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The Cognac Brand Atlas
Cognac Brands: Great Houses & Hidden Gems
Every cognac house, curated.
From the best-known grandes maisons to the single-estate growers we travel the Charente to find. 380+ cognac brands, ranked by our community and curated by our team, across every style, region and price.
380+
Cognac houses
6
Crus of Cognac
14
Houses on the map
The names you know
The great houses
The best-known, most famous cognac brands: the grandes maisons of Cognac and Jarnac that built the category and still open their cellars to visitors.
We carry 380+ cognac houses
One of the largest curated cognac selections anywhere, from world-famous maisons to growers you will not find elsewhere. Browse the complete list, A to Z.
Browse all cognac brands A-ZBeyond the big names
Hidden gems, curated by us
Top grower estates and finisseurs worth seeking out: the houses our community and our own team return to again and again. This is where cognac gets exciting.
Navarre
★★★★★★★★★★ 90.0
Grande ChampagneTiny estateCult old cognac
Best rated cognacSouvenir Impérial Hors d'Age
★★★★★★★★★★ 92/100
“Impressive cognac… lots of exotic fruits.”Kim B.
Prunier
★★★★★★★★★★ 88.5
Grande ChampagneFounded 1700Fruity profiles
Best rated cognacXO Très Vieille Grande Champagne
★★★★★★★★★★ 92/100
“Tasty and very smooth… with some spectacular end notes.”Henrikas M.
Grosperrin
★★★★★★★★★★ 88.2
Eleveur NegociantRare single casksSaintes
Best rated cognac18 Ans Bois Ordinaires, Oléron
★★★★★★★★★★ 88/100
“A great cognac for value… one of the few from Île d'Oléron.”Benjamin H.
Audry
★★★★★★★★★★ 87.8
Fine ChampagneClassical styleLong-aged
Best rated cognacAudry Exception
★★★★★★★★★★ 93/100
“An explosion of flavours: wood, candied fruit, cinnamon and honey… never too sweet.”Cognac Expert taster
Tesseron
★★★★★★★★★★ 87.0
Grande ChampagneLot No. rangeOld reserves
Best rated cognacLot N°76 XO Tradition
★★★★★★★★★★ 86/100
“Dark, woody, spicy… candied oranges, pastry notes and vanilla.”Wolfgang S.
Vallein Tercinier
★★★★★★★★★★ 86.1
Petite ChampagneGreat valueBrut de fût
Best rated cognacXO Vieille Réserve
★★★★★★★★★★ 89/100
“A very good cognac… top price-performance.”Joachim J.
Pasquet
★★★★★★★★★★ 86.5
OrganicGrande ChampagneTerroir-driven
Best rated cognacSymphonie des Terroirs N°1
★★★★★★★★★★ 88/100
“A very tasty blend… ginger, honeysuckle and biscuit.”Cognac Expert taster
Jean Fillioux
★★★★★★★★★★ 86.0
Grande ChampagneJuillac-le-CoqFamily estate
Best rated cognacXO Grande Réserve
★★★★★★★★★★ 88/100
“Floral and complex… a wonderful plethora of fruit and spice.”James P.
Paul Giraud
★★★★★★★★★★ 84.2
Grande ChampagneBoutevillePowerful & classic
Best rated cognacTrès Rare
★★★★★★★★★★ 87/100
“A nice, mature Grande Champagne… very smooth, lots of mature aromas.”Morten V.
François Voyer
★★★★★★★★★★ 86.1
Grande ChampagnePierre VaudonGrower
Best rated cognacXO Gold
★★★★★★★★★★ 89/100
“Rich amber honey and almond… a delightful XO. Highly recommended.”Louis R.
Château de Montifaud
★★★★★★★★★★ 87.6
Petite ChampagneFamily estateRounded
Best rated cognacXO Silver
★★★★★★★★★★ 90/100
“Absolutely superb… wonderful aroma and beautifully balanced taste.”Robert S.
Mauxion Selection
★★★★★★★★★★ 90.5
Single casksOld cognacAcross the crus
Best rated cognacFins Bois 50 Years Old
★★★★★★★★★★ 93/100
“Excellent… cinnamon, caramelised fruit, cocoa, spice and rancio.”Cognac Expert taster
Producers to discover
Four houses worth the trip
Small producers we love, each with a visiting story to tell.
A confidential estate named after the neolithic dolmen on its land. Tiny production of characterful, old-style cognac.
A small Bons Bois grower whose long-aged cognacs are a community favourite for the quality they offer.
Single-cask Fins Bois bottlings, rediscovered by collectors for their purity and honest terroir.
