Food and cognac pairings

We pair wine with food all the time, but rarely cognac. Yet, depending on its age and character, each cognac has its place at some point in the meal, from the aperitif to the coffee. Here are our pairings, cognac by cognac, to help you decide which bottle to open for what you are serving.

Three simple rules

First rule: match the intensity. A young, fresh cognac goes with light dishes, a rounder cognac with desserts, an older cognac with flavours of coffee, cocoa or well-aged cheese. Second rule: serve at room temperature, or lightly chilled for the youngest ones. Third rule: small quantities, alternating with each bite. To hold your glass properly and pick up the aromas, see our advice on tasting cognac.

Cognac VS, for the aperitif

The freshness of Cognac VS Michel Forgeron makes it ideal for the aperitif. Served well chilled or over ice, it goes with small savoury bites: nuts, toasted almonds, cubes of well-aged cheese.

Cognac VSOP, with scallops

Lively, fresh and aromatic, Cognac VSOP reveals fruity and spicy notes. It pairs wonderfully with the delicacy of marinated scallops, served cold or lightly seared. It can also accompany other delicate fish and shellfish.

Cognac Napoléon, with fruit desserts

Cognac Napoléon is the roundest and most indulgent of the collection. Its silky texture and yellow-fruit aromas call for a fruity dessert. Our favourite pairing: an apricot tart, with the cognac served neat or lightly chilled, for a gentle and delicate match.

Cognac XO, with coffee and dark chocolate

A blend of cognacs aged 20 to 30 years in French oak casks, Cognac XO Grande Champagne offers leather, spices and coffee on the nose, then a round palate with a delicate rancio and a very long finish. These aromas naturally answer an espresso or a square of dark chocolate. It also goes with a well-aged hard cheese, such as an old Comté.

In the kitchen, with Le Flambant

Cognac does not only go with dishes: it lifts them. To flambé meat or flavour a sauce, our Cognac Le Flambant, a Grande Champagne designed to bring flavour to your dishes, awaits you in the Cooking section.

At a glance