Cognac Grades Explained: VS, VSOP and XO

Refined. Rich. Made to sip slowly.

Cognac is grape brandy from the Cognac region in south-west France, double-distilled in copper pot stills and aged in French oak. The letters on the label tell you the minimum age of the youngest brandy in the blend.

VS — Very Special

Aged at least two years in oak. Bright, fruity and lively. VS is the mixing cognac — excellent in a Sidecar or with ginger ale.

VSOP — Very Superior Old Pale

Aged at least four years. Rounder and smoother, with more vanilla, dried fruit and spice from the oak. Works neat, over a large ice cube, or in a richer cocktail.

XO — Extra Old

Aged at least ten years (the minimum rose from six to ten in 2018). Deep, layered and complex, with notes of dried fig, leather, nuts and spice. An XO is made to sip neat, slowly.

What about Napoléon and Hors d’Âge?

Napoléon requires at least six years. Hors d’Âge shares the ten-year minimum category with XO; individual producers may use older spirits.

How to choose

• For cocktails and highballs: VS.
• For an easy neat pour: VSOP.
• For a special occasion or a gift: XO.

To start: VS from Hennessy or Martell; VSOP from Martell or Rémy Martin; XO from Hennessy, Martell or Rémy Martin. Shop all cognac, Martell, or browse the wider rum and brandy range.

FAQ

Is cognac the same as brandy?
All cognac is brandy, but only brandy made under the rules of the Cognac appellation can be called cognac.

Should cognac be served with ice?
XO is best neat. VS and VSOP are great over ice or mixed.

Does cognac improve in the bottle?
No — unlike wine, spirits stop ageing once bottled. Store upright, away from heat and light.

Delivered Australia-wide. Please enjoy responsibly — over 18s only.

Cognac vs brandy: what’s the difference?

Brandy is a broad family of spirits; cognac is a grape brandy from a protected French production area, made under the Cognac specifications. The place and production rules distinguish it, rather than price or bottle shape.

For Cognac, VS, VSOP and XO describe minimum oak-ageing periods for the youngest spirit in a blend: two, four and ten years respectively. They are not an average age or a quality score. Hors d’Âge falls within the ten-year minimum category, although a producer may use older spirits.

Australia also makes brandy. St Agnes is an Australian example: its Renmark distillery history dates to 1910. Compare the stated age and individual expression when choosing between producers; do not automatically transfer Cognac’s appellation rules to every brandy.

Sources checked 18 October 2026: BNIC’s Cognac origin and age categories; St Agnes distillery history.