What is Brandy?
Brandy is actually a liqueur that is produced by distilling wine. There is a common misconception that brandy is related to whiskey but this is not the case. Whiskey is distilled from grain, brandy however comes from distilled wine or fermented fruit.
What is cognac?
Every cognac is a brandy but not every brandy is a cognac. While brandy is created from distilled fruit juices, cognac is made from a stricter process, and from the specific Cognac region of southwest France. Cognac is made from fruit juices with a white grape base and undergoes two rounds of distillation.
What is VS, VSOP & XO on cognac labels?
This signifies the qualification of cognac. VS is short for Very Special and usually refers to any cognac aged for two years. VSOP means Very Superior Old Pale which is used for any cognac aged between 2 and 4 years and finally XO stands for Extra Old which is kept specifically for cognacs that have been aged for six years or more.