What is the difference between brandy and cognac?

Do you know the difference between brandy and cognac?

Cognac is not the same as brandy, but is a type of brandy and earns its name following very strict production methods.

Cognac is an amber-coloured alcoholic drink, made in France, in the wine growing regions of Charente and Charente-Maritime surrounding the town of Cognac. It is made from distilling white wine to create eau-de-vie, aging it in oak casks for a minimum of two years and then blending different eaux-de-vie to create a specific flavour.

The region of Cognac is divided into six zones, called ‘crus’ – Borderies, Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Fins Bois, Bon Bois and Bois Ordinaire.

For more detail on cognac and how it is made at Martell, see our craftsmanship section.