Napoleon cognac is aged for at least 6.5 years and is second only to XO cognac, which is aged for an average of 15-25 years. Cognac must be produced in the Cognac region of France and aged in oak barrels for at least 2.5 years. Some quality Napoleon cognacs age much longer.
Napoleon cognac is a type of cognac that has typically been aged in oak barrels for at least six and a half years. Legend has it that former French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte loved cognac, but could not, of course, take his personal barrels of cognac with him on his military campaign in Europe. According to legend, Napoleon insisted that his personal barrels of cognac remain undisturbed while he was away, and even appointed friends to protect them. When Napoleon returned to claim his cognac six and a half years later, he found that he liked aged cognac even more than he had enjoyed young cognac. Today, Napoleon cognac is typically aged for six and a half years, making it younger only than XO cognac, which is typically aged for an average of about 15 to 25 years.
Cognac is a type of brandy made in the cognac region of western France. Only brandies produced in the Cognac region of France can generally be considered cognac. While other brandies are usually made the same way, they cannot be called cognacs because they are not from this area. French law typically requires cognacs to be aged in oak barrels for at least two and a half years, although most appellations, including Napoleon’s cognac, age for at least six and a half years. The oldest cognacs can be from 15 to 70 years old.
The cognac typically labeled Napoleon’s cognac is generally considered to be second only to XO cognac. XO is considered the highest appellation of cognac, meaning that the liquor has been aged much longer than the six and a half years required for Napoleon’s cognac. These cognacs often consist of a mix of spirits from different vintages. Since French law generally prohibits cognac makers from labeling their bottles with vintage years, producers are generally free to mix very young spirits with older spirits. They can then label the bottle with a higher quality designation, even though most of the liquor inside may actually be much younger.
While six and a half years is the minimum amount of time a Napoleon cognac can age, some quality Napoleon cognacs age much longer. Individual vintage cognacs are generally considered to offer the highest quality. Experienced producers of this liqueur may mix cognates of different vintages together for the sake of economy, but they also generally strive to maintain the drink’s unique bouquet of flavors.
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