Courvoisier
Courvoisier is a cognac house from Jarnac, on the Charente River. The brand is known for its connection with Napoleon and for fruity, smooth cognac. Here you can read what VS, VSOP and XO mean, what Courvoisier tastes like and which glass goes with it.
Cognac from the banks of the Charente
Cognac is brandy from a defined area around the town of Cognac, in western France. It is made from white wine, distilled twice in copper stills and then aged for years in oak barrels. Courvoisier began as a wine and spirits merchant in Bercy, near Paris, and moved in the nineteenth century to Jarnac on the Charente. The house's cellars are still there. Since 2024, Courvoisier has been part of the Italian Campari Group.
The bottle bears Napoleon's silhouette. According to the house, Napoleon visited the storage facility in Bercy in 1811, and in 1869 Courvoisier became an official supplier to his nephew, Emperor Napoleon III. Courvoisier makes blends: cognac of different ages and from different parts of the region, the crus. Fins Bois provides fruit and floral notes, while Grande and Petite Champagne provide balance and finesse. This has nothing to do with Champagne the wine: it is the name of the cru.
In brief
VS, VSOP and XO: what is the difference?
Gall & Gall sells Courvoisier's three standard cognacs. The letters on the bottle indicate how long the youngest cognac in the blend has been aged, at minimum.
Courvoisier VS
Very Special: a blend of younger and older cognac, mainly from Fins Bois and Petite Champagne. Fruity, fresh and smooth.
Courvoisier VSOP
Very Superior Old Pale: Grande and Petite Champagne for balance, Fins Bois for floral and fruity notes. Rounder and softer than the VS.
Courvoisier XO
Extra Old: a complex blend of cognacs aged in wood for a long time. Full and round, with dried fruit, vanilla, and a long finish.
How is cognac made, and what do the crus mean? Read about it on our cognac page.
Fruity and floral, with vanilla and wood
Fruit & flowers
Ripe fruit and flowers, with vanilla from the oak. The XO smells deeper, with dried fruit and wood.
Smooth and round
The VS is fresh and fruity, the VSOP rounder and smoother, and the XO full and complex, with dried fruit and spices.
Warm
Medium-length for the VS, long and warming for the XO, with wood and a gently sweet edge.
Flavor profile of Courvoisier VSOP. The VS is fresher and lighter, while the XO is fuller and woodier.
Three ways to drink Courvoisier
A young cognac is ideal for mixing, while an older one is best enjoyed neat.
Neat, from a cognac glass
Pour 3 to 4 cl at room temperature. Let the glass stand for a moment and warm it in your hand so the aromas are released. Best enjoyed with VSOP and XO.
Glass: cognac glass →With ginger ale or tonic
Add ice to a highball glass, pour in 4 cl of Courvoisier VS, and top up with ginger ale or tonic. A slice of orange completes it.
About ginger ale →In a classic cocktail
Cognac is the base of classics such as the Sidecar, the Brandy Alexander, and the Vieux Carré. Use VS or VSOP for these.
Sidecar recipe →Cocktails with Courvoisier
Cognac brings warmth and fruit to a cocktail. Start with these recipes.
French 75
Champagne, lemon, and sugar syrup. Make it with cognac instead of gin for a fuller, warmer version.
Cognac Old Fashioned
Cognac, a little sugar, bitters, and orange peel. Smooth and warming.
Hot Toddy
Hot water, honey, lemon, and cognac. For cold evenings.
Cognac Mule
A Moscow Mule with cognac instead of vodka: lime, ginger beer, and plenty of ice.The right glass for Courvoisier
A cognac glass or tulip-shaped tasting glass holds in the aroma. For cognac on ice, use a tumbler. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you still wanted to know about Courvoisier
Can't find your question here? Read more about cognac or check out our cocktail recipes.
To cognac →What is Courvoisier?
What is the difference between Courvoisier VS, VSOP and XO?
How much alcohol is in Courvoisier?
What does Courvoisier have to do with Napoleon?
How do you drink Courvoisier?
Which glass do you use for cognac?
Buy Courvoisier
Want the bottle at home right away? Order Courvoisier online from Gall & Gall.
Prices as of October 9, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can find the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; you pay nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.