What Are Napoleon Cognacs?

Napoleon Cognacs are a type of aged Cognac which has been aged for a minimum of 10 years. It is not an official designation as XO. The name “Napoleon” comes from a historical anecdote, which suggests that the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, a great lover of Cognac, preferred the taste of Cognacs that had been aged for a longer period of time. While there is no historical evidence to support this claim, the name has since stuck, and Napoleon Cognacs are now known for their rich, complex flavors and smooth, velvety texture. In general, Napoleon Cognacs tend to be more expensive than younger Cognacs, due to their extended aging process and the higher quality of the grapes used to produce them.

Courvoisier is one of the oldest Cognac houses and has always been known for its high-quality Cognacs. So it’s no surprise that it was chosen by Napoleon Bonaparte himself as his preferred Cognac. Legend has it that Napoleon visited the Courvoisier cognac warehouses and was so impressed with the quality of the Cognac that he appointed Courvoisier as the official supplier to his court.

To this day, Courvoisier remains closely associated with Napoleon Cognacs, and its expression is often referred to as “The Cognac of Napoleon” even on bottles of VS and VSOP that are not truly “Napoleon Cognacs.”