Cognac

Cognac is such prestigious liquor that it must only be produced in the region of France for which it is named. In addition to that, all cognac must be ninety percent comprised of three different types of grapes that are found in that region – Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, and Colombard grapes. There is a list of criteria, including these two that the cognac must meet before it is then turned over to the Bureau National Interprofessionel du Cognac (BNIC) when they will determine if the liquor can truly be called a cognac. All of this criteria makes cognac a very expensive liquor but there is one that tops them all.

The most expensive cognac is Henri IV Dudognon Heritage and it is named after a French king. This king’s family has been making the cognac since 1776. The wine is placed in barrels where it will age for one hundred years. These barrels need to be air dried for five years before any cognac can be placed into them. The cognac that comes out of the barrels after one-hundred-and-five years is 41% alcohol, making it 82 proof.

The bottle in which the cognac is placed also contributes to it being the most expensive cognac in the world. The bottle is dipped in twenty-four karat gold and sterling platinum before being decorated with 6,500 brilliant cut diamonds. The total cost for this fine bottle of cognac?

$2 million USD.