Cognac Grades Explained: V.S. vs V.S.O.P. vs X.O.

Every bottle of Cognac carries a set of letters on the label — V.S., V.S.O.P., X.O. — and most people buying their first bottle have no idea what any of them actually mean beyond a vague sense that more letters costs more money. They're not marketing terms. Each grade is a legally defined aging classification enforced by the Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC), the regulatory body that governs everything made in the Cognac region of France. Once you understand the system, choosing the right bottle for the right occasion becomes a lot easier.

How Cognac Grades Are Determined

Cognac aging is measured in "comptes" — official counting periods that begin the April 1st after distillation. Every Cognac blend is a mix of eaux-de-vie (unaged distillate) of different ages, and the grade on the label is determined entirely by the youngest component in the blend, no matter how old the rest of it is. A house can blend in eaux-de-vie decades old, but if even a small portion is only three years old, the bottle can only be labeled V.S. This is why age statements matter so much more in Cognac than in whisky — the letters are a floor, not an average.

V.S. (Very Special) — Minimum 2 Years

V.S. Cognac must contain eaux-de-vie aged at least two years, though most houses age their V.S. blends well beyond the minimum. This is the entry point into Cognac — brighter, more fruit-forward and less oak-driven than the older grades, and the natural choice for cocktails like the Sidecar or a Cognac and soda, where the mixer would mask the subtlety of an older, more expensive bottle anyway.

Hennessy V.S — $39.99

The world's best-selling Cognac, full stop — a blend of over 40 eaux-de-vie built for bold, warming character that holds up in a cocktail.

Martell V.S Single Distillery — $34.99

From the oldest of the great Cognac houses, sourced from a single distillery for a cleaner, more consistent profile than most blended V.S. releases.

Camus V.S Elegance — $39.99

Fresh floral and light fruit notes from the largest family-owned Cognac house — the most approachable bottle in this entire guide.

V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale) — Minimum 4 Years

V.S.O.P. steps the minimum age up to four years, and in practice most V.S.O.P. blends run well past that — six to ten years is typical among the major houses. This is where Cognac starts to show real oak integration and depth without losing the fruit character that defines the region, and it's the grade most sommeliers recommend for anyone drinking Cognac neat for the first time.

Remy Martin V.S.O.P — $54.99

100% Fine Champagne Cognac, aged exclusively in the two most prestigious growing crus in the appellation — fresh plum, vanilla and liquorice.

Martell V.S.O.P Aged in Red Barrels — $59.99

Aged specifically in red barrels made from Tronçais and Limousin oak for a smoother, more delicate result than the house's standard V.S.O.P.

Camus V.S.O.P Elegance — $59.99

Built around Borderies eaux-de-vie — the smallest and most aromatic growing area in Cognac — for ripe fruit, honey and floral complexity.

X.O. (Extra Old) — Minimum 10 Years

X.O. is where Cognac becomes a genuinely serious sipping spirit. The legal minimum was raised from six to ten years in 2018, and most houses' X.O. blends run considerably older — often twenty years or more for the oldest component. Rich spice, candied and dried fruit, and deep oak integration define the category, and this is the grade worth reaching for when you're buying to sip slowly, gift, or mark an occasion.

Hennessy X.O — $199.99

The bottle that created the category — created by Maurice Hennessy for his own private circle and still the world's best-selling X.O. Cognac.

Remy Martin X.O Excellence — $199.99

100% Fine Champagne eaux-de-vie of exceptional age, with jasmine, dried rose and plum in a genuinely refined, layered pour.

Martell X.O — $199.99

Sourced exclusively from the prestigious Borderies growing area for a jasmine and warm-spice character unique among the major X.O. houses.

Courvoisier XO — $179.99

Renowned for an extraordinary floral bouquet — jasmine, rose and exotic spice — and one of the longest finishes in this entire guide.

Which Grade Should You Buy?

Buying for a cocktail or introducing someone to Cognac for the first time — start with V.S. Buying your first bottle to drink neat, or looking for the best value-to-quality ratio in the category — V.S.O.P. is very hard to beat. Buying to sip slowly, gift, or mark a real occasion — X.O. is worth the jump, and the age gap between grades is large enough that you'll genuinely taste the difference. All three grades are available now on the Cognac collection page, with same-day delivery to 33 U.S. states and 7 Canadian provinces on orders over $150.