The French brandy from the Charente region produced by double distillation is Cognac.
Cognac is made from wine produced in the legally defined Cognac region, which covers parts of Charente and Charente-Maritime. Ugni blanc is the principal grape, valued for producing a light, acidic wine that distills and ages well.
The wine is distilled twice in traditional copper Charentais pot stills. The resulting eau-de-vie is then aged in French oak for at least two years before it can legally be sold as Cognac. Aging develops flavors such as dried fruit, vanilla, spice, caramel, and nuts.
Cognac is often confused with Armagnac, another protected French brandy. Armagnac generally comes from Gascony and is traditionally associated with continuous column distillation, although production methods can vary. Pastis is an anise-flavored aperitif, while Calvados is an apple or pear brandy from Normandy.