A family house in the old style: traditional Napoleon and long-aged blends with real vintage character.
About brands & producers
Why are there so many cognac brands?
Cognac: the most precious & complex of spirits. With hundreds of brands, ranging from the extravagant to the affordable, Cognac Expert helps navigate this fascinating world, both for purchasing choices & personal information.
Why are there so many Cognac brands?
Each producer, or house, has a unique approach to creating this iconic French spirit. The person responsible for this is called the Cellar Master, and it’s his or her skill and peculiarities that embody the character of the house.
Cognac Expert showcases the largest online range of brands available to purchase in a single place. We provide detailed information about the individualities of producers, from the largest right down to the smallest. This enables both Cognac education, as well as helping buyers make a truly informed purchasing decision.
And be aware that it’s no longer necessary to only choose Cognac from a certain growth area. You can search in multiple ways, including by vintage year, by taste preference, or even by the fact that a house produces only Cognac created in a wholly organic method.
The ‘Big Four’
Without a doubt, the names that are most heard of on a global scale are Hennessy, Remy Martin, Courvoisier, and Martell. These are the largest Cognac houses in terms of production and worldwide exposure.
Between them they account for an incredible 90% of the worldwide market. And Hennessy is the most prolific of all.
As with market leaders in all fields, purchasing one of these big names comes at a premium. The savvy Cognac drinker understands that whilst these large producers have some outstanding Cognacs, it can often prove advantageous to experiment with some of the lesser-known houses.
Trending brands
As Cognac continues its rise in popularity, the big players are feeling the pressure as other producers vie to take their share of the market. Names such as Pierre Ferrand, Camus, and Hine are now real players, offering a range of Cognacs that’s proving hugely popular the world over. And as they become ever-more well known, so their marketing power allows them to snap hungrily at the heels of the market leaders.
Small is beautiful
At Cognac Expert, we fully appreciate the might and experience of the large Cognac brands. But we’re also staunch supporters of small, artisan brands. And we love to raise awareness of such producers to our global reach of readers.
For example, if you want a vintage Cognac, then discover the ranges offered by Grosperrin, Raymond Ragnaud, Park, and Lheraud.If you want to ride the organic wave, then try Cognacs by the houses of Jean-Luc Pasquet, Peyrat, and Leopold Gourmel.And for the uber-trendy, ‘craft’ Cognacs, check out Bourgoin, Bache Gabrielsen, and Guy Pinard.
Explore the maze…
…that is the delicious world of Cognac brands. Cognac Expert’s aim is to provide a simple way of understanding more about each individual producer, their wares, and to introduce houses that you might not yet have heard of. You can search A-Z, by individual brand, age category, upcoming and innovative, the most awarded Cognacs, by small or craft producers, and of course by the most popular and the best value for money. It’s your Cognac, your journey. And the friendly team at Cognac Expert will do their utmost to guide you every step of the way.
Terroir
The six crus of Cognac
Cognac's growing area is a set of crus in roughly concentric rings around the town of Cognac, from the chalky heart of Grande Champagne out to the coastal Bois.
CognacJarnacSegonzacSaintesAngoulêmeJonzacBarbezieuxPonsRoyanMathaRochefortLa RochelleGrande ChampagnePetite ChampagneBorderiesFins BoisBons BoisBois Ordinaires
Grande Champagne
The premier cru. Chalky soils give the most refined, slowest-ageing cognacs.
Petite Champagne
Floral and elegant, a step behind Grande Champagne in structure.
Borderies
The smallest cru. Round and nutty, with a signature violet note.
Fins Bois
Supple and fruity, quick to charm and to mature.
Bons Bois
Coastal influence, rustic and fast-ageing.
Bois Ordinaires
The outer ring, near the Atlantic, lighter and earthy.
Where they are
The map of cognac houses
The great houses cluster in the towns of Cognac and Jarnac on the river Charente, while estate growers are scattered through the vineyards. Click a pin to open the house.
Cognac, the capital
The riverside town where Hennessy, Martell, Otard and Camus run their cellars. Most welcome visitors year-round, several within walking distance of each other.
Jarnac, on the water
A short drive upriver, home to Courvoisier on the quay, plus Hine and the tiny, revered Delamain. Quieter than Cognac and lovely in the warmer months.
Into the vineyards
The real discoveries are in the Grande Champagne villages around Segonzac and Juillac-le-Coq, where growers such as Frapin, Navarre and Paul Giraud receive visitors by appointment.
