Understanding Charente-style distillation: the heart of cognac-making expertise

How does Charente-style distillation work? Discover all the stages of cognac production: copper stills, the ‘brouillis’, the ‘bonne chauffe’, the ‘cœur de chauffe’ and ageing.

The Charentais distillation is one of the most iconic and demanding processes in the world of spirits. Exclusively used for the production of cognac, it is based on a slow double distillation in copper pot stills, producing an eau-de-vie of exceptional finesse.

This unique process, protected by the Cognac Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC), lies at the heart of cognac’s quality and worldwide reputation.

Also discover: how cognac is made

The Charentais pot still: the central tool of cognac distillation

1. What is Charentais distillation? Complete definition

Charentais distillation is a batch distillation method carried out exclusively in the Charente and Charente-Maritime regions. It consists of heating a dry white wine made from Ugni Blanc grapes in order to extract its aromatic and alcoholic compounds.

Unlike continuous industrial distillation, this process is slow, manual, and extremely controlled.

Related products: our eaux-de-vie produced through Charentais distillation

First step of distillation: heating the wine

2. The fundamental principle: double Charentais distillation

The uniqueness of cognac lies in its mandatory double distillation.

First distillation: the brouillis

The wine is heated in the still until a cloudy liquid called brouillis is obtained, reaching around 28 to 32% alcohol.

This step concentrates the aromatic compounds while removing part of the water.

Second distillation: the bonne chauffe

The brouillis is distilled again to obtain the heart cut, the only fraction kept for aging.

• The “heads” (volatile impurities) are discarded
• The “heart” is preserved (optimal quality)
• The “tails” are removed or redistilled

Related article: complete cognac production process

Slow and precise operation of the Charentais still

3. The Charentais still: a unique tool in the world

The Charentais still is made of solid copper, an essential material that plays an important chemical role during distillation.

Copper helps:

• eliminate sulfur compounds
• purify vapors
• improve aromatic finesse

Each distillation lasts several hours and requires constant supervision by the master distiller.

Discover our premium cognacs: XO cognacs with long aging

Distillation in the Charente region

4. A method strictly regulated by the Cognac AOC

Charentais distillation is governed by a very strict set of specifications defined by the Cognac Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée.

• Distillation must take place in Charente
• Limited distillation period (November to March)
• Copper stills are mandatory
• Double distillation is required

These regulations guarantee consistent quality and a unique aromatic identity.

Also read: the role of terroir in cognac

5. The crucial role of the master distiller

The master distiller plays a key role in the final quality of cognac. They decide the separation between heads, heart, and tails, and adjust the heating parameters.

Their expertise directly influences the aging potential of the eau-de-vie.

6. From the heart cut to aging in oak barrels

Once distillation is complete, the heart cut is transferred into French oak barrels.

This is where the slow transformation of cognac begins:

• Progressive oxidation
• Extraction of tannins from the wood
• Development of vanilla and woody aromas

Additional reading: aging in oak barrels

7. Why is Charentais distillation unique in the world?

No other spirit in the world uses exactly this process of slow double distillation in copper pot stills.

It gives cognac:

• great aromatic finesse
• exceptional aging potential
• unique complexity after many years in oak barrels

8. Our cognacs produced through Charentais distillation

Discover our selection of cognacs crafted according to this traditional method:

• VSOP Cognac – balance and freshness
• Premium XO Cognac – great complexity
• Extra Cognac – long aging

Full collection: Cognac Only collection

FAQ – Charentais distillation

Why is distillation done in two stages?

To purify the eau-de-vie and concentrate only the noble aromas.

Why is copper used?

Copper removes unwanted compounds and improves aromatic finesse.

When does distillation take place?

Between November and March, after wine fermentation.

Discover all our articles: Cognac Only blog

Cognac Only – expert in cognac and Charentais distillation.