Message 10864 of 39188 in General Discussion

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> > I understand the defferences between "Brandy", "V.S." and V.S.O.P.", 

You sure you do? As far as I've ever been able to research, there is no actual 
rule to it apart from price.
The term 'cognac' is protected as a 'region of origin' mark, like champagne, 
but although the brandy letters have meaning (oddly NOT French) they don't 
actually mean anything!

http://www.3dhospitality.com/public_html/shopping/cognac.htm
> E - Especial 
> F - Fine 
> V - Very 
> O - Old 
> S - Superior 
> P - Pale 
> X - Extra 
> C - Cognac

Most notorious is the 'Napoleon Brandy' label which (IIRC) can be used by 
anyone anywhere to sound fancy as it fell into common use so long ago. There 
is a long story about that I can't recall at the moment.

http://www.3dhospitality.com/public_html/shopping/cognac.htm
... had a great resource of terms, check it out!

Although the (less than definative) page
http://members.tripod.com/Drinking/spirits.html
claims that there are guidelines...

> VS, VSP, Three Star. 
> These are Very Superior, Very Superior Pale. 
> The brandy is aged at least two years in the cask. 
>
> VSOP. 
> Very Superior Old Pale. 
> The youngest brandy in the blend is at least four years in cask, 
> although most are aged between ten and fifteen years. 
>
> XO, Luxury. 
> Extra Old. 
> This brandy has a minimum aged mix of six years, 
> with many as old as twenty years. 
> They are the best Cognacs a house will produce. 

I don't recall ever reading that there were actually enforced conditions for 
such labelling.

Stick with the Golden Rule. If it costs more, it must be better!