Taste

XO Cognac is a strong beverage made from wine that is aged in casks and blended using several distillates. These Cognacs are made in western France in the region of Cognac. Even the youngest distillate used in XO Cognac is at least six years old.

You can discern notes of dried fruits, dark chocolate, spices, oak, vanilla, nuts, cedar, toffee, honey and cocoa in XO Cognacs.

Usage

XO Cognacs are typically served alongside coffee, as digestifs or just for enjoyment. XO Cognacs are served at room temperature.

How to serve

Cognac obtains its colour from the oak casks in which it is aged. Distilled Cognac is as colourless as vodka at the start of the process. Caramel colouring is often added before bottling to even out variations. Consequently, the age cannot be determined on the basis of the colour.

During ageing, some 2–3 per cent of the contents of a cask evaporates.