Cognac - use all at once or re-seal bottle OK?
 

I picked up a bottle of cognac XO the other night but as a relatively new person to finer liquors (I've traditionally been a beer/wine kind of guy) I'm not sure if it's like a wine or a liquor. Should I wait for an occasion where I can serve it and use the entire contents in a single evening or maybe over the course of a day or two, or is it okay to open, enjoy a little and then re-seal the bottle for another month or two until the fancy hits me again?

Just curious - like I said, I'm new to this stuff. I like it, but being that it's expensive, I don't want to waste it either.

Cognac is a regional brand of Brandy from a certain area of France. Yeah it can be recorked and kept for years.

Yes, for years and years. Does not get any worse than when you open it in the first place. ;)

Re-cork is OK. :cool:

I think you need to invite us over to help polish that bottle off before it turns to balsamic vinegar. What the hell were you thinking!!! Oh, and Scottmandue will bring the cigars.

Sure!

Southern CA "Cognac, Coffee & Cars Club?" :)

Probably not in that order though.

And generally not the best idea to mix such beverages with automobiles, but I think in general we're a responsible group here - at least insofar as that. Maybe an occasional GTG to enjoy a couple of spirits and a little wrenching or something.

Might be on to something there!

Pelicans always welcome here.

EDIT:

Hmmm. . . Thinking about this more: "Cognac, Cigars, Conversation, Coffee & Cars Club". :)

Glad you added the cigars part.

Lawnchairs, and a nice view at sunset also goes well with those things too :) When's the party?

Its true- it will go bad unless you invite over some people to help you finish it on the double...

Curious which brand.

I prefer Martell, and these days only drink XO. Not that I drink it very often. I use VS for cooking.

When you compare a bottle of Cognac in price to wine by servings, it is much easier to justify the cost of XO.

Sometimes the cork flies out the window when you have to use one hand to shift and steer with your knees. Then, you have no choice but to finish it off!!!!!!!!!

Anything less than XO (or something of equal quality) is undrinkable.
And that would sure be a trick to finish off a bottle in one sitting !
Go ahead and cork it.

Like all liquor, the cap/cork should always go directly into the trash upon opening.
There should never be any doubt about finishing it.

EDIT: I just saw that "something of equal quality" part. There are brands that label their Cognac XO or VSOP, but at $15/bottle its not the same as Remy XO.

Different brands have different designations. Depending on the brand, a VS can be as good as an XO, and a VSOP even better.

I say test a bunch and drink what you like.

BTW: If you like the Cognac, try Armagnac too. There are lots of different brands and it has a slight different character.

Good luck!

.ps I think I might pour me a snifter now that I think of it! :D

VT (very true)

Also there are some EXCELLENT Spanish brandy's - they tend to be less expensive and due to the solera process and sherry casks used to create them even the lesser designations are sweeter and more mellow than Cognacs or Armagnacs.

I received a bottle of Leopold Gourmel (Cognac) for Christmas.
Compared to the Martell XO (Supreme) I had been drinking it seemed a bit thin and harsh - but I came quickly to appreciate it's light floral qualities. Bottle is down to one more drink.

ps I think if it wasn't 9:30 am I would finish her off.

Can rember my dad saying GI's in the ETO would use cognac as an ersatz lighter fluid, maybe produced a blue flame but I have none at present to find out.
Jim

Thats why they use it for "flambees"
and actually, that's all the cheap stuff is good for (lighter fluid).

after the Armagnac, we'll get you onto fine whiskeys and ports, and of course cuban cigars. slipery slope indeed.

and then (according to another thread ) - Proust
But we know that is nonsense - I am reading not Proust but the new Pevear/Volokhonsky translation of War and Peace.

The stuff I got was Hennessy. XO was about $120 a bottle, I also got a bottle of the VS at about $50 (not cheap in either case). The XO is officially to keep for a long time (I won't open it) but I may sample some of the VS later today.

Bah - go Hemingway. He's easier to read, but harder to understand. AND he drank like a fish, fished like a drunk, chased women, and smoked cigars.

He supposedly said: "There are but three true sports--bullfighting, mountain climbing, and motor-racing. The rest are merely games."

Shutup you guys!

Oh yeah Jeff it goes bad but fortunately it is perfectly proportioned for two people so just let me know when to come over. :D

Reminds me of the time two old high school buds planed on coming over to my place and one showed up with twelve year old bottle of Irish whiskey fully intending to serve us a few drinks and take the remainder home with him.

One of they guys was delayed and by the time he showed up there was only half a glass of the stuff left. :cool:

Buncha' drunks on here. I love it! :)

Well, I guess a quality bottle of scotch is the next thing for the bar then. Any suggestions?

for Irish, Midleton Rare.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_whiskey

for scotch, well more than anyone could possibly list as they go from light to heavy peat flavored
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_whisky


I like Glenmorangie port wood finish or Ardberg for the heavy peat flavor

He also said the two writers he couldn't knock out were Willy Shakespeare and Lev Tolstoy.
I'm sure he would have loved to knock back a bottle or two of fine cognac with either one of them.

Hennessy is good - That's what Winston Churchill drank.

Don't get me started on Scotch !