A little reason to celebrate
National Cognac Day
Drink ยท June 4
A day for cognac, the grape brandy from western France that is distilled twice and aged in oak casks before it reaches the glass.
National Cognac Day falls on Friday, June 4, 2027. That is 220 days away.
Cognac is a brandy made from white grapes grown in and around the town of Cognac in western France. The wine is distilled twice in copper pot stills, then rested in oak barrels, where it slowly takes on color and a rounder flavor. Only brandy made in that region, under its rules, can carry the name.
In the glass it tends to smell of dried fruit, vanilla, spice and sometimes flowers, with more wood and depth the longer it has aged. Bottles are often labeled with letters like VS, VSOP and XO, which point to how long the youngest brandy in the blend spent in the barrel. VS is the youngest of the three. XO has waited the longest, and it usually costs the most.
People drink it neat in a small tulip glass or a wide snifter, warming it a little in the hand. It also turns up in classic cocktails like the Sidecar, mixed with orange liqueur and lemon, and in the kitchen, where a splash goes into pan sauces for steak or into a fruit dessert. Some drinkers add a single ice cube or a few drops of water, which can open up the aroma.
A good way to taste it is slowly, with a sniff first and a pause after the sip. Much of the flavor shows up in the finish, a few seconds after you swallow.
Ways to celebrate
- Pour a small measure into a tulip glass and taste it slowly.
- Compare a VS and a VSOP side by side with friends.
- Mix a Sidecar with cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice.
- Add a splash of cognac to a pan sauce for dinner.
- Read the label to learn the age grade of a bottle.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday, June 4 |
| 2027 | Friday, June 4 |
| 2028 | Sunday, June 4 |
| 2029 | Monday, June 4 |
| 2030 | Tuesday, June 4 |
Also on June 4
Categories: Drink days