Like all of the classics whether artistic or culinary Cognac’s appeal is timeless. Not only is the history of mixology anchored to that of France’s finest spirit, the cream of the modern bartending crop continue to innovate with it. And cocktails only tell half of the story. With its age expressions and diverse range of producers, Cognac fulfills every profile on the sipping-spirits spectrum.
Whether beginning or continuing a Cognac exploration, most drinkers’ experience with the spirit likely looked a little different in 2020, with that journey taking place almost exclusively at home. Some may have stocked their home bars with their first bottles of VS, as others furthered their exploration, discovering smaller producers and terroir-driven bottlings online. Many will have shaken their first Sidecars but surely not their last.