Category: News

It is rare for us to get excited about a new armagnac but we feel rightly pleased with our new association with Eric Artiguelongue a notable cellar master in Arblade le Haut, Gers. Brandyclassics have taken the exclusive distribution for these wonderful Clos des Saveurs armagnacs in the United Kingdom where we will be demonstrating the fine qualities and range of vintages which come from a number of different distillers in the Bas region. Not only are we impressed with the qualities of each individual vintage, but we were also able to bottle them in the traditional basquaise bottle, sealed… Read more

Due to rapid expansion, Chateau de Beaulon opened a new cellar in August 2010. It is difficult to understate the success of Chateau de Beaulon in the last two or three decades. The firm are distillers and the credentials of it’s owner Christian Thomas can only be matched by the superb cognacs he produces, mainly from the Ugni Blanc but also the Folle Blanche and Colombard grape varieties. The Thomas family have reigned supreme around St Dizant du Gua in the most westerly part of the cru for centuries but have only owned the Chateau since 1965. Cognacs and Pineau have… Read more

One of the truly great names in cognac died in May 2005. Jacques Hardy of A. Hardy Cognacs died in hospital after a short illness, he was 83. The firm of Hardy was one of the last totally independent cognac houses of stature recognised throughout the industry and his collection of early vintage and pre-phylloxera cognacs is probably the best known and highest quality still available. The Hardy’s, like many of the old cognac houses are of English decent and started life as local distillers. Antoine Hardy was a broker and founded his own firm in 1863 after working with… Read more

BNIC Statistics for March 2010 have revealed that stocks of old cognacs used by the big houses has dropped to one of the lowest levels ever, with only 2.9% of 4 and 5 year old stocks available for blending and 1.8% of stocks over 6 years old. In comparison, new cognacs, which are up to 1 year old are 64.4% This indicates that blended cognacs such as VS and VSOP from the big houses will require to be even younger to meet the increasing demands of consumers, especially in America where sales, particularly those of Hennessey have increased and are… Read more

Pineau des Charentes has always been the drink which everybody likes but nobody can ever remember how to buy. Almost without exception, people who taste the rich and fruity drink for the first time are totally hooked on it and swear they will buy more at the first opportunity. So where are the orders? A good question, it seems that having tasted the first bottle potential customers lose contact from where they found out about it and then forget all about it. This year Brandy Classics are introducing a new Vintage 1995 Pineau des Charentes in 50cl bottles. It is… Read more

The Oldest spirit in France celebrates 700 years in 2010 Perhaps to celebrate the long history of Armagnac produced in the foot hills of the Pyrenees, but mainly to draw attention to the oldest spirit in France, a delegation from Armagnac made the journey to the Vatican City. They collected a facsimile of the Vital Texts written in 1310. They describe the forty virtues of an alcohol called Aygue Ardente, the ancestor of armagnac and which has been preserved in the Vatican Library since 1531. It will be displayed around the world during 2010. These days the 40 virtues of… Read more