50ml.org

All Cognacs are classified by qualities that are defined by the time of ageing. The age is the age of the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend.

A Cognac can be marketed as soon as its youngest eau-de-vie reaches the minimum age of two years.

To determine the age of a Cognac, all that counts is the years spent in wooden casks or barrels. As soon as it is transferred to a glass container, the eau-de-vie stops ageing. It is immobilised.

The best Cognac houses leave their eaux-de-vie to age much longer than the minimum required.

The more the Cognac ages, the more it gains in complexity, flavour, aroma and taste. This is why Maison Gautier chose to offer blends that go beyond the minimum ageing required.

For example, a VS (Very Special) or *** (Three Stars) label identifies a Cognac in which the youngest eau-de-vie has been aged for at least two years.

At Cognac Gautier, the VS is between two and four years old.

A VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) is a Cognac in which the youngest eau-de-vie has aged for at least four years.

The Gautier VSOP is between four and six years old.

Finally, a Napoleon, XO (Extra Old) or Hors d’Age is a Cognac in which the youngest eau-de-vie is more than six years old.

At Gautier, the youngest eau-de-vie in an XO is at least ten years old, but our most prestigious qualities use eaux-de-vie aged well beyond this.