Does Cognac Contain Allergens or Animal Products?
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With the increased focus on the labelling of foodstuffs correctly, and in detail, we do get asked about the content of cognac, including allergens. To ensure we have accurate information for our customers, we put the question to the BNIC (Bureau National Interprofessionel du Cognac), Cognac’s governing body, and this is what they told us:
Cognac is made exclusively by the distillation of wines, produced in a limited area, from specific grape varieties. After distillation, Cognac is aged in oak barrels. Based on this production process, cognac does not contain any of the allergenic substances or products listed in European Regulations.
Subsequent to this process, certain additions are authorised – sugar, caramel, decoction of oak chips and water. None of these are from animal origin therefore, cognac appears to be compatible with vegetarian or vegan diets.
Additionally, none of the yeast strains qualified by the BNIC for fermentation of the wines, intended for cognac production, are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). Therefore cognac can be classified as GMO free.
Gin
The Evening Standard has been reviewing much of the golden nectar recently. In Nicky Rampley-Clarke’s article ‘Best Digestifs To Sip On Post Dinner’ he includes:
Delighted to have sold our latest bonbonne of 1882 cognac to Hedonism Wines in Mayfair and, with an asking price of £90k, it was snapped up by one of their customers within 24 hours. Presented in a traditional wicker basket, the bonbonne contains 10 litres of 
It is that time of year again when we have to review our prices. In line with so many other price increases that we are experiencing in our lives, the cost of brandy production has increased dramatically too. Additionally, the government is raising the rate of duty per litre of alcohol to £31.64 on 1st August.
s’ is the French word for ‘paradise’ and in the cognac industry it is used to describe a designated area in the innermost recess of the cellar. Not every cognac house has a ‘Paradis’ but those that exist are steeped in history. Many cognac families select a few of their finest cognacs for storage in the Paradis. The point when a cognac has gained all the benefit it can from the wood depends on many factors but ultimately, it is when the cellar master decides that it has reached its optimum quality. At this stage the cognac is put into glass bonbonnes and sealed so that the generations of gentle maturation in the barrel are preserved. A cognac that has lasted in oak without deterioration for perhaps 60, 70, 80 or even 90 years is going to be good, very good and will have developed the much sought after 
amed our pre-1900 Hermitage Cognac range ‘
It’s that time of year again when fathers everywhere bask in the limelight for one special day. Father’s Day 2023 falls on Sunday 18th June so what will you be buying to say “thank you” to that very important member of your family?