What is Eaux-de-Vie, The “Water of Life?” It is The Essence of Cognac

The BNIC provides the following regarding distillation of eau-de-vie:

“Alcohol is a product of the fermentation of sugars, found in its natural form in fruit as fructose and glucose. Alcohol is also associated to many other components and must therefore be isolated from them. This operation is performed by distillation. The principle of distillation is based on the volatility differences of these components. In a distilled eau-de-vie we only find those volatile substances that make up the main features of the bouquet.”