Cognac has become a status symbol for the Chinese, and now its less popular French varieties armagnac and calvados are hoping to follow in its footsteps and conquer the Asian markets as local demand has begun to wane.

At present, cognac makes up 67% of all the French spirit exports. Its competitors, digestifs and eaux-de-vie, are looking to grab a chunk of that market to make up for plunging local sales as the French population has started cutting down on their drinking habits, according to Yahoo! News.

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Calvados is a type of brandy made from France's apples in the northwestern region, while armagnac is a distilled spirit from the grapes of the southwestern area, but both belong to a category called "eaux-de-vie." Each comprised about 1% of the total spirit exports last year, but the amount of sales that percentage generated for its manufacturers was $60 million (€45 million).

Cognac is already a well-established drink in China and is often used as a symbol of a person's social status or as a drink for sealing business deals. Manufacturers are hoping to leverage cognac's popularity in Asia to boost sales of the less popular varieties.

According to J Goudoulin armagnac commercial director Catherine Bouteloup, France's spirit consumption has already dropped significantly due to health concerns. The industry is trying to make up for that loss through exports.

As of now, the market for these spirits is growing. About 97% of the locally produced cognac is exported, and 57% of armagnac and calvados is sold overseas. China has now overtaken Britain as the biggest importer of armagnac, and calvados has gained favor in Germany, Belgium, and Scandinavia.

In 2013, China established "Maison et comptoirs" showrooms to exhibit the lifestyles of people in the Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrenees areas. The establishment of these showrooms boosted the popularity of armagnac in the country.

Last year, one maison opened in Wuhan, and another is set to open in Chengdu this year. More locations are being eyed in Beijing and Shanghai, according to China project manager Julien Layrisse.

Chinese enthusiasts are also being lured to France to uncover the original history and specific methods of producing French spirits.

TagsFrench liquor, cognac, wine