Cognacs XO, VS, VSOP. Deciphering the mysterious letters

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Each person approaches the choice of spirits in general and cognac in particular, taking into account their personal preferences. In addition to your own taste sensations, attention is usually paid to the manufacturer, brand and aging.

Everyone is familiar with the stars that adorn the labels of domestic cognacs. However, the mysterious letters XO, VS, VSOP are indicated on foreign-made bottles. Deciphering these abbreviations causes difficulties for many not very sophisticated connoisseurs of an elite drink.

Let's clarify this issue.

French roots

To begin with, it should be noted that cognac is a product that is produced exclusively in France. All other drinks, according to international economic agreements, do not have the right to bear this name. Therefore, the decoding of VS, VSOP, XO and other abbreviations for alcoholic drinks in Armenia or Georgia is not required. All the necessary information, from the aging period to the place of spill, is indicated on the label and is absolutely clear to everyone.

By the way, the production technology itselfconsidered varieties of alcoholic beverages is absolutely identical. Therefore, whether it is asterisks or VSOP, the transcript indicates one thing - how many years cognac spirit was aged in special barrels.

The only thing I would like to mention additionally is the careful and reverent attitude of the French towards this national drink. They carefully monitor compliance with all quality standards, regardless of combinations of XO, VS, VSOP. Decryption is not required, you can just enjoy the unsurpassed taste.

Production technology

As you know, the basis of cognac is grape spirit. However, it reaches its true taste and bouquet only after a certain aging time, which takes place in special oak barrels.

During this process, the original product undergoes a huge number of different transformations. Some substances that spoil the taste of the final drink evaporate from it. The organic material of the barrel walls gives the drink a taste appreciated by all.

These natural processes proceed at a very slow speed. Because the process of creating a truly elite drink can take many years. The minimum period that is necessary for the alcohol poured into barrels to bear the proud name of cognac is at least one and a half years. Only after that does it acquire soft velvety notes with a slight oak aroma and mahogany color.

My years are my we alth

Previously, each manufacturer created its own labeling system, which was indicated on the bottlescognac. Therefore, it was very difficult to establish how many years a particular drink was aged in special oak barrels.

Only after the creation of the French National Bureau, responsible for the production of cognac in this country, combinations of XO, VSOP, VS were invented, the decoding of which no longer causes difficulties for anyone and indicates the age of the drink.

Classification

Any specialist is able to taste all the changes that occur in cognac alcohol at the very beginning of its maturation. Therefore, the combinations of VS or VSOP, the decoding of which is so interesting for inexperienced buyers, are not very important for him. The main purpose of these abbreviations is to distinguish drinks that have an aging period approaching 10 years.

This is especially true for the control of the production process and the quality of finished products.

So, the following aging periods are distinguished:

• XO - the period of exposure of cognac spirit in an oak barrel must exceed 6 years;
• VVSOP - the process of making this drink is at least 5 years;
• VSOP - the drink is bottled after 4 years of aging;
• VS – The minimum shelf life in an oak barrel is 2 years.

Conclusion

Finally, we note that the aging time of cognac is calculated from the first of April of the year following the spill. Therefore, in most cases, the duration of the drink in barrels is slightly longer than indicated on the label, which is beneficialaffects his taste.