Twenty mixologists representing some of the world's top bars in Germany, France, Slovakia, the UK and US converged in the town of Cognac earlier this year to collectively create a signature cocktail for Cognac.

This first International Cognac Summit organised by the Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac involved four days of visits to Cognac houses large and small to discover the complexities of the brandy, as well as workshops and debates on ingredients, balance of taste, presentation and a name.

BNIC director Jérôme Durand explains: "Seventy per cent of all Cognac consumed in the world is drunk as an aperitif and Cognac's history and heritage means it has a rightful place in any cocktail repertoire - take the Sidecar or the Horse's Neck. But the last classic Cognac-based cocktail, the Alexand er, dates back to 1940. We thought it was time to shake it up again , so asked the cr ème de la cr ème to tell us what they think and show us how."

The result? The Summit: a fresh, aromatic and complex mix of Cognac, quality lemonade, finely sliced ginger, fresh lime zest, ice and a thin slice of cucumber peel to garnish. Stirred not shaken.