Varietal: If and when a Cognac or Armagnac is made with just one grape, it may be named after that grape varietal or include the varietal on the label. X.O. (Extra Old): It’s fun that X.O. actually just means “extra old,” because that just seems like some straight-up street terminology. The “extra” here means at least 6 years old, though starting in April 2016 the new minimum will be 10 years old. (See, it’s a bit confusing.) You’ve seen them—letters like V.S., A.C., X.O. (where it does not mean “Hug, full stop, Kiss, full stop”). So what does it all mean? Before you try to rearrange the letters like some kind of Sunday jumble, just remember this: all the letters on any bottle of Cognac or Armagnac you’ll see refer to one thing: aging.

V.S.O.P.(Very Special/Superior Old Pale): Means the youngest Cognac in the blend must be at least 4 years old or, for Armagnac, 5 years old (though often it’s much older); “old pale” comes from the use of caramel coloring, which can be used to color-correct, but in “Old Pale” should be omitted. Vintage: Much more common in Armagnac, when a particular year’s harvest is all that’s gone into the bottle. Cognacs are much more often blended, hence all the different terminology to indicate the age of the youngest eau de vie in the bottle. Vintage Armagnacs carry a hefty price tag. Napoleon: Apparently a favorite of Napoleon, otherwise it just designated a Cognac that’s 4 years old or an Armagnac that’s at least 6 years old.While cognac is a type of brandy, to earn the designation, the spirit must meet certain specific criteria. Named for the region where it's produced (just like champagne) cognac must be made in the state of Charente in the Cognac region of France, and be made from white grapes from one of six different terroirs; the Ugni Blanc grape variety is its primary ingredient, and grapes from " Grande Champagne" terroir are the most coveted. Rodell Napoleon is marked as a VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) but as its namesake suggests, the brandy is Napoleon grade, meaning the youngest contribution of the final product is aged somewhere in between the VSOP and XO minimum maturation requirements of four to six years. 3. How much is a bottle of Napoleon brandy? V.S. (Very Special): AKA “three stars,” means the youngest Cognac or Armagnac in the blend must be a minimum 2 years old. Victor Hugo called cognac the "liquor of the gods." It's become known as a symbol of French luxury, the best brandy money can buy—because, yes, cognac is a brandy. But just as not all wine is champagne, there are plenty of details that set cognac apart from other types of brandy. Still confused? Don't worry, here's everything you need to know about the difference between brandy and cognac—and how best to enjoy each of them. What is brandy?