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Liquour Review: Courvoisier

Published on August 1st, 2008 in Brandy & Cognac by Wade

When it comes to cognacs, I’ll be the first to openly admit I don’t know much about them, and I usually don’t drink the stuff. Now with that little truth out of the way, I let me tell you about Courvoisier cognac and how it changed my view of this corner of the booze world. Hell, we might even learn something…well until we get too wasted, and memory loss sets in. But until that happens, this will be like the Reading Rainbow for Courvoisier.

Courvoisier dates back to the early 19th century with a chance meeting between two connoisseurs of booze, Emmanuel Courvoisier and Louis Gallois. It wasn’t long before Courvoisier, based out of Jarnac in southwest France, received recognition from the Royal courts. Even when Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena after the battle of Waterloo, he liked Courvoisier so much that he insisted hundreds of bottles be sent with him into exile. That’s why all the bottles have the title “the cognac of Napoleon” and that little depiction of him. Napoleon Icon I just hope when the hammer finally falls upon me and probably most of our readers, that we are given such a choice. Back to the history lesson. Unlike brandy, which can be made anywhere, a decree made by French authorities in 1909 stipulated that for a spirit to take the name of “cognac,” it must be made in the cognac region. Courvoisier uses Ugni grapes that are stored at least two years after distillation. Unfortunately, during its maturation, 2.5% of the booze’s volume is lost through evaporation, which is referred to as” la part des anges” or in English, “the angel’s share.” Damn the greedy angels for taking our booze! Science needs to do something about this before it gets out of hand. I’m going to save that job for someone else. I drink far too much to make time for that. Then again, I guess even angels have bad days and need a little liquor lovin’. There’s something special about this cognac. Busta Rhymes even made a song called “Pass the Courvoisier.” With all this acclaim, I have no choice but to try it.

From just the smell, I could tell there was something in this bottle that is going to make me happy, and after tasting a bit, I see why a song was needed. Courvoiser has a really smooth, light barrel taste up front and a powerful, fruity, almost flowery grape taste with a hint of alcohol. It kind of feels like a sweet bourbon or rye with barely any alcohol burn at all. One of my favorite things about this booze is the barrel grape flavor lingers in your throat afterwards. It doesn’t linger in a bad way but rather in a pleasant “I’m here to help you relax” kind of way.

I know cognacs usually come solo in a snifter, but I tried it mixed with a little cola (because I’m a heathen). It was still pretty good. It was actually more than good. With the right amounts mixed, the flavor from the cognac became even stronger. It seems like the clash of the favor difference between cola and Courvoisier makes that delicious flavor become more potent. Whatever it is, its worth trying at least once.

The level of intoxication that comes from this cognac wasn’t quite as good as its taste. It gave me a buzz that was a little a little stronger than noticeable. I expected a more from an 80-proof booze, but that’s all she would give me. I could tell though that if I kept drinking until half of the bottle was gone, that I would be in a better or, according to some people, a worse place. The feeling was good enough to get me up and out about town without too much trouble. It did come with the extra bouns that the next morning wasn’t too harsh. I awoke with a “friendly” headache and the occasional burp to remind me what I was drinking the night before…and what I’ll be drinking later.

So for the price of around $37, which seems to be the standard for most good cognacs, it’s a solid buy. Busta Rhymes endorses Courvoisier. Napoleon endorses Courvoisier; and I can openly say I endorse Courvoisier as well. Even if you aren’t a cognac drinker, this one seems like a good place to start. I think I’ve found a new favorite in the booze world. Now if I could only find one of those silly hats and a nice blue coat to strike a memorable pose.

Sipability – 5.5

Mixability – 8.0

Drunkability – 6.5

Hangover-ability – 8.0

Bang for the Buck - 6.5

Overall - 7.0