Updated April 2026.
“Drink straight” is a pour. Cognac is a BNIC / AOC brandy, not a TTB sipping class. VS, VSOP, and XO are age grades, not proofs. Typical US VS bottles are 40% — a 1.5-ounce pour is one NIAAA drink. Brand pages often omit ABV. This is not a 2022 top-10 tasting.
Related: cognac for beginners, Hennessy, alcohol in Hennessy.
Grade is age, not proof
| Reading tool | What it is | Typical US ABV |
|---|---|---|
| VS / VSOP / XO | BNIC age grades | Often 40% |
| Cognac identity | AOC + 27 CFR 5.145 | Label |
| US VS houses | Hennessy / Courvoisier / Martell band | 40% |
| Straight as a pour | Not a legal type | Use labeled proof |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 drinks. Four VS pours are four drinks. Pour math: Hennessy drinks.
Sources
- BNIC VS / VSOP / XO. TTB 27 CFR 5.145. Typical US 40% from prior house flags — read the neck.
- NIAAA December 2025.