Cognac is Good for Your Hair

I have found the cure to end bad hair days: Cognac. My friend Ram recently rescued me from catastrophic dis-Tress when he handed me a glass of Delamain Grande Champagne, X.O. (as well as a Russian Ushanka hat).

As it turns out, Cognac is a proven antidote to bad hair. The polyphenols reduce the hardening of blood vessels in the scalp, thereby improving circulation. It even slows hair loss! You can find a recipe for an egg Cognac hair-mask at The Green Gourmet.

But what if you don't want your Cognac on your head? What if you want to drink it instead? Cognac has for too long been the province of smoking dogs, business school students, old men at weddings, and Busta Rhymes. (n.b. I am not discouraging any of their business.) It's time to free this lovely brandy from the branding of time. For few things pair better with an old friend, an evening by the fire, or a tarte tatin a la mode than a tumbler of the gold stuff.

Cognac: A Basic Primer

Here is the essential thing to remember about spirits: Brandy is distilled wine (made from grapes or other fruit, such as apples), whisky is distilled beer (made from grains). Cognac is the name of the region in southwest France where the grapes from which it is made are grown. It is a stunningly beautiful region. Cognac is made mostly from a grape called Ugni Blanc although Colombard and Folle Blanche can also be found (all white grapes). After the grapes are pressed and fermented, the wine is passed through two distillations in copper stills (unique to this region). Here you can see an animation of the distillation process. The eaux-de-vie are then aged in oak casks where they acquire a lovely golden color and hints of vanilla. In the final step they are mixed by a master blender.

How to Read the Label
Cognac labels can seem unnecessarily confusing. Just keep in mind that they're there to give an indication of aromas (older ones have more tertiary or baked aromas where as newer ones will showcase the fruit). See the aroma wheel for a full profile of possibilities!

-GRADES
Once bottled, a Cognac, unlike wine, doesn't evolve anymore. Therefore it retains the same age indefinitely. There are three designations for aging in the barrels:

* V.S. (Very Special) or *** (3 star)... Compte 2: Cognacs whose youngest eau-de-vie is at least two years old.
* V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale), Reserve... Compte 4: Cognacs whose youngest eau-de-vie is at least four years old.
* Napoléon, X.O (Extra Old), Hors d'âge... Compte 6: Cognacs whose youngest eau-de-vie is at least six years old.

-ZONES
Cognac is divided into six smaller regions which amount to differences in price and style:
* Grande Champagne
* Petite Champagne
* Borderies
* Fins Bois
* Bons Bois
* Bois ordinaires or Bois à Terroir

My favorite is Grande Champagne, because of the stunning balance of powerful butterscotch and delicate flowers. But try a few and see what you like!

Tasting
A wonderful place to go with friends to learn more is The Brandy Library in New York City, where you can sip, compare, and ask questions to your heart's content. Ask for Ethan, a nice guy who really knows his sh*t.

Happy Sipping!