Very Special Old Pale
The abbreviation V.S.O.P. is a predicate name for cognac, brandy or Armagnac that will signal they were very old and quality of these spirits. The acronym VSOP derives from Old English and is ( excellent German, old and pale " ) with very superior old pale or very special old pale (Eng. " especially old and pale " ) resolved.
Commercial names ( partly without and / or with spaces ".") Are:
- V.O. ( very old, dt " very old " ) for Weinbrände with a barrel storage of at least two years,
- V.S.O.P. ( very superior old pale, dt " excellent, old and pale " ) for those with a barrel storage of at least four years and
- V.V.S.O.P. ( very very superior old pale, dt " quite excellent, old and pale " ) at a cask storage for at least five years.
In addition there are other age predicate names, but not all officially inspected, eg ( with colloquial, or meaning, according BOARD ):
- V.S. (Very Special) or *** ( 3 stars) - Cognac whose youngest distillate is at least two years old.
- Napoléon, X.O. (extra old, dt " very old " ), Hors d' âge - Cognac whose youngest distillate is at least six years old.