Cognac & Brandy Buying Guide: Hennessy, Rémy Martin & More at Liquor Universe

Cognac has a certain reputation — expensive, formal, the kind of thing you sip after a dinner that cost more than your car payment. That image sticks because it’s partly true. But it’s also a category with real depth across a wide price range.

Brandy, the broader family that Cognac belongs to, covers everything from affordable American bottles to aged French spirits that took decades to make. There’s a version of this category for every budget and every occasion.

At Liquor Universe on Central Avenue in Albany, NY, we carry Cognac and brandy across that full range. Whether you’re buying for a gift, stocking your home bar, or just curious about the category — here’s how to navigate it.

Cognac vs. Brandy: What’s the Actual Difference?

Brandy is the broad category: any spirit distilled from fermented fruit juice — usually grapes — and aged in oak. It’s made all over the world. Cognac is a specific type of French brandy made in the Cognac region from particular grape varieties, double-distilled in copper pot stills, and aged a minimum amount of time in Limousin or Tronçais oak.

Think of it like bourbon vs. whiskey. All Cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is Cognac. American brandy, Armagnac (another French regional brandy), Calvados (apple brandy from Normandy), Pisco (South American grape brandy) — all brandy, different rules.

For most people walking into a spirits store, the practical difference is: Cognac tends to be more consistent and polished, other brandies offer more regional character and often better value at equivalent quality levels.

All Cognac is brandy. Not all brandy is Cognac. The label tells you where it’s from and how it was made — that’s what the price difference is usually about.

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Understanding Cognac Grades: VS, VSOP, and XO

Cognac bottles are labeled with grade designations that tell you the minimum age of the youngest spirit in the blend. They’re not perfect quality indicators, but they’re a useful starting point.

VS — Very Special

Minimum two years in oak. This is the entry-level grade — lighter, fruitier, and made for mixing. It’s the right call when you’re making cocktails where the Cognac is one component, not the whole show.

• Best use: mixed drinks, Sidecar, Brandy Alexander, French 75 variation

• Price range: typically $30 to $50 depending on the house

• Character: fresh fruit, light oak, clean finish

VSOP — Very Superior Old Pale

Minimum four years in oak. More complex than VS — richer, more developed, with vanilla and dried fruit starting to come through. Works well both in cocktails and as a neat pour.

• Best use: sipping neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails where you want more presence

• Price range: typically $45 to $80

• Character: stone fruit, vanilla, light spice, rounder finish

XO — Extra Old

Minimum ten years in oak. This is where Cognac starts to reveal what the category is actually capable of — complexity, depth, a long finish. Made for sipping slowly, not mixing.

• Best use: neat, small pour, room temperature or with one ice cube maximum

• Price range: $100 and up, often significantly more for top houses

• Character: dried fruit, leather, dark chocolate, tobacco, very long finish

VS for cocktails. VSOP for the transition between mixing and sipping. XO for when you want to actually taste what’s in the glass. That’s the shortcut.

Hennessy: The Name Everyone Knows

Hennessy is the best-selling Cognac in the world — by a significant margin. That level of commercial success doesn’t happen by accident. The house produces consistently well-made Cognac across its range, and the quality at each tier holds up.

Hennessy bottles worth knowing:

• Hennessy VS — the global standard; fruit-forward, smooth, and built for mixing; the most purchased Cognac in America

• Hennessy VSOP Privilege — aged four to seven years; noticeably more complex than VS with vanilla and cinnamon coming through

• Hennessy XO — a benchmark XO with dark chocolate, leather, and dried fruit; the bottle people reach for on significant occasions

• Hennessy Black — a lighter, more floral style designed for cocktails; higher proof than standard VS with a cleaner profile

Rémy Martin: The Fine Champagne House

Rémy Martin uses only Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne grapes — the two most prized Cognac cru areas — which gives the house a house style that’s distinctly floral and fruity compared to Hennessy’s richer, earthier profile.

If you’ve only ever tried Hennessy, Rémy Martin is a useful point of comparison. Same category, meaningfully different taste.

Rémy Martin expressions at Liquor Universe:

• Rémy Martin VSOP — the flagship; apricot, vanilla, and a floral quality that’s distinctly different from Hennessy VSOP

• Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal — a step up from VSOP; rich and fruity with a toasted oak finish; one of the best mid-range Cognacs available

• Rémy Martin XO — full complexity; jasmine, plum, hazelnut, and a very long warm finish; a serious bottle for serious occasions

Beyond Hennessy and Rémy: Other Bottles Worth Knowing

The two big names dominate shelf space, but there’s a wide range of Cognac and brandy worth looking at — especially if you want to go deeper or find better value at equivalent quality.

