5 Best Cognacs to Drink Other Than Hennessy

Hennessy is the undeniable king of cognac, controlling roughly 40% of the worldwide market. It’s a brand as much as it is a rallying cry; an icon of late 1990s and early 2000s pop culture that has managed to hang onto its reputation as the definitive cognac in the zeitgeist. But equating one brand with an entire category means missing out on some of the most exciting and distinctive spirits that France has to offer. Whether you’re a longtime sipper looking to branch out or a newcomer building your back bar, here are five bottles that offer something Hennessy simply can’t: The unexpected.

1. Martell VS Single Distillery

Price: ~$35

Founded in 1715, Martell is the oldest of the “big four” cognac houses responsible for the vast majority of French brandies on the market. Where Hennessy and Rémy draw heavily from Grande Champagne, Martell has long made Borderies cru — the smallest and rarest of Cognac’s six regions — its signature.

The VS Single Distillery is a fascinating expression of that commitment at an entry-level price. Rather than blending from multiple distilleries as most large producers do, this release is sourced from a single distillery partner, producing what Martell describes as a richer, more intense expression of the house style. The nose delivers on that promise with layers of caramel, ripe pear and fresh orange, underlined by an almost honey-like warmth. The palate is similarly fruit-forward, balancing hints of candied berries, fig and a touch of cinnamon spice before trailing off into an oaky, medium-length finish. A dependable, budget-friendly option that punches far above its weight class.

2. Pierre Ferrand Cognac Ambre

Price: ~$50

While other houses lean on the familiar VS/VSOP/XO hierarchy, Maison Ferrand markets its youngest standard expression simply as Ambre, a 10-year-old blend of Ugni Blanc and Colombard grapes sourced exclusively from Grande Champagne. Technically, this is an XO. They just don’t call it one.

Delicate aromas of pear, citrus, chamomile and violet remind us of spring, while a darker palate of apricot, fig, vanilla and baking spice tilts into early autumn territory. In place of the oak flavor that all too often dominates its 10-year contemporaries, Ambre finds a well-rounded balance between the best of two worlds. That is perhaps thanks to its use of rare onion-headed copper pot alembic stills, a Ferrand family signature.

3. Camus Dark & Stormy

Price: ~$60

In the winter of 2010, Cyclone Xynthia tore across the Atlantic coast of France, driving seawater and ocean minerals deep into the limestone and sandy soils of the Île de Ré — a small island just off the coast of the Cognac region where Camus has maintained a distillery since 1972. The grapes harvested after that storm carried something different in them: a salty, briny, tidal minerality that can only be created, as Camus puts it, “a very few times each century.”

Dark & Stormy is the result of that harvest. Every bit as savory as its concept suggests, the cognac opens with aromas of sea mist, salt and lemon zest before seguing into a uniquely mineral-forward palate. Though it packs plenty of the stewed fruit vibes for which its spirit is known, the experience has more in common with a Scotch or perhaps even a mezcal, leaning into a heavy dose of maritime terroir totally unlike other offerings on the market. Pair it with oysters, light a candle and imagine that you’ve been stranded at a desolate French lighthouse in the dead of winter.

4. Cognac Park Single Cru Borderies Mizunara Cask

Price: ~$80

Cognac Park is the flagship brand of Distillerie Tessendier, a family house established in 1880 whose vineyards sit in the heart of the Borderies. After aging for four years in lightly toasted French oak, this cognac is transferred into 500-liter barrels made from Mizunara, a rare though increasingly popular Japanese oak variety that’s taken the whisky industry by storm over the past few years.

A word to the wise: The woody, almost incense-like flavor of Mizunara is not for everyone, and this coganc is no exception. The six-month finish imbues hints of spiced sandalwood, red fruit, lemon peel and vanilla, followed by a sprinkling of cloves on the backend that flits from sweetness to spice in the blink of an eye. The Mizunara oak influences are palpable, as is the sense that this might not be the bottle for cognac purists. If, however, you fancy yourself an international whisky fan and don’t mind a spirit that marches to the beat of its own drum, then this experiment is well worth a shot.

5. Rémy Martin Tercet

Price: ~$110

Tercet is among the higher-end (though not too high-end) offerings from Rémy Martin, the “big four” house credited with releasing the world’s first VSOP Fine Champagne in 1927. As its name implies, Tercet is a celebration of threes. A collaboration between Cellar Master Baptiste Loiseau, Master Distiller Jean-Marie Bernard and Wine Master Francis Nadeau, the cognac makes use of a blend of Grande and Petite Champagne grapes bottled at 42% ABV, the highest ever for the brand.

It’s often regarded as one of Rémy Martin’s best. Aromas of raisin, prune, chocolate and oak immediately set this apart from the pack, eventually giving way to a punch of flowers, peach and lingering spiciness halfway between ginger and sarsaparilla. And yes, $110 is certainly expensive — but it doesn’t feel unearned here. High-end cognacs have a nasty habit of trading quality for Baccarat crystal decanters, a flair for the superficial that Tercet flips in the opposite direction. Though it may not look like much more than an oversized wine bottle, this is a cognac that sits comfortably at the top of its class.