The perfect cognac pairing with desserts & cheese

Like with any good wine, understanding the essentials of Martell cognac food pairing or cigar pairing can augment your tasting experience in delicious new ways. Whether with chocolate, main dishes, dessert or cigars, pairing with cognac can tickle your taste buds and stimulate your senses.

Cognac is a very versatile drink. It may be drunk neat, over ice or diluted with a little water. It can be mixed with quality mixers, such as soda or traditional lemonade to make a long drink, or used to make a cocktail. For a range of Martell cocktails to try, see our cocktails section.

Take a sip of the cognac, enough that you can slowly roll it over the tongue and the back of the mouth allowing it to coat all the key sensors on your tongue. Taste at the tip for sweetness, the back for bitterness and at the sides for saltiness and sourness. Keep the cognac in the mouth for about ten seconds to release as much of the flavour as possible.

Each Martell cognac has its specific flavour, style and character. That’s why cognac is one of the best gifts for someone who has everything. When it comes to choosing a cognac, the bottle you choose depends on you and how you want to enjoy it. The Martell Gift Ideas Matchmaker can help you choose a cognac as a gift or for yourself.

A cognac food pairing need not end once the main course is complete. In fact, cognac and cheese make for a famous combination.

For younger cognacs, such as Martell VS, look for double or triple cream cheeses. The generous fruit aromas of Martell VS marry well with a rich and creamy cheese such as the French Brillat-Savarin or Italian Gorgonzola.

More mature cognacs demand stronger cheeses that can temper the extra wood that results from ageing. With Martell VSOP, a matured cheddar or Roquefort cheese are hard to contest, while Martell Noblige marries well with a matured Gouda cheese or French Pont l’Eveque.

XO cognacs have even more complexity. Look for mature cheeses that can handle the cognac’s power. A mature camembert or emmental for example, an older cheddar, or even a sheep’s milk cheese such as Spanish Manchego.