How to keep and drink cognac?

[Option84]

I just bought a bottle of Remy Martin XO, I know it's not the most expensive brand out there but I want to try drinking something properly this time. Should it be kept chilled? How long can it be kept after opened? Should cognac be drank with big snifters or those little bell shaped wine glasses?

[Ford Prefect]

No, don't chill it. Sip it at room temp. There's no need to store it chilled therefore either. It will keep pretty much indefinitely at room temp. It's not like wine. Think of it more as whiskey, rum, vodka, etc. for storage purposes. As for the best type of glass, a brandy snifter if fine. It doesn't have to be a really big one though ... I prefer a smaller snifter.

And if you're a smoker, cigars go with cognac like white on rice.

[Claeren]

I always drink cognac out of a short tumbler, on ice usually. Some people like it with (a side of, adding to taste) club soda (newbies especially) and/or without ice.

I find a cheaper cognac needs the ice to balance out the sharper bite. A better cognac is great at close or just below room temperature without ice though. I would never add ice to a nice glass of cognac!

The glass has always varied in my experience. Some say it has to be in the taller champaign style flutes, where others like a snifter and yet others like a tumbler. Brandy is supposed to have a snifter so that your hand warms the drink and brings out the flavour - i am not sure cognac has the same need.



I have always just stored it in a dark cupboard, without any problems.

Cognac is now my favorite drink by far! Of the affordable (for me!) brands my preference is courvoisier cognac though!


Claeren.

[octothorp]

Cognac is all about the aroma, so you want to do everything you everything you can to maximize this. If you've got the tulip-shaped wineglasses, those are preferable, as they have more evaporation surface, but narrow at the top to maximize the aroma. You can also use a regular brandy glass, the key thing is to have a glass that you can cup your hand under to gradually warm the cognac before drinking it. Store at room temperature. Keep it corked except for when you're pouring it. And Rem Martin isn't the most expensive brand, you're right, but cognacs have a lot of controls and even a medium-grade cognac will be pretty good. With an XO, it's also acceptable (and damn tasty) to mix it with coffee.

[Locke]

If you drink it, you dont have to 'keep' it.....!

[Hack&Lube]

Damnit, I wish I could drink like regular people

Stupid defective gene/enzyme.