The Best XO Cognac: Hennessy, Rémy Martin, Martell and the Bottles to Gift Instead
XO is the cognac people buy when it has to be right: the boss's gift, the milestone birthday, the bottle that comes out after the holiday meal. The big three houses own the shelf, but XO is a legal age category, not a brand, and some of the best ones come from small family houses at half the price. Here is how we sort XO and the bottles above it at the counter.
In This Guide
Our Picks at a Glance
- Best XO cognac overall: Rémy Martin XO. Rich, round Fine Champagne cognac that pleases everyone.
- Best XO cognac for a gift: Martell Cordon Bleu. A classic since 1912, and instantly recognized.
- Best Hennessy for a gift: Hennessy XO, the house that coined the term. Also in a 375ml.
- Best XO cognac under $100: Tesseron Lot No. 90. Real XO depth at a value price.
- Best Grande Champagne XO for the money: Pasquinet XO. Top-cru cognac for under $100.
- Best XO cognac from a small house: Naud XO. A family cognac that drinks above its price.
- Best splurge cognac: Pierre Ferrand Sélection des Anges. Very old Grande Champagne, built to sip slowly.
- Best cognac older than XO: Naud Extra. The family's oldest reserves, at a fair price for the age.
The Best XO Cognac, Compared
Proof is the producer's published bottling strength. Price tiers reflect our current shelf price; the product page always has the exact number.
| Bottle | Style / Region | Proof | Flavor | Price tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rémy Martin XO | XO, Fine Champagne | 80 | Fig, candied orange, cinnamon | $150 to $250 | Everyone, celebrations |
| Martell Cordon Bleu | XO age, Borderies-led | 80 | Plum, violet, spice | $150 to $250 | Gift |
| Hennessy XO | XO, Cognac | 80 | Dark chocolate, dried fruit, pepper | $150 to $250 | Gift, bold style |
| Martell XO | XO, four crus | 80 | Spice, dried fruit, sandalwood | $250 and up | Big gift |
| Courvoisier XO | XO, four crus, Jarnac | 80 | Candied orange, crème brûlée | $150 to $250 | Dessert pairing |
| D'USSÉ XO | XO, Château de Cognac | 80 | Dried fruit, oak, spice | $150 to $250 | Gift |
| Tesseron Lot No. 90 | XO, family house | 80 | Dried fruit, walnut, polished oak | $75 to $100 | Value XO |
| Pasquinet XO | XO, Grande Champagne | 80 | Apricot, floral, light oak | $75 to $100 | Value, sipping |
| Godet XO Excellence | XO, La Rochelle | 80 | Dried fruit, honey, oak | $75 to $100 | Value gift |
| Naud XO | XO, family house | 80 | Raisin, vanilla, spice | $100 to $150 | Small-house gift |
| Naud Extra | Extra, oldest reserves | 84.6 | Rancio, dried fig, leather | $150 to $250 | Collector |
| Ferrand Sélection des Anges | Grande Champagne, very old | 83.6 | Honey, apricot, leather | $250 and up | Splurge, milestone |
What XO Means: The Age Rules
Every cognac is a blend, and the age category on the label is set by the youngest brandy in it. The rules come from the cognac appellation, so they mean the same thing on every bottle on a small family XO and a big-house decanter alike.
- VS: the youngest brandy is at least 2 years old.
- VSOP: at least 4 years.
- Napoléon: at least 6 years. It sits between VSOP and XO.
- XO: at least 10 years. The minimum was 6 years until the rules changed in 2018, which is why older guides give a different number.
- XXO: at least 14 years. A newer term you will see on a few bottles.
- Extra and Hors d'Âge: these sit in the same 10-year legal category as XO, but houses use them for their older, richer blends.
Those are minimums. Big houses blend in brandies far older than 10 years, and their product sheets often give a range. Rémy Martin XO is described as a blend of brandies aged roughly 10 to 37 years, and Martell Cordon Bleu as 10 to 25. That is why two XOs can taste very different even though they meet the same rule.
Best XO Cognac From the Big Houses
Hennessy, Rémy Martin, Martell and Courvoisier are the names most people know, and their XOs are the safest gifts in the store. Each has a distinct house style.
Our pick for best XO overall. Rémy uses only Grande and Petite Champagne fruit, the two top crus, and the XO is rich and velvety: fig, candied orange, cinnamon and a long, warm finish. It is the bottle that wins over people who think cognac is too harsh. Also in a 375ml for a smaller gift.
Martell is the oldest of the big houses, founded in 1715, and Cordon Bleu has been its flagship for over a century. It leans on the Borderies cru, which gives a signature violet and plum character with a spicy finish. Cognac lovers recognize the bottle on sight, which is half of what makes it a great gift.
The original. Maurice Hennessy created the X.O. designation in 1870, and the house style is still the boldest of the big names: dark chocolate, dried fruit, black pepper and plenty of oak. The 375ml is the same cognac in a smaller decanter.
A step up from Cordon Bleu in Martell's range. It blends four crus, Borderies, Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne and Fins Bois, into a spicier, more layered cognac. For the person who already has Cordon Bleu on the shelf.
The dessert XO. Courvoisier blends four crus into a rich, sweet-leaning style with candied orange and crème brûlée notes. Pour it with dark chocolate or a slice of pecan pie after a holiday dinner.
