Updated May 2026.
Cognac is brandy from the Cognac AOC, not a smoothness contest. BNIC age grades: VS (at least 2 years), VSOP (4), XO (10). US Hennessy V.S, Courvoisier VS, and Martell VS typically print 40% ABV / 80 proof. A 1.5-ounce pour is one NIAAA standard drink. “Beginner” here means a labeled VS you can find, not an XO. This is not a 2023 top-15 tasting.
Related: Hennessy, Courvoisier, Martell, cognac vs brandy.
VS vs the rest
| Grade | Youngest eau-de-vie | Typical US ABV |
|---|---|---|
| VS | ≥2 years | Often 40% |
| VSOP | ≥4 years | Often 40% |
| XO | ≥10 years | Often 40% — not extra proof |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 drinks. Four VS pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. Brand pages often omit ABV — read the neck. No 2026 MSRP. Pour math: spirit drinks.
Sources
- BNIC age grades (VS / VSOP / XO). Prior Hennessy / Courvoisier / Martell 40% US flags.
- 27 CFR 5.145 brandy; Cognac AOC. NIAAA (December 2025). No invented ranking or MSRP.