Other Cognac houses:

• Courvoisier VS — lighter and more elegant than Hennessy VS; Napoleon’s house, with a centuries-old reputation

• Martell Cordon Bleu — one of the oldest Cognac houses; distinctive for its use of Borderies grapes which give a softer, nuttier character

• Hine Rare VSOP — a smaller house producing elegant, refined Cognac; worth seeking out if you want something outside the mainstream

American Brandy — strong value, underrated:

• E&J VSOP — California brandy at an accessible price; smooth and approachable, good for mixing

• Paul Masson Grande Amber VSOP — consistent quality, widely available, and honest value at the price

• Copper & Kings American Brandy — Louisville-based, pot-distilled; more spirit character than most American brandy; the craft option

Armagnac — for the curious:

• Armagnac is French like Cognac but single-distilled rather than double — more rustic, more regional character, and often better value at equivalent ages

• Delord, Larressingle, and Tariquet are good starting points; all available or orderable at Liquor Universe

American brandy is where the best value lives. Copper & Kings in particular is a craft spirit worth trying if you want something outside the French category.

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How to Actually Drink Cognac and Brandy

The traditional serve is neat in a tulip or snifter glass, at room temperature. The glass shape concentrates the aromas, which is where most of the experience lives. A wide-mouthed rocks glass loses a lot of that.

Adding a small amount of water to a VS or VSOP is fine and often opens up the spirit. Ice slows down the flavor release significantly — it’s acceptable for VS in a cocktail context, less so for anything aged ten years or more.

• Neat in a tulip glass — the right way for VSOP and above

• One ice cube maximum for XO — and only if you prefer it cold

• VS on the rocks or in cocktails — perfectly appropriate and common

• The Sidecar (Cognac, Cointreau, lemon juice) — the classic Cognac cocktail; use VS or VSOP

• Stinger (Cognac and white crème de menthe) — an old-school after-dinner drink that still works

Find Cognac & Brandy in Albany and the Capital Region

Liquor Universe carries one of the strongest cognac and brandy selections in the Albany area — from Hennessy VS to premium XO expressions and American craft brandy. We’re at 1145 Central Avenue, easy to reach from Colonie, Cohoes, Troy, and most of the Capital Region.

For anyone in Guilderland, Bethlehem, Latham, or Watervliet who doesn’t want to make the drive, 1-hour delivery covers most of the area within 15 to 20 miles of the store. Order at liquoruniversestore.com and the bottle arrives within the hour.

• Albany, Colonie, Menands — minutes from 1145 Central Avenue

• Troy, Cohoes, Green Island — 15 to 20 minutes from the store

• Latham, Guilderland, Bethlehem, Delmar — delivery available; no drive needed

• Schenectady, Watervliet, Voorheesville — within the delivery zone for most addresses

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Curbside pickup is also available at the store. Order online, pull up to Central Avenue, and someone brings it out. Fastest option when you know exactly what you’re after.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cognac worth buying if I already drink whiskey?

Yes — especially if you like aged Scotch or bourbon. A good VSOP or XO Cognac has a similar depth of character but built differently: fruit-forward, floral, and smooth rather than grain-led. Rémy Martin 1738 or Hennessy XO are the usual entry points for whiskey drinkers crossing over.

What’s a good Cognac to give as a gift?

Hennessy VSOP or Rémy Martin VSOP are reliable and well-received at the $50 to $70 range. For a bigger occasion, Hennessy XO or Rémy Martin XO are the go-to premium gift bottles. Both are recognizable, well-regarded, and work for almost any recipient.

Does Liquor Universe carry brandy for delivery in Troy, Schenectady, or Colonie?

Yes — we offer 1-hour delivery across the Capital Region including Troy, Colonie, Schenectady, Latham, Cohoes, Guilderland, Bethlehem, and surrounding areas. Order online at liquoruniversestore.com or call (518) 512-5115 to confirm your address is in the delivery zone.

What’s the difference between VS, VSOP, and XO Cognac?

VS is aged a minimum of two years — lighter and best for cocktails. VSOP is aged at least four years — more complex, works neat or mixed. XO is aged a minimum of ten years — made for sipping slowly. The older the blend, generally the more developed and smoother the flavor.