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Hermitage Cognacs Review

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Hermitage Cognacs ReviewThanks to Robin Goldsmith, freelance drinks writer at The Write Taste, for reviewing our Hermitage Cognacs as “deliciously decadent vintage Cognacs”.  The cognacs that Robin tasted are three of which we are particularly proud:

Hermitage 2008 Grande Champagne Cognac.  A very, very special and extraordinary find. This 2008 Cognac is just 10 years old, single-barrel, single-estate and very expensive, but it is one in a million. Smooth and perfectly balanced, it’s rich, spicy and full of intrigue. There are less than 200 bottles available so it won’t last – it is too good to last. Don’t do anything other than just drink it, you will never find another cognac like this even at double the price.  IWSC 2020 – Gold Award

Hermitage 1952 Grande Champagne Cognac.  A magnificent cognac from the Premier Cru which has been aged in cellars that are of medium dampness for more than 50 years. It was stored in old oak 250 litre barrels which had a medium toasting. Beautifully balanced, this superb cognac from the 1950s has matured with great finesse and elegance.  IWSC 2021 – Gold Award

Hermitage 50 year Old Grande Champagne Cognac.  Originally our 45 year old Grande Champagne Cognac, we have watched this remarkable brandy develop in its cask for many years. It is now more than 50 years old and still it grows in maturity, richness and finesse. The flavours of fruit cake, sultanas and porcini will continue to develop in this masterpiece.  IWSC 2021 – The Cognac Trophy & Gold Outstanding Award

New Hermitage 60 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac

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Hermitage 60 Year OldOur Hermitage 60 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac has always been popular, not just for its stunning flavours, but because it it the perfect gift for those born in 1962 or with a 60th anniversary this year.

We are therefore very excited that we have a new 60 Year Old to share with you.

Coming from the region around Juillac le Coq, it is beautifully balanced and has flavours of clove, liquorice, roasted chestnuts, cocoa and nutmeg.

We also supply it in a Gift Set comprising a 20 cl bottle and a Hermitage Cognac tulip-shaped tasting glass.

And if 60 years is not the anniversary you are looking for, we also have a 70 Year Old Gift Set and for a very special occasion, one containing a 1900 vintage.

 

Vermouth Day – Monday 21st March

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Vermouth DayOn the 21st of March, we are going to celebrate Vermouth Day.  Created by Giancarlo Mancino, the date corresponds with the beginning of spring, a period of the year where everything is flourishing.  ‘The first flowers bloom, the plants become increasingly green and the scents in the air are so many and so diverse that you want to trap them all inside a bottle.’

Vermouth is an aromatised fortified wine, flavoured with various botanicals (roots, barks, flowers, seeds, herbs, and spices). The modern versions of the beverage were first produced in the mid to late 18th century in Turin, Italy. While vermouth was traditionally used for medicinal purposes, it was later served as an apéritif, with fashionable cafés in Turin serving it to guests around the clock. In the late 19th century it also became popular with bartenders as a key ingredient for cocktails, such as the Martini, the Manhattan, the Rob Roy, and the Negroni.

So Vermouth Day is a way to celebrate one of the greatest cocktail ingredients of all time.  There’s no Martini Cocktail without Vermouth, there’s no Negroni without Vermouth and of course, there’s no Vermuttino without Vermouth.   Try our selection from Montanaro of Bianco, Rosso and Extra Dry.

Wonderful Mother’s Day Gifts – Sunday 27th March 2022

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Mother's DayMarch is always the perfect time of year to celebrate Mother’s Day – spring is here and there are signs of new life appearing around every corner.  So how do you say thanks to your Mum for all the years of love, kindness and support?  Well this year we have lots of new ideas including gins, vermouths, eaux de vie, grappa and bitters.  And three of them are on offer for this month making them even more attractive:

Mosgaard Organic Oak Cask Aged Gin – Cask Gin is based on Mosgaard’s Dry Gin which is distilled and reduced to 60% abv and then aged in old bourbon and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for 8-9 months. The whisky and sherry casks add sweetness, vanilla and caramel notes to the citrus and juniper flavours. Enjoy neat with a cup of coffee, spice it up with Ginger Ale and orange zest or use it in a dry martini.

Nusbaumer – 20 Year Old Reserve Poire William Eau de Vie (Pear) – This pear brandy is made from small, red Williams pears that grow on hillsides with excellent sun exposure and natural irrigation. Native to the Hautes-Alpes, this sun-drenched fruit is particularly juicy and fragrant. The brandy has been aged for 20 years and is one of the best we have tasted.  Presented in an antique-style bottle that protects it from the light, it is made in very small batches and the bottle is sealed by hand with wax.

Grape Brandy Jacopo Poli Chiara di Moscato – Jacopo Poli Chiara di Moscato is a single vintage grape brandy from a single variety of grape. It was distilled from the wine made from the White Muscat grapes from the Euganean Hills (Veneto). Distilled in small lots on a ‘bain marie’, it has a sweet flavour with a light touch of citrus fruits.

