It is more Cognac than VSOP (VSOP is a quality label I think? I’m no expert).
The rest of the list on the website show a bit more on their catalogue
Armagnac – Similar to Cognac, but produced in the Gascony region of southwest France, and known for its more rustic and robust flavor profile.
Chartreuse – A herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks in the French Alps, with a complex blend of 130 different herbs and spices, and often used in cocktails or enjoyed as a digestif.
Calvados – An apple brandy from the Normandy region, made from fermented apple cider and aged in oak barrels, and known for its fruity and aromatic flavor profile.
Absinthe – A highly alcoholic and anise-flavored spirit, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and often associated with the bohemian culture of Paris, and now making a comeback among cocktail enthusiasts.
All of them are good, I find Chartreuse to be the most unique, you really taste there is a bunch of herbs in there.
V.O. (Very Old): Meaning the whole thing’s been aged a minimum of 4 years.
V.S. (Very Special): AKA “three stars,” means the youngest Cognac or Armagnac in the blend must be a minimum 2 years old.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
Hors d’Age (“Of the Ages”): Literally a way to say “this Cognac is so old, it’d be impolite to ask.” Fair warning, Cognac and Armagnac can lose their lustre after too much aging (some say around 35 years, but Tres Vieille Cognac can be 50 years old), so do some research before any big purchases.
Cru: Not a statement of age, but place, basically the growing region, which you’ll see more often on Cognac (which has six official growing regions).
Are people in France actually drinking VSOP regularly enough for it to be that ubiquitous?
It is more Cognac than VSOP (VSOP is a quality label I think? I’m no expert).
The rest of the list on the website show a bit more on their catalogue
All of them are good, I find Chartreuse to be the most unique, you really taste there is a bunch of herbs in there.
Designations are:
Thank you for the detailed answer!
Mostly copy and pasted, but in my defense there’s a lot to type out from memory :)
I think a bottle of Pastis / Ricard would me more realistic
I was expecting pastis too, I’m surprised it’s not mentioned, especially as the website is made by a French person (or at least has a French version)
Agreed