Our team's tip: pair one grande maison tour in town with an appointment at a single-estate grower in the vineyards. The contrast between a vast blending cellar and a family chai tells you everything about how cognac is made.
By style & value
Which cognac is right for you?
Cognac is graded by how long it has aged, and that grade is the biggest clue to its style, character and price. Here is what each one means, from bright young VS to rare old blends.
Value & mixing
VS
Min. 2 years
The youngest grade: bright, fruity and lively. The classic choice for cocktails and easy sipping.
e.g. Hennessy VS, Rémy Martin VS
Browse VS »The classic sipper
VSOP
Min. 4 years
Smooth, rounded and balanced. The everyday sipping cognac and the best place to start.
e.g. Rémy Martin VSOP, Martell VSOP
Browse VSOP »A step up
Napoléon
Min. 6 years
Richer and more structured than VSOP, a bridge towards the older grades.
e.g. Courvoisier Napoléon
Browse Napoléon »Prestige
XO
Min. 10 years
Deep, complex and long. The flagship of most houses, made for slow sipping.
e.g. Hennessy XO, Martell XO
Browse XO »Rare & collectible
XXO / Hors d'Age
14 years and beyond
The oldest blends and vintages: rare, age-worthy and collectible.
e.g. Louis XIII, Hennessy Paradis
Browse XXO / Hors d'Age »Or jump straight into a category:
Good to know
Cognac brands: your questions
What are the best cognac brands?
The best cognac for you depends on your taste and budget, but the houses our community rates most highly span both the great maisons (Hennessy, Rémy Martin, Martell and Courvoisier) and smaller growers such as Frapin, Paul Giraud and Grosperrin. The star ratings above are built from real customer reviews, so you can compare houses at a glance.
What is the most famous cognac brand?
Hennessy is by far the most famous and the largest, selling more cognac than any other house. Rémy Martin, Martell and Courvoisier complete the big four that most people recognise.
What is the difference between cognac and brandy?
All cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac. Cognac is a brandy made only in the Cognac region of France, double-distilled in copper pot stills from white wine (mostly Ugni Blanc grapes) and aged in French oak. Brandy made elsewhere, or by other methods, cannot be called cognac.
Which cognac is the smoothest, or best for a beginner?
A VSOP is usually the sweet spot for newcomers: old enough to be smooth and rounded, without the price of an XO. Approachable VSOPs from Rémy Martin, Martell or Camus are an easy place to start, and a VS is great for cocktails.
What do VS, VSOP and XO mean?
They are age grades, set by how long the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend has aged: VS (Very Special) at least 2 years, VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) at least 4, Napoléon at least 6, XO (Extra Old) at least 10, and XXO at least 14. Older blends are generally rounder, deeper and more expensive.
What are some good affordable cognac brands?
For value, look to the VS and VSOP bottlings of the big houses and to value-minded producers such as Meukow, Bache-Gabrielsen and Park. Many of our independent growers also offer remarkable quality for the price. You can sort the whole range by price in our shop.
What are the biggest cognac brands?
The four largest houses, Hennessy, Rémy Martin, Martell and Courvoisier, together account for around 90% of the world market, with Hennessy the most prolific of all. Camus, the largest family-owned house, follows close behind. All are based in or around the towns of Cognac and Jarnac.
Which cognac houses can you visit?
Most of the great houses in Cognac and Jarnac, including Hennessy, Martell, Otard, Camus, Courvoisier and Hine, run visitor centres with cellar tours and tastings. Many smaller grower estates across the crus also welcome visitors by appointment. See our map above.
What is the difference between a cognac house and a grower?
A house, or négociant, buys eaux-de-vie from many growers and blends them for a consistent signature, like Hennessy or Martell. A grower distills cognac from its own estate vines, so the bottle reflects one family's land and style, like Frapin, Navarre or Paul Giraud.
How many cognac brands are there?
We carry more than 380 cognac houses, one of the largest curated selections anywhere, ranging from the world-famous maisons to single-estate growers you will not find in most shops. The full list is on our all brands page.
What are the six crus of cognac?
Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois and Bois Ordinaires. They form roughly concentric zones around the town of Cognac. Grande Champagne, with its chalky soil, is prized for the longest-ageing cognacs, while the small Borderies cru gives round, floral, nutty spirit.
When is the best time to visit the Cognac region?
Spring through autumn is ideal for cellar visits and the countryside. The grape harvest happens in October and distillation runs from late autumn into March, so a winter visit can mean seeing the stills at work.
Explore all 380+ houses
From the grandes maisons to single-estate growers you will not find anywhere else. Browse all cognac brands