Cognac is one of the world's most refined alcoholic drinks with a stringent production standard and a long tradition of excellence. It is a classic with after-dinner conversations next to the fire. In order to better savor the nuances of these flavorful and luxurious cousins of brandies, it is best to do so in the .
History
Cognac is a type of brandy in that it is a distilled spirit derived from wine grapes. Unlike brandy, cognac is distilled twice, aged in French oak barrels, and subject to several French laws which govern what kinds of grapes can be used, where those grapes can be grown, and how the production and aging of the beverage determine its classification. As one of the most expensive cocktails in the world, there are only a few glasses from which it is considered proper to drink cognac.
Significance
The first glass that is recommended by experts is the tulip-shaped glass. This is a glass with a long stem that opens up into a large bell, which curves inward near the top before flaring out slightly at the rim. The purpose of this shape is to maximize the surface area of the beverage and then concentrate it to meet the nose and palate in order to maximize the flavor, bouquet and experience of .
Function
The second, slightly less acceptable glass is the so-called balloon glass, which is also known as a brandy snifter or a snifter. This glass has a very short stem with a very wide bell at the bottom that flares out for the first third of the bell before sloping gently in at the top. The balloon glass gives brandy a large surface area to release scents and notes, while the smaller opening concentrates the scent for the nose but somewhat less so while drinking compared to the tulip glass.
Features
Though aficionados protest that the only real way to drink cognac is in either of these two manners, usually "neat" (no ice or other mixers) and at room temperature, the beverage can be mixed with other alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages and drunk from other types of glasses. For instance, the official cognac website (see Resources, below) suggests drinking cognac mixed with sparkling water and served in a "rocks" glass; that is a glass without a stem.
Considerations
Other means to drink cognac can be improvised if no tulip or Balloon glasses are available. Wine glasses can function adequately for the task, for instance. The ultimate "proper" glass to drink from is up to the drinker; some consumers prefer the openness of a rocks glass to diffuse the smell of the cognac more widely, for example.
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