A Passion For Cognac

Often you will hear people ask "what kind of drink are you?". In case this has never happened to you, and you have absolutely no idea what I am talking about - it refers to your personality, and the personality of what you like to drink (assuming that there is a strong correlation). I myself; am a Cognac drinker. Why do I like it? Simply, because it is so intense! I must admit, however, it is not a drink for everyone. If you refer to my earlier photos of 3 different brands of popular VSOP Cognac; Remy Martin, Courvoisier, and Hennessy.. you will observe very noticeable differences in their colour. Another reason why I like Cognac is because I can modify it to please me according to my mood. For example, many people like beer or white wine because it is refreshing, red wine because of its aphrodisiac or sedative properties, or bubbly because it's fun and goes right to your head! Depending on how you choose to serve your Cognac you will experience very noticeable differences in your mood. Personally, I like to feel stimulated and uplifted - so icing my spirit is the way to go. But hey, you're in a good partying mood and want to add a bit more fun to it: add some fizz. Or maybe you've just had a long day and simply want to relax: heat the glass and sip on it slowly. However you choose to drink it; it is a beautiful drink in many ways. Back to the intensity - I find many of my friends saying that they enjoy spirits so much because of its intense flavour, or wine for its bouquet. In my opinion, all of these qualities can be found in Cognac. Of all drinks, I believe it possesses the most intense colour, bouquet, flavour, and overall complexity.

I would have to say that of the 3 VSOP's I mentioned, Remy Martin would have to be the overall winner as it is very diverse and suitable for any occasion. However, it does severely lack in the colour department, and can grow to be a little boring. Hennessy definitely holds the most prestige as it is the most famous and most consumed Cognac in the world, though it is a little too spicy for my liking, and lacks excitement. Courvoisier on the other hand is a little rough on the edges, but it has the intensity which you look for in a Cognac. The colour is simply amazing, the bouquet is raw, yet appealing, and the palate very fruit-driven. My personal preference is the Remy neat, and the Courvoisier with Coke.

Hennessy VSOP RR Price: approx AU$80-90
Remy Martin VSOP RR Price: approx AU$80-90
Courvoisier VSOP RR Price: approx AU$70