Double Charentais Distillation: the Heart of Our Style

In Cognac, everything begins with a simple white wine—dry, taut, and bright. But it is in the still that the eau-de-vie is truly born. At Maison A. de Vacqueur, a large part of our signature comes from double Charentais distillation, the historic method that has shaped the elegance of Cognac for centuries.

A still designed for precision

The Charentais alembic is an instrument of patience. Its shape, copper, and volume allow for slow, steady heating and perfect control of aromas. Copper does more than conduct heat: it naturally captures certain heavy compounds from the wine and promotes a clean, luminous distillation, without harshness.

First heating: the brouillis

The first distillation transforms the wine into a cloudy spirit called brouillis, around 27–30% ABV. This step already concentrates the first aromatic markers: notes of grape, white flowers, and fresh fruit. The brouillis is the raw imprint of the terroir.

Second heating: the birth of the heart

The “bonne chauffe” determines the final quality. The distiller separates three fractions:

• the heads, too volatile and sharp

• the heart, noble, pure, balanced

• the seconds and tails, heavier and set aside

Only the heart is kept for ageing. This is where elegance is built: a clear, precise eau-de-vie with an intact aromatic expression.

Double distillation charentaise - la bonne chauffe

The importance of tempo

Charentais distillation is slow. This tempo lets aromas settle, organize, and gain finesse. The more controlled the heating, the more breadth, length, and that silky mouthfeel the future cognac will have—hallmarks of a great eau-de-vie.

Our house style

We seek eaux-de-vie that are straight, floral, and balanced, able to stand the test of time. Double distillation is the foundation of this ambition: it provides the purity required for long ageing and for the art of blending.

Maison A. de Vacqueur recommends

Tasting a VSOP is ideal for sensing the effect of distillation: the fruit remains lively, carried by a texture already mellowed by oak.