Cognac and Armagnac

Explore our range of aged cognac and Armagnac here at House of Malt. Cognac can add a touch of sophistication to any occasion, making it perfect for a digestif at your next dinner party and as a gift for a loved one. Here you’ll find our selection of the top cognac brands like Hennessey, Rémy Martin, and Martell, to help introduce some luxury into your drinks cabinet.

Also referred to as eau-de-vie (‘water of life’), cognac is a special type of brandy made in — and named after — the French region of Cognac. It is for this reason that experts say cognac is to brandy what Champagne is to sparkling wine.

In the sometimes-blurry distinction between Armagnac vs cognac, the key difference is in the distillation process. Armagnac has a thicker texture and stronger flavour because it goes through column distillation, whereas cognac is twice filtered so possesses a lighter colour and taste.

While whisky is labelled according to the number of years it has aged for, cognacs are given an initial system: VS, VSOP, and XO. VS stands for ‘Very Special’ and can only be applied to cognacs that are aged for two years or more, whereas VSOP cognac (‘Very Superior Old Pale’) must be four years or older. XO cognac, or XXO cognac, stands for ‘Extra or Extra-Extra Old’ and these have been aged for at least six to ten years. Anything older than this is known as a Réserve, and these decadent, vintage bottles are typically aged for an average of 25 years or over to make some of the best cognac on the market.

We offer free UK delivery for orders over £90, so browse our select range of French cognac today for a taste of luxury.