Cognac Sales On The Rise Worldwide

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cognac salesThe premium drinks market is seeing a significant rise in demand as the worst effects of the pandemic subside.  The BNIC has just released figures that show a 31% increase in cognac exports by value, equating to an increase of 16% by volume.  These rises also compare favourably to the pre-pandemic demand in 2019.  “This growth reflects a real recovery of cognac, as well as new consumption habits,” the BNIC said.  Sales to the spirit’s largest market, the United States, climbed 11 %, sales to China, its second biggest, leapt 56 % whilst European sales were up 8%.  Cognac sales are also growing in newer markets, particularly South Africa and Nigeria.

The news signals a bounce back for the spirit, which suffered plummeting sales during the early days of the pandemic.  It was also aided in March last year with the 5 year suspension of tariffs between the EU and US, which lifted the crippling 25% duty which had been levied upon cognac among other brandies.  Thankfully we have experienced a similar upturn with all of our premium brandies, and Hermitage Cognacs in particular.

Club Oenologique Supports Hermitage

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OenologiqueThe Winter 2021 Club Oenologique Magazine is, we are delighted to say, rather cognac heavy.  Richard Woodward begins with an in depth article entitled ‘Cognac’s Hidden Houses’.  “We all know the big cognac names, if only from our favourite hip-hop tracks.  But, a smattering of smaller boutique producers are quietly making their voices heard – and are well worth seeking out” he says.  Referring to the big brands, Laurent Vallet of Chateau Montifaud says “It would be boring for consumers to only find 5 or 6 types of cognac”.  That sums up the vision here at Hermitage – to sell unique cognacs with individual flavours.

Joel Harrison can also be found writing about ‘King Cognac’ – “Given the weight of history that Cognac carries, the result is arguably the most dynamic and exciting category in spirits” he comments.  Featuring the recent IWSC winners, Hermitage 50 Year Old that won The Cognac Trophy gets a special mention.  It scored 99 point out of 100 (there is a typo in the magazine) which is just about the best third party approbation we could get!

And to follow this up, the online magazine features another article by Joel about the joys of independently bottled spirits.  “….. There are few places left bottling any liquid from vintages such as 1880, 1885, 1890 and 1893 (to name but a few), and they are a real taste of history. As for the prices: well, all you need to know is that you could pick up two bottles of Hermitage’s excellent 1917 Grande Champagne Cognac for the price of one bottle of Louis XIII.”  You can read the full article here.

Valentine’s is Just Around the Corner ……

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Valentine'sRoses are red,

Violets are blue,

Surely one of these gifts,

Should be given by you ……..

 

This month’s offers include something for everyone.  We have a wonderful vintage, premier cru cognac from Hermitage.  The 1988 Grande Champagne has flavours of roasted walnuts, spice and toffee.  From armagnac we have a vintage Delord 1990 which has a handwritten label and wax seals to make it a very special gift.  And for the gin lover, a very special, organic, tangerine gin all the way from Mosgaard in Denmark.  Go on, spoil each other!

Toutain – New Range of Calvados

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ToutainWe have been looking for a new range of calvados to offer the UK market for some while.  It’s not been easy as so many are too sweet or have lost the appley flavour.  It was therefore tremendously exciting when we came across the Toutain Calvados range.  A family firm, now on the fifth generation, who produce calvados from their own orchards.

In keeping with the high standards of Brandyclassics, we know precisely how long each Toutain product has spent in cask.  This range includes Toutain Vieux, Hors d’Age, Vieille Reserve and Tres Vieille and they have been aged from 8 to 45 years.  They are smooth and mellow with an unmistakable apple flavour.

Unlike most calvados producers Toutain make their calvados without the addition of pears.  (Pears are usually added to increase acidity and in these cases a pear drop flavour can sometimes be detected.)  This is an interesting departure from the norm so one must conclude that their own apples have a very high level of acidity.

Not only are these calvados quite different they are delicious too!

Hermitage Tasting on Radio Wiltshire

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Radio WiltshireWe are delighted to report that we had even more coverage on Radio Wiltshire last month, featuring on the Christmas Eve Breakfast Show.

Following an interview with our very own David Baker, some tasting of our Hermitage 50 Year old Grande Champagne Cognac took place live on air.

This particular cognac has been a roaring success over the past year as it won The International Wine & Spirits Competition’s Gold Outstanding Award and The Cognac Trophy 2021.

David had previously been heard on BBC Radio Wiltshire giving a more in depth interview.  The whole programme can be heard here, although you need to go to 2 hours and 42 minutes to hear the interview.  Credit the Ben Prater Show BBC Radio Wiltshire 05 November 2021.

More Christmas Suggestions

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IChristmas Suggestionsf you’re looking for Christmas Suggestions you will have found two recommendations for Hermitage Cognacs in the press last week.  Olly Smith, well known wines and spirits journalist and television presenter featured our Hermitage 20 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac in the Mail on Sunday magazine last weekend.  “Imagine a giant pineapple given a toffee-apple dip and you get this ultimate festive spirit, hugely divergent in its range of flavours” he said.

Richard Woodard, writing in Decanter, also featured Hermitage in his ‘Best Cognacs for Christmas 2021‘.  In describing our award-winning Hermitage 50 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac he wrote:

“It’s frankly astonishing that a Cognac can be as vibrant and full of pep as this after five decades in cask, but David Baker’s Hermitage Cognacs are all about that kind of age-defying quality. From Segonzac in the heart of Grande Champagne, this softly spoken, quietly powerful Cognac is perfumed, structured and endlessly complex. Alc 44%”