Camus VSOP Elegance Cognac Review

Cognac is a variety of Brandy made in France. It is named after the famous town, located in the Southwestern region. Like all Brandies, Cognac is made from white grapes. The grapes used, once labeled as virtually undrinkable, are unique to Brandy. 

Like with most historical European spirits, there are specific requirements to be a true Cognac. Some required steps include: the fermentation must occur naturally with the yeast from the grapes, no sugar can be added, and the fact two distillations must be carried out.

Once the fermentation is complete, the spirit is aged in the famed limousine casks. This goes on for a minimum of 2 years. However, a big factor in the differing price point between Cognacs is the aging process.

It is important here to distinguish between the different grades of Cognac:

V.S. - Very Special: refers to a blend where the youngest brandy has been aged for at least 2 years.

V.S.O.P - Very Superior Old Pale: refers to a blend where the youngest brandy has been aged for at least 4 years.

Napolèon: refers to a blend where the youngest brandy has been aged for at least 6 years.

XO - Extra Old: refers to a blend where the youngest brandy has been aged at least 10 years.

XXO - Extra Extra Old: a more specific designation to spirits aged more than 10years.

Hors D’Âge - Beyond Age: officially refers to the same rules of XO, however, it actually refers to a far superior product beyond the official scale. 

Camus is one of the last members of the major Cognac houses that are completely family-run. The Cognac house has been that way for almost five generations. The company has employees on three different continents. They are responsible for the sales of the cognac in almost every country in the world. 

The making of Camus VSOP Elegance Cognac starts with the selection of an aromatic Eaux de vie that is distilled partially on the lees. The barrels that are used to age the cognac are medium toasted rather than being lightly toasted. This will help to maintain the characteristic aroma of the cognac. 

Here is our Camus Cognac Review.

In the Bottle

Camus VSOP Elegance Cognac is packed in a black cardboard box. When you take the bottle out of the box, you will understand that it is bottled in a really splendid long-necked bottle. 

The bottom of the bottle is fluted, offering a decanter look to the bottle and helping you to grip the bottle and pour the cognac easily. The cap of the bottle is a long screw cap featuring a red compression ring at the bottom, which is to make sure that the bottle is sealed properly after pouring.

The screw cap is round at the bottom and seals properly against the compression ring. The cap tapers to an eight-sided octagon at its top offering easy grip and the opening of the bottle. The cap is also manufactured so that it can hold a shot of the spirit and so can be used to measure the spirit while making cocktails when you do not see your jigger.

In the Glass

When the spirit is poured into the glass, you will find that it has a golden amber color. When it is twirled in the glass, you will find the spirit leaving trails of thick Cognac running down to the bottom of the glass. 

The initial aroma of the spirit will be a fruited mixture of apricot, green grape, and raisins that are melded into the scents of fine oak spices. You might also find a very gentle sweetness in the aroma that is represented by butterscotch and sweet grass.

The finish of the cognac is floral and exotic with impressions of lemongrass, camphor, and anise. There are also floral suggestions of lilac and blue iris. You will also notice a lingering menthol coolness complementing the tastes.

This Cognac boasts the perfect middle-ground between smoothness and structure. It is robust enough to stand up to other Cognacs. However, it is also light enough for all the delicate flavors to emerge when drinking.

Here is our Camus Cognac review. We hope you get to try the amazing product soon and learned something about the wonderful Cognac along the way!