I tried some Cognac years ago, and did not like it (Hennessy VS, I believe). A friend soon after recommended some Armagnac, which I liked a little better, but still not a fan.I'm now partaking in some Remy Martin VSOP and I'm digging it. Sweet, nutty, a bit astringent, but with none of the smoky bits that I don't really like with most scotches and bourbons.What say people of the PRF, what is my next bottle of Cognac or other Brandy to be?

I don't think I've ever had it myself, but I know that Charlemagne Palestine digs the Napoleon brand of cognac. He's been performing over 30 years and still carries a glass or two with him on stage and drinks while performing, and then makes the glass sing once it's the right amount of cognac at the bottom.

Brandy is good. Basic Napoleon is fine. Use a proper snifter, a snifter with a base almost as wide as your entire hand, not one that you can cradle in your fingers.

I've only had brandy and not good stuff. I like the taste though and use it (instead of gin) to make Hanky-Panky's, which actually call for Cognac, which I will get when I run out of brandy.I would like to learn more though.

I haven't had much in the way of grape-based brandy other than some bottom-shelf stuff that was in my parents' liquor cabinet, but I truly enjoy that of the apple-based brandy. I've always liked applejack (even though it's pretty harsh) but I've been getting into calvados lately. Much smoother.

Problem with Cognac is that the good stuff is ruinously expensive. It can't not be, the (expensive) raw material being wine and it needing long barrel aging. You're into 18yo Scotch prices before things get interesting. I've never had a delicious Cognac that wasn't well over $150/bottle. The cheap stuff is always adulterated crap. My take on the different ages/quality levels:VS - mixed drinks VSOP - Champagne cocktails (do not fuck around when it comes to Champagne cocktails)XO - sniftering (there is a huge jump in quality from VSOP to XO level)wikepedia wrote:While there are close to 200 cognac producers,[1] a large percentage of cognac ”90% according to one 2008 estimate[10] ”is produced by only four companies: Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell, and Rémy Martin.I would look out for the smaller producers, find a seller who knows his shit and be prepared to pay through the nose.

I love good cognac. Great to drink while nibbling on dark chocolate.

Can't abide cognac. Brandy, yeah, but fortified stuff in general is not really my bag.The hijacking of cognac by vociferously and aggressively upwardly mobile rappers is just silly. I feel embarrassed for them when they bling it around.....silly.

Someone gave me a bottle of Hennessey a few years ago and I honestly did like it but I don't see myself ever buying another. I much prefer the less sweet brown liquors of the Scotch or Bourbon variety.