# V.S.O.P. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 29, 2009, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645 "2009-07-29T06:07:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645/1 "2009-07-29T06:07:39Z")
GRRRRRRR!!! Okay, too angry and mobile to decide which forum this goes in. The trivia question that got us on round three: In accordance with congac, V.S.O.P. stands for what? We put Very Special Old Pale. The answer was Very Superior Old Pale and we lost many points. On research, I find [dicionary.com](http://dicionary.com) says BOTH are acceptable and so does Kim Jong Il’s favorite website, [hennessy.com](http://hennessy.com) Which is really correct, or can it be both?? Please help us on this, Dopers. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645/2 "2009-07-29T06:26:00Z")
Well, I don’t think you’ll get any more “official” answer than the one at [hennessy.com](http://hennessy.com), right? Joe ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645/3 "2009-07-29T06:31:35Z")
Wikipedia says that either is fine, but Special is more common. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645/4 "2009-07-29T08:09:04Z")
I’d’ve said “…Superior…”, tho’ I forget where I got it from. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645/5 "2009-07-29T10:26:11Z")
I’ve also always known it as very superior old pale. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645/6 "2009-07-29T14:46:19Z")
I have a bottle on my shelf that explicitly states, “Very Special Old Pale”. Don’t know the brand, but I can look when I get home. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645/7 "2009-07-29T15:51:54Z")
Many years back when I worked in a liquor store, there was no question but that it stood for “special.” ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645/8 "2009-07-29T16:44:07Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Wikipedia says that either is fine, but Special is more common. And in this case, Wikipedia is wrong. Very Special Old Pale is not an official aging designation recognized by the [BNIC](http://www.cognac.fr/cognac/_en/4_pro/index.aspx?page=faq). Very Superior Old Pale is the official designation meaning the youngest blend in the Cognac has been aged at least 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645/9 "2009-07-30T02:12:35Z")
> [@psycat90](#): > > And in this case, Wikipedia is wrong. Very Special Old Pale is not an official aging designation recognized by the [BNIC](http://www.cognac.fr/cognac/_en/4_pro/index.aspx?page=faq). > > Very Superior Old Pale is the official designation meaning the youngest blend in the Cognac has been aged at least 4 years. Ah, now I see. The question could have been worded differently, maybe mentioning the BNIC. Guess you can tell I’m a vodka drinker. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645/10 "2009-07-30T03:06:16Z")
Who cares what it means? Let’s crack out the snifters and enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645/11 "2009-07-30T03:13:56Z")
I’ve only got XO. Can I play? It’s XO from Azerbaijan - wish me luck ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645/12 "2009-07-30T15:47:35Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Ah, now I see. The question could have been worded differently, maybe mentioning the BNIC. > > Guess you can tell I’m a vodka drinker. 😃 Heh. I don’t think the question need mention the BNIC, I think the ‘in accordance with cognac’ was enough. Cognac production and marketing is governed by French law, the BNIC is just the private association that ensures standards are met. ---
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645/13 "2009-07-30T17:26:37Z")
What would VSOP be in French? If it would be different initials, why are they not used instead? ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-s-o-p/504645/14 "2009-07-30T18:42:03Z")
> [@Dickerman](#): > > What would VSOP be in French? If it would be different initials, why are they not used instead? I don’t speak French so I can’t answer the first part of your question. But as for the latter, brandies sold in England and Ireland were ranked using those or similar terms at the time and Cognac became a popular one thanks to Dutch And English shipping merchants. Most Cognac is exported to this day, something like 90% of it.