Cognac XO to be at least ten years old

he Cognac marketing board (BNIC) decided in 2011 to change regulations for XO Cognacs. As of April 1st 2018, all bottles marketed as XO blends must be at least ten years old and not six years as is currently the case. The decision was prompted by a desire to comply with the reality of the marketplace – many companies already mature their blends for ten years.

Firms that fail to switch over to the new rules by April 1st are given some leeway to comply. Cognac XO brandies taken from 6, 7, 8 and 9 age counts that have already been bottled (irrespective of whether they have been labelled) by March 31, 2018 will be given extra time. The bottles can be marketed for two years, until March 31, 2019, providing an inventory declaration has been forwarded to the Cognac marketing board by March 1, 2018.