Sitting comfortably at the crossroads of luxury and indulgence, Cognac carries a rich history, a natural air of sophistication and, for good measure, a distinct whiff of decadence. While other grape-based spirits may inspire devotion, few can rival the stature of this French icon, with the top expressions exchanging hands for vast sums.
Despite its noble reputation, Cognac begins life in relatively humble fashion: a low-alcohol, high-acid base wine made predominantly from the workhorse Ugni Blanc grape (known as Trebbiano in Italy). Yet, following two distillations, this modest starting point is transformed into a spirit capable of ageing gracefully for decades.
The myriad of terms found on a bottle of Cognac explain how much time the spirit has spent maturing in French oak. VS (‘Very Special’) marks the youngest category, with a minimum of two years’ ageing and often suited to mixing. VSOP (‘Very Superior Old Pale’) requires at least four years in cask, while XO (‘Extra Old’) age a minimum of 10 years, though plenty far exceed this threshold. Single-vintage Cognacs also exist, produced exclusively from one year’s harvest.
This year’s IWSC results offer an intriguing snapshot of Cognac today. At the very top sits a single Gold medal winner, Hermitage Cognac’s 1995 Vintage, awarded an impressive 98 points. Judges praised it as ‘an elegant drink scented with baked nectarine and manuka honey, underpinned by a hint of spice’ making it the top bottle to seek out.
XO Cognacs also performed strongly, with ABK6 Renaissance XO, A.E. Dor N°8 Vieille Réserve and Cognac De Luze XO Cognac all securing Silver medals. The VSOP category, meanwhile, demonstrated its enduring appeal, with expressions such as Meukow VSOP from Distilleries de Matha noted for flavours of ‘bright pear pastry, enriched by sweet baking spices’.
While the category is often associated with the dominance of the ‘big four’ houses – Hennessy, Courvoisier, Rémy Martin and Martell – a closer look reveals a shifting landscape. Smaller producers are increasingly carving out space, with a growing emphasis on provenance and individuality bringing fresh energy to the region.
All spirits were judged blind by an expert IWSC panel, including Guy Hodcroft, spirits buyer for Bordeaux Index, spirits consultant Antony Moss MW and Joel Harrison, presenter and Club Oenologique contributing spirits editor.
Below is our selection of the top-scoring Cognacs from the IWSC 2025.
HOW ARE SPIRITS JUDGED?
Each spirit sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges as part of the rigorous tasting process. IWSC spirit judges are experts in their field, from critics to buyers. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
HOW DO WE SCORE THESE SPIRITS?
Only the best spirits sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. To win Gold, spirits have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver spirits range from 90 to 94 points. To better understand, you can consult the IWSC’s scoring system.
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The best Cognac from the IWSC 2025
