To buy cognac online at the level collectors actually chase — Hors d'Age blends of a hundred eaux-de-vie, a 21-year-old Grande Champagne with a printed age statement, XO in artist editions — you need a shelf that treats cognac the way it treats bourbon. Del Mesa Liquor, a family-owned liquor store in San Diego, California, does: Hennessy Paradis, Courvoisier 21 and Martell Cordon Bleu are all in stock and available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor today.
The icons
- Hennessy Paradis Cognac — $1,499.99 (4 in stock). Hennessy's Hors d'Age Fine Champagne cognac: more than one hundred exceptional eaux-de-vie aged for decades in very old oak in the Paradis founder's cellar, created in 1979 by sixth-generation Master Blender Maurice Fillioux and presented in the iconic Paradis crystal decanter, at 40% ABV.
- Courvoisier 21 Year Old Cognac — $299.99 (1 in stock). From Courvoisier's Connoisseur Collection: eaux-de-vie exclusively from the Grande Champagne cru, aged a minimum of 21 years in hand-selected Troncais oak — one of the first cognacs to carry a BNIC-tracked age statement. 40% ABV, and the one bottle on our shelf.
- Martell Cordon Bleu Cognac — $129.99 (1 in stock). The blue ribbon of the Borderies since 1912: an XO-category blend of more than 100 eaux-de-vie dominated by the Borderies, the smallest cru and Martell's signature terroir, at 40% ABV. The connoisseur's value seat on this list.
The limited editions
- Hennessy VSOP Privilege Limited Edition by Carnovsky 2016 — $799.99 (1 in stock). Hennessy's VSOP Privilege dressed in the Carnovsky design studio's layered artwork for 2016 — a one-time artist edition of the classic VSOP blend. One bottle in stock.
- Hennessy XO Spirit of the NBA Collector's Edition 2021 — $279.99 (4 in stock). The 2021 collector's edition of Hennessy X.O — the cognac created in 1870 from around 100 eaux-de-vie — in NBA-decorated dressing and a gift box, marking Hennessy's partnership as the Official Spirit of the NBA. 40% ABV.
- Remy Martin XO x Lee Broom Limited Edition — $249.99 (1 in stock). Remy Martin's XO in the British designer Lee Broom's limited-edition presentation — the house's flagship Grande and Petite Champagne blend as a design object. One bottle on the shelf.
- Hennessy VSOP Privilege Chinese New Year 2021 by Liu Wei — $199.99 (2 in stock). The one-time 2021 Year of the Ox edition: Hennessy's VSOP Privilege blend of some 60+ eaux-de-vie at 40% ABV, dressed in Beijing artist Liu Wei's fuchsia-to-red gradient — the colors of success and good luck.
Frequently asked questions
What do VSOP and XO mean in cognac?
They are minimum-age grades for the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend: VSOP requires at least four years in oak, XO at least ten. Hors d'Age, the grade of Hennessy Paradis, sits beyond XO — its component eaux-de-vie are aged for decades.
What is Fine Champagne cognac?
A blend of eaux-de-vie from only the two top crus, Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, with at least half from Grande Champagne. Hennessy Paradis is a Fine Champagne cognac; Courvoisier's 21 Year Old goes further, using Grande Champagne alone.
Which cognac should I buy as a gift?
For a landmark gesture, Hennessy Paradis at $1,499.99 in its crystal decanter. For a bottle with a story at a friendlier price, the Hennessy XO NBA Collector's Edition or the Liu Wei Chinese New Year VSOP — both one-time editions. More ideas live in our gift sets collection.
Can I buy cognac online and have it shipped?
Yes — these bottles are in stock and available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor for shipping where permitted. Read about our store for the family story behind the shelf.
Browse the full cognac collection and its grape-spirit sibling, the brandy collection, or cross to France's other great celebration bottle in yesterday's prestige champagne guide. New arrivals are posted on the Del Mesa blog.