Made at the Château de Cognac, the historic home of the Baron Otard house. Dried fruit, oak and baking spice in a bold, modern bottle. A popular pick for someone who already drinks D'USSÉ VSOP.
Best XO Cognac Under $100
You do not have to spend $200 to get a real XO. The 10-year rule applies to every bottle, and these houses meet it without paying for a famous name.
Tesseron is a family house known for its stocks of old cognac, and Lot 90 is its entry XO. Dried fruit, walnut and polished oak at roughly half the price of the big-house XOs. The best value in this guide, and the bottle we hand to people who want to taste what XO really is.
All Grande Champagne, the top cru, aged at least ten years in French oak. Lighter and more floral than the big-house XOs, with apricot and a clean, elegant finish. Hard to beat for a sipping XO at this price.
From a family house based in the port of La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast. Dried fruit, honey and gentle oak. A smart gift for someone who likes cognac but doesn't need the famous label.
Best XO From Family Houses
Small cognac houses often grow, distill and age their own brandy, and their XOs show more personality than the big blends. These are the bottles we pour for people who already know the famous names.
A family distillery drawing on its own barrel reserves. Raisin, vanilla and warm spice with a soft, round texture. It drinks like a much more expensive bottle, and it's a gift that starts a conversation.
An unusual XO that blends brandy from all six cognac crus, from Grande Champagne out to Bois Ordinaires, to show the whole region in one glass. A great bottle for the cognac nerd who likes to compare.
Beyond XO: Extra and Prestige Cognac
Above XO, houses release older blends under names like Extra, Hors d'Âge and their own prestige labels. The legal minimum doesn't change, but the brandies inside are usually decades old. Expect more rancio, the savory, nutty, mushroom-like note that only long aging brings.
Our splurge pick. A blend of Grande Champagne brandies averaging about 30 years old. Honey, dried apricot, leather and a finish that keeps going. For the milestone birthday or the person who owns every famous XO.
The top of Naud's range, blended from the oldest brandies in the family cellars and bottled a little stronger than most. Dried fig, rancio and leather. Priced like a big-house XO, with the age of a prestige cognac.
The most famous prestige cognac in the world, in a miniature crystal decanter. A blend of up to 1,200 Grande Champagne brandies aged 40 to 100 years. A single pour for a once-in-a-lifetime toast, without buying the full bottle.
How to Pick an XO as a Gift
Do they already drink cognac?
If yes, skip the brand they already own and give them something new: Martell XO for a Cordon Bleu drinker, Naud or Tesseron for someone who knows the big three. If not, Rémy Martin XO is the easiest bottle to love.
Do they like bold or elegant?
Bourbon drinkers who like big oak usually love Hennessy XO. Wine drinkers and people who like floral, delicate flavors tend to prefer Fine Champagne and Grande Champagne cognacs like Rémy Martin XO or Pasquinet.
How much should you spend?
Under $100 still buys a true XO. The $150 to $250 range covers the famous names. Above that, you are paying for older blends and prestige bottles. For more high-end ideas across every spirit, see our guide to the best luxury bottles to gift.
How to Drink XO Cognac
- Neat: one to two ounces in a tulip glass or snifter at room temperature. Let it sit for five minutes before the first sip.
- A drop of water: a few drops can open up the aroma, especially in higher-proof bottles like Sélection des Anges.
- With dessert: dark chocolate, pecan pie, aged cheese or a cigar.
- Skip the cocktail: XO is made to sip. For a Sidecar or a highball, use VS or VSOP. Our complete cognac guide has our picks for each grade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best XO cognac?
Rémy Martin XO is the best all-around XO for most people. For a classic gift, Martell Cordon Bleu. For value, Tesseron Lot No. 90 or Pasquinet XO.
How old is XO cognac?
The youngest brandy in an XO must be at least 10 years old. That minimum rose from 6 years in 2018. Most XOs also contain much older brandies.
Is Hennessy XO or Rémy Martin XO better?
It depends on taste. Hennessy XO is bolder, darker and oakier. Rémy Martin XO is rounder and fruitier, with a Fine Champagne elegance. Bourbon drinkers often prefer Hennessy; wine drinkers often prefer Rémy.
What is the difference between XO and VSOP?
Age. VSOP requires at least 4 years for the youngest brandy, XO at least 10. XO is richer, deeper and made for sipping; VSOP is better for everyday drinking and cocktails.
What is the difference between XO and Extra cognac?
Legally, both require a minimum of 10 years. In practice, houses use Extra for older, more concentrated blends that sit above their XO.
What is a good XO cognac under $100?
Tesseron Lot No. 90, Pasquinet XO and Godet XO Excellence are all true XOs priced under $100.
Does XO cognac go bad once opened?
No. Cognac doesn't age in the bottle and stays good for years if sealed and stored upright away from heat and light. A half-empty bottle slowly loses aroma, so enjoy it within a year or two.
Shop XO Cognac at The Liquor Barn
The big-house XOs, the family bottles that beat their price, and the prestige cognac above them. Ships nationwide. Family-owned since 1982.
Shop XO Cognac All Cognac Holiday GiftsThe Liquor Barn operates three retail locations in Vernon Hills, Wheeling, and Niles, Illinois. We are a licensed Illinois retailer and ship to states where direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping is permitted. Prices and availability change; the product page always has the current price. Questions about shipping to your state? Contact us here. Please drink responsibly.
