10 Best XO Cognac Brands July 2015

#1 of 10 Best XO Cognac Labels of 2015 - Hennessy XO has an amber color and comes in a bottle that has floral etchings on the glass. The beverage comes from a region in France and has an alcohol content by volume of 40%. It has been aged for about 30 years in order to give an intense flavor. There are light spices when opening the bottle. When tasting the cognac, there is a sweetness that has a pleasant finish. Hints of vanilla and flowers come through when tasting the drink. This allows for a delicious beverage that is ideal for enjoying with dessert after a meal or with a cigar.

#2 of 10 Top XO Cognac Labels of 2015 - The "XO" that adorns every bottle of Majesté XO Cognac stands for "Extra Old," and in this case, that designation is a good thing. This type of cognac contains a blend of spirits from multiple casks. Those casks have been closed and placed in a cellar for at least six years. Some of the liquid within Majesté XO's bottles comes from casks that were originally filled in the previous century. When you add up all of those facts, you get a cognac made for gentile times and marking significant occasions. Do so with a responsible mind and heart.

#3 of 10 Leading XO Cognac Labels of 2015 - Rémy Martin was a French winemaker who established his cognac distillery in 1724. His cognac house goes strong today. Rémy Martin XO Excellence Cognac is one of the finer offerings in the brand's range. Bottles of this cognac that carries the "extra old" designation must contain no spirits aged less than six years. In fact, some of the contents will have been aged more than 20 years. This range of cognac ages imbues a robust flavor into this cognac blend that makes for an interesting after-dinner partner. "Dance" responsibly with this partner.

#4 of 10 Best XO Cognac Labels of 2015 - To some, XO means a kiss and a hug, and this cognac is both. It is full-flavored but not to the point that the flavor is overpowering; rather, it leaves the taste of warmth in one's mouth. At once mellow and spicy, this is the sort of cognac one falls in love with; with every sip, it gets better. Considering it started out as fantastic, it is nothing short of miraculous that this beautiful elixir is capable of improving on perfection.

#5 of 10 Top XO Cognac Labels of 2015 - When you find a bottle of Courvoisier Cognac XO, grab it, and save it for a celebration. This is a great "friend" for holiday parties, and the "XO" in its name designates that the contents in the bottle have been around the block a couple of times and are better off because of it. Courvoisier is a name that says "cognac" to every person who knows the name. People will see it on your shelf and be jealous, but save your Courvoisier Cognac XO only for your real friends. When it is time to "pass the Courvoisier," pass it responsibly.

#6 of 10 Leading XO Cognac Labels of 2015 - While Albert Camus was an absurdist author, it would not be absurd to possess a bottle of Camus Cognac XO Borderies. This is actually the best bottle in many people's liquor cabinets. The "XO" in the name of this product means that Camus Cognac XO Borderies is an "Extra Old" cognac, and it contains a blend of spirits that have aged in oak barrels for no less than six years. Liquids in this blend will have aged as much as multiple decades. In short, this is no "everyday" cognac. Pour it sparingly, and drink it responsibly.

#7 of 10 Top XO Cognac Labels of 2015 - Meukow XO Extra Old Cognac comes in a bottle with an in-action cat upon it. The contents of a bottle of this special blend taste so good they might make your heart jump the way encountering a big cat would. The Meukow House of Cognac produces a refined range of cognacs. This one features a blend of spirits that have aged on oak casks at least six years and often many more. Given this product's price range, you would not want to serve it at a run-of-the-mill party. Save it, and savor it, and do that responsibly.

#8 of 10 Best XO Cognac Labels of 2015 - Louis Royer Cognac XO comprises a beautiful blend of the world's most revered eaux-de-vie from the famed Louis Royer cognac house. With a five-generation history of cognac making that begins in 1853, the family of Louis Royer continues to create flavorful beverages that are worthy of royalty. The gleaming gold color of Cognac Louis Royer pleases the eye as much as the nose and tongue. Its subtle virility owes to being carefully crafted of elements that are at least six, but closer to 20, years old. In the world of French brandy, it doesn't get any better than this. Brandy houses began using the term XO to mean “extra old” in 1870. French brandies can be pricey, so look for the bee emblem on the label, to be sure you're getting the original Louis Royer XO cognac. Anyone looking for a superior cognac from the banks of France's Charente River will find precisely what they want in this extraordinary beverage.

#9 of 10 Best XO Cognac Labels of 2015 - Every bottle of Maxime Trijol XO contains a blend of this French style of brandy that has "put time" into aging and maturing. In fact, everything that goes into Maxime Trijol XO is at least several years old. Much of the contents have aged more than ten years. Maxime Trijol XO is meant for moments you want to savor. Pair it with a toast and an optional cigar. This cognac makes big moments and quality memories. Keep it out of the reach of obnoxious people, and always be reasonable when enjoying it.

#10 of 10 Best XO Cognac Labels of 2015 - The Leyrat brand has been on cognacs for generations. Those who blend Leyrat's cognac products put a complex combination into every bottle of XO Vieille Reserve. Any bottle with "XO" on the label is no "regular" cognac. This type of cognac is "extra old," and it is not meant for bashes, "ragers" or any other average party. Its contents have been aged at least six years and probably longer. Save this adult beverage for truly adult celebrations, like getting married or earning a doctoral degree. When you do "break out" your bottle of Leyrat Cognac XO Vieille Reserve, be responsible.