Mary Ewing Mulligan offers this list of her favorite cognacs and defines a few labeling secrets.
The largest cognac producers are: Hennesey, Martel, Remy Martin and Courvosier. Mary recommends that you never buy a cognac younger than VSOP and then look for the phrase "Napoleon Style." "XO" means the cognac is at least 25 years old, "extra" puts it between 30 and 35 years.
A few small producers are also good names to try; Delamain, Hine, Pierre Ferrand and Brillat.
And which one does Mary prefer? Remy Martin XO
Check out the latest article on Mary Ewing Mulligan and Ed McCarthy - authors of Wine for Dummies in the February 1997 issue of Food and Wine magazine.
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