Your analogy is flawed. Maple syrup is not to jam or honey as XXO Cognac is to regular brandy. A better analogy is that maple syrup is to jam or honey as brand

Your analogy is flawed. Maple syrup is not to jam or honey as XXO Cognac is to regular brandy. A better analogy is that maple syrup is to jam or honey as brandy is to beer. Yeah — they have the same sort of fundamental purpose but if your recipe or drink calls for wine you probably don’t want to substitute beer or vice versa.