Tulips beat balloons for Cognac

Experts have agreed that an elegant tulip glass, rather than the tradition brandy balloon, is the best vessel for tasting Cognac.

Judges at the second International Cognac Summit, including 50 top international sommeliers, Cognac experts and cellar masters from leading Cognac houses, were asked for their views on 10 different types of tasting glass.

According to the Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac, the tulip was the clear favourite.

"Not only was this shape found to be the most attractive, easy to hold and easiest for admiring colour, importantly, thanks to its wide bowl and narrow neck, it concentrates the Cognac's nose and allows the taster to really appreciate the subtlety and layers of aromatic complexity," it said.

"If you have ever wondered why you weren't picking up aromas of violet, apricot, almond, honey, cinnamon, leather and sandalwood, you just might have been using the wrong glass."

But fans of the traditional Cognac balloon glass need not throw away their stemware. Judges agreed it is an excellent glass for serving younger Cognacs over crushed ice.

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