Elevate your indulgence in cognac with strategic food pairing ideas. Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits offers fine cognacs like Hennessy Cognac, as well as various other quality spirits, beers, and wines.
Cognac is a luxurious spirit often enjoyed on its own, but it is actually a spirit that will elevate specific food choices.
What is Cognac?
Cognac is brandy that’s made in the Cognac region of France. Double distillation in copper pot stills and aging in French oak barrels for a minimum or two years are also prerequisites for Cognac.
Types of Cognac:
- VS – Very Special, minimum of two years old
- VSOP – Very Superior Old Pale, minimum of four years old
- Napoleon – 4 years old
- XO – Extra Old – minimum of ten years old
Food Pairings for Cognac
Cheese – As you select the cheese to pair with your glass of Cognac, consider the age of each. Younger Cognac deserves younger cheese, and aged Cognacs pair well with aged cheeses.
Charcuterie – Building a charcuterie that pairs well with Cognac is simple. Cured meats and pâtés welcome this spirit. As with all pairings, match the richness of the dish to the spirit. A complex, well-aged XO Cognac will work better with indulgent selections while a young cognac deserves a lighter jerky or prosciutto.
Chocolate – Following the general guidelines of pairing libations to food, enjoy dark chocolate with an aged Cognac. An XO Cognac also works well with truffles and mousse. Hennessy VS, on the other hand, welcomes the lighter notes of white or milk chocolate.
Mushrooms – If you ask around about the best food to enjoy with Cognac, the most common answer you’ll receive will probably be mushrooms. Using the Cognac that you plan to serve when sauteeing mushrooms is yet another way to elevate the meal.
Seafood – The delicate nature of Cognac is ideal for seafood dishes as well. A Very Special (VS) cognac pairs well with the salty flavors of the sea, while a Very Superior Old Pale (VSOP) Cognac can handle the richness of crab.
Hennessy at Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits
- Hennessy Pure White – flower bouquet best served on the rocks with fresh fruit juice
- Hennessy VS – balanced and bright fruity flavors best served at room temp or slightly cooler
- Hennessy VSOP – bold and toasty with a smooth flavor best served slightly chilled
- Hennessy XO – rich, bold, and smooth best served neat or on the rocks.
Jacques Scott Locations
To quickly grab the Cognac of your choice or to browse all of your options, stop in at a Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits location:
- Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits – #1 Avistar Building, West Side Road, Cayman Brac, (345) 945-1107
- Jacques Scott Harbour Walk – Harbour Walk, Edgewater Way, (345) 946-8045
- Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits – Frank Sound, (345) 949-5397
- Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits – Next to Fosters Republix, West Bay Road, West Bay, (345) 946-8259
- Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits – Morritts Plaza, Queens Hwy, East End, (345) 946-5686
- Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits Wine Cellar Retail – Galleria Plaza, West Bay Road, Seven Mile Beach, (345) 945-5260
- Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits Fine Wine Retail Store – North Sound Road & Shedden Road, George Town, (345) 949-0277
- Countryside Shopping Centre – Countryside Shopping Mall, 33 Hirst Road, Savannah, (345) 947-1536
Click here to find the perfect Cognac, order online, and we’ll deliver for free to any address on Grand Cayman as you try out a few of these Cognac and food pairing ideas.
