CAMUS Cognacs Review

I’ve always had a place in the heart of my tastebuds for flavor that is uniquely French because Cognac was among the first spirits that ever hit my old enough to drink lips in France. At BourbonBlog.com, we are especially impressed with the CAMUS Cognac.

There are four CAMUS Cognacs in their “Elegance” range in the U.S. which include VS, VSOP, and XO expressions AND a single vineyard cognac, Borderies XO. The flavor of these cognacs are just that..elegant! We are reviewing three of them for you below.

The signature style of all of these CAMUS Cognacs is lightly oaked flavor, which are therefore not ovely aggressive on the palate. Therefore, these all have lower sugar content (as sugar is often used to balance out the aggressiveness of oak). All are 80 proof (40% ALC/VOL)…

CAMUS VS Elegance Cognac

Light nose of apple, a tinge of cinnamon plus apple and butterscotch in the taste, this is a smooth, approachable and Cognac. Playful, bright and straight forward with a soft vanilla finish. For the price of around $25 as an entry level VS (meaning it must be aged for a minimum of 2 years) this cannot beat.

CAMUS VSOP Elegance Cognac

Taking it up a notch to the VSOP (Very Special Old Pale; stored an average of 4 years, but the average wood is much older) and this ones presents a greater degree of depth and spice.  The VSOP would be delicious in cocktails, such as a Sidecar.

Fuller with hints of baking spices, well-balanced fruits and floral with a boldly mellow flavor. A sweet pastry finish, and I promise it isn’t just because it is French that we’re tasting this. Approximately $45 a bottle.

CAMUS Borderies XO

This one is very special, as CAMUS is the only house that makes a single-vineyard cognac and this is all from their own vineyards, in the Borderies district of Cognac.

As you are welcomed to the exquisite experience of the smallest and rarest of all Cognac growth, prepare for a powerfully rich flavor that enters like no other Cognac we’ve ever tasted. Delicate floral nose of violets. Flavor is seriously refined, layered with a buttery hazelnut smoothness, undertones of  rich dried fruit. Silky mouthfeel.

Approximately $140 a bottle