unique matte black bottle embodies the essence of the product, inspired by the deeply charred ‘black barrel’ maturation process that shapes its character.
Brandy Noble 1954 XO 12 Years
Colombian Brandy Noble 1954 is made using the Solera Grand Reserve system with Criaderas stacking tiers, in the city of Valle del Cauca. The system, made from American oak barrels, ensures that the brand’s most refined expression – XO 12-year-old – attains its exceptional smoothness, depth, and character.
Behind the brand is Brandy Domecq, a company with more than 70 years of distilling expertise, honouring the country’s rich brandy-making legacy.
At the competition, Noble XO, unbeknownst to the judges, was matched with a Gold medal that perfectly aligns with its label. Judges praised the “well-rounded” brandy for its “bold and vibrant aroma”, with a mix of “sweet raisins, dates, caramelised apples, and dry spice” across the “velvety” palate.
Van Ryn’s Single Potstill Brandy 12 Year Old
This year’s brandy Tastemaster comes from an unexpected country: South Africa. Van Ryn’s Single Potstill Brandy 12 Year Old from Cape Town took home the coveted title as the crème de la crème of brandies, with its “excellent quality, a rich mouthfeel and good body and texture” – showcasing light “cognac’esq” aromas and “almost rum-like delivery with sugary sultana and vibrant tropical fruit”.
Brandy has been produced in South Africa for nearly 350 years, but Van Ryn’s is reportedly recognised as the country’s first distillery to utilise modern distillation techniques with adapted French copper pot stills. The brand reflects South African brandy-making traditions, with a strong connection to the local terroir and a distinctly South African way of life.
Delamain Domaine La Rambaudie Single Vineyard
Shifting focus back to France, Delamain brought its A-game to the competition with its Domaine La Rambaudie single vineyard Cognac. The vineyard is located in Grande Champagne, nestled at the edge of the forest in undulating valleys, benefiting from the region’s unique terroir.
The eaux-de-vie is distilled in small batches in a small 15-litre Charentais pot still with a slow distillate flow. Guarded by managing director Charles Braastad, the spirit is aged in 350-litre well-seasoned French oak casks, limiting the influence of tannins and allowing the terroir to express itself fully.
The result speaks for itself, even in a blind tasting, with the XO expression taking home both a Master medal and the title of Cognac Tastemaster at this year’s competition. The panel was impressed not only by the Cognac’s “expressive” aromas but also by its “soft, bold, bright, and elegant” palate, with “dry and savoury” notes of stone fruits, caramel, and bitter nuttiness.
Camus VSOP Borderies Single Estate
Born in the very heart of the oldest and smallest appellation in the Cognac region, this single-estate VSOP from Camus’ family vineyard draws its character from the unique clay-limestone soil of Borderies. The Cognac is aged for a minimum of four years in fine-medium grain French oak casks, resulting in deep floral notes.
From a small vineyard to a big win, Camus VSOP Borderies Single Estate was recognised with a Master medal. The expression was praised for its “silky, elegant and weighty” palate with “perfectly integrated, pronounced flavour”, with notes of “wood, spice, prune, chocolate raisin, balanced by dried citrus, sweet orange oil, and leather-covered book”.
Ferrand Cognac Selection des Anges
Translating to ‘Angels’ selection’ in English, Ferrand Cognac’s Selection des Anges is born in the fertile soils of Grande Champagne and aged for an average of 30 years. The poetic flagship Cognac was imagined by the mastermind (and blender) Alexandre Gabriel, also known as the creator of Planteray Rum.
The panel dipped into the angels’ reserves at the judging, applauding the XO for its “gorgeous, quintessentially Cognac nose” and “beautiful mix of sweet and spicy flavours of tarte Tatin, caramel, dried apricots, raisins, dates, and baking spices”. At the end, Selection des Anges floated away with a Master medal to its name.
Martell Cordon Bleu
A stable in the Martell wheelhouse since 1912, Cordon Bleu is a blend of more than 100 eaux-de-vie with special mention to spirits born in the Borderies Cru – a signature of the house style.
At the tasting, the extra old Cognac’s blue ribbon was matched with a Gold medal for its “rich, balanced and concentrated palate”. While judges noted its flavours as “meaty with red fruits and a hint of camomile”, the spirit was praised for its “very sexy wood complexity”.
Rémy Martin XO
Rémy Martin XO Cognac Fine Champagne is celebrated as a symbol of excellence and stands at the top of the Rémy Martin core collection, distinguished by an unmistakable bottle design. The luxurious and vibrant blend is crafted from ‘the finest terroirs’ of Petite and Grande Champagne and refined by the cellar master to embody the house’s signature style.
This Gold medal-winning Cognac stood out for its “well-balanced, silky, complex, and fruity” palate, “loaded with tertiary notes of coffee, fig and dates”.
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