Updated June 2026.
“Under $50” is a shelf tag, not a BNIC grade. Cognac is grape brandy from the Cognac AOC. Core US V.S and V.S.O.P bottles from Hennessy, Rémy Martin, Martell, and Courvoisier are typically 40% ABV — one 1.5-ounce pour is one NIAAA standard drink. X.O (youngest eau-de-vie ≥10 years) often misses a $50 tag. This is not a 2022 top-10 tasting.
American brandy (Paul Masson, E&J) can be cheaper and is not Cognac. Related: Cognac vs brandy, Hennessy, Martell, Courvoisier.
What usually fits the tag
| Lane | Typical bottles | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| V.S | Hennessy V.S, Courvoisier V.S, Martell V.S | Youngest ≥2 years. Street tag moves |
| V.S.O.P | Rémy V.S.O.P, Martell V.S.O.P | Youngest ≥4 years. Sometimes over $50 |
| Usually not under $50 | X.O, Cordon Bleu, Louis XIII | Different shelf. No invented MSRP |
| Not Cognac | Paul Masson, E&J | US brandy. Brandy guide |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 drinks. Four pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. Hours are state law. Pour math: cognac math.
Sources
- BNIC V.S / V.S.O.P / X.O ages (XO ≥10 years since 2018).
- Typical US 40% on house nutrition/trade labels. if a SKU differs.
- NIAAA (December 2025). No invented 2026 MSRP or tasting scores.