The meaning behind cognac
About the color
Cognac takes its color name from a type of brandy that is named for the commune of the same name where it is produced. Cognac is a reddish-grayish-brown inspired by the beverage, created by distilling Ugni blanc grapes twice in copper pots and aging for a minimum of two years in French oak barrels. Cognac is generally viewed as one of the world’s most premium beverages, and there are strict production and naming regulations related to using this word. The cognac hex code is #9A463D.
Cognac is not a web color that can be specified in HTML coding, so using the right cognac color code is especially important. The beverage dates back to the 16th century when the Dutch would visit France. They purchased a lot of French wine, but it was difficult for them to keep it drinkable during the journey home. They began to distill it, calling it brandewijn (“burnt wine”), which eventually became brandy. Many of the world’s most famous Cognac houses, including Martell and Rémy Martin, started in the 17th century.
The color meaning of cognac is associated with brandy, signifying richness, complexity, subtlety, and intensity. Because of the strong influences of red and brown, you can use cognac for a palette based on warmth and autumn. The grey element of cognac reflects the cosmopolitan quality. A cognac color scheme can convey luxury, especially since the drink has been associated with both wealthy people of old who enjoyed imbibing and smoking cigars, as well as modern hip-hop artists and displays of extravagance.
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| HEX | #9A463D |
| RGB | 154, 70, 61 |
| CMYK | 0, 0.55, 0.6, 0.4 |
Application in design
The Pantone Institute provides guidance on ways to implement cognac into visual designs and displays. Cognac is similar to other colors such as sienna, cinnamon, chestnut, and maroon. Build an autumn-based design theme around cognac as a more sophisticated alternative to red and brown. Pair with oranges and golden tones to connect elegance to the last season of the year. Use it as a background color or accent to show complexity, warmth, and subtle intensity.
The complementary shade for cognac is a cyan shade. It also pairs well with light blues, vivid greens, and warm yellow tones for designs and documents that have international flair. A combination of cognac with creams and pinks conveys elegance and femininity. If you’re working on a design or project that caters to women who enjoy the finer things in life, a cognac-based aesthetic is especially appropriate.
Cognac also works well with medium to lighter greys. The pairing of a grey suit with cognac-colored shoes is a sophisticated look, so this color pairing would be fitting for a graphic display intended to appeal to men who appreciate things that are timeless and old, like brandy. The warmth and intensity of cognac are balanced by the neutrality of grey.
