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David on Technical Topics – How Long Does a Bottle of Cognac Last?

Posted / in Brandy Education, Learning about Brandy and tagged

It is surprising how many times we are asked this question.  The answer is, of course, completely different from wine, as the distillation process reduces it to a spirit. There is nothing in cognac which can effectively reduce its life providing air cannot get into the bottle and of course, the spirit cannot get out. Cognac bottles are sealed with a cork and a metal or plastic cap shrunk over the top. On some more expensive bottles a wax seal is used to ensure that the bottle is airtight.  Once a bottle has been opened, the level of cognac becomes significant.  The more air that is in the bottle, the more space there is into which the alcohol can escape.  It is the alcohol that preserves the flavour of the cognac so as the a.b.v. reduces, the flavour changes and eventually it will become undrinkable.  Bottles should not therefore be left containing just a small quantity of cognac nor stored above 25 °C.

The Bureau National Interprofessionel du Cognac tells us that all corks should be changed every ten years since the cork will taint the cognac in the bottle.  At Hermitage Cognacs our experience tells us that with modern corks there is no perceptible change in flavour of an unopened bottle of cognac after twenty years but we do advise that corks are changed at this point.  We also advise that with an opened bottle the cork should be replaced after pouring and the bottle should be stored in an upright position; otherwise the strong spirit will attack the cork and the flavour will be affected.

So, although the flavour of cognac can change over a long period of time, if stored correctly a half full bottle of cognac will not show any perceptible changes in quality for at least ten years.  Happy Cognac Drinking!

To read more Technical Topics go to our Brandy Education page.

David on Technical Topics – Hermitage, A Fine Brand of Cognac

Posted / in Brandy Education, News from the Brandy Houses and tagged ,

The other day we were discussing our corporate logo and I was wondering how many people have actually looked at it and studied its design?  The use of company logos by many organisations is really to distinguish themselves from other similar names or businesses.  In our case we have set out to achieve rather more than this as our logo represents a guarantee of quality. To understand this better we need to look at what each element of the logo represents.

The Hermitage Cognacs logo is based on some of the important features of the cognac industry.  In the middle is an oak barrel, the wood being represented by an oak tree.  Over the barrel is a Charentais alembic still head with its long swan’s neck coming from the top.  During the distillation process, the alcoholic steam escapes through this to a condenser where the steam is changed back into a liquid.

Many Cognaçais understand about ‘The Angels Share’ – the fine droplets of alcohol that escape into the atmosphere above the cellars where the valuable nectars are stored.  In our logo one of the angels holds a glass with ‘The Angels Share’ and the other holds the key to ‘Paradis’, the cellar where the finest and oldest cognacs are stored.

Lastly, the Latin inscription under the barrel reads “Adhuc hic Hesterna”.  This means “That of Yesterday is here Today” and is a fitting reference to top quality cognacs from a past era when quality was paramount to the distiller’s survival in his trade.

So, look out for the Hermitage Cognacs logo.  When you see it on the label you will know that you are buying the very finest quality cognac there is available.  You can read more about these wonderful cognacs here.

 

The Rise of the Single Estate Cognac – a 2015 Trend?

Posted / in Learning about Brandy, News and tagged ,

In January of this year we commented on Ed Bates’ presentation – ‘Cognac houses should be different, not follow the crowd’.  It is a view we have always held and now it seems that the Cognac Expert Blog concurs.  They predict that one of the trends of 2015 will be the rise of the Single Estate Cognac.  Recently advocated by Hine, with its newly released 2005 Cognac, it is highly likely that this trend of making the terroir the signature point of the cognac will become more widespread.  Single estate cognacs have distinctive characters and exceptional ones are produced by the best distillers who are able to combine specific viticulture, viniculture and complex ageing procedures.  These are the cognacs we have always sought for our Hermitage range; they are hand picked and we know precisely from where each one originates.

The Cognac Process – Part 13. Post War Prosperity

Posted / in The Cognac Process and tagged

The end of World War II ushered in nearly 30 years of increasing cognac prosperity. The body that was formed to monitor the quality and movement of cognac was known as the Bureau National Interprofessionel du Cognac (BNIC). It managed to greatly improve the relationship between growers and merchants and was, in turn, lubricated by their prosperity. The biggest changes came in the structure of the major firms. In 1947 Martell and Hennessy did not renew their partnership agreement. Martell remained independent and Hennessy merged with the Champagne firm, Moet & Chandon.  In 1971 these ‘Big Two’ houses became the ‘Big Four’ as Courvoisier and Remy Martin expanded – Courvoisier, which was established in the late 18th Century, had just been taken over by Hiram Walker and Remy Martin had grown rapidly without external input specialising, at the time, in Grande Champagne cognacs.

Now it is Hermitage Cognacs that specialise in cognacs from the premier cru.

Contemporary XO Cognac

Posted / in Brandy Bottle Reviews, News from the Brandy Houses, The Bottle Story and tagged

Cognac has long been the most traditional of spirits and so has its packaging.  It is the white spirits, such as gin and vodka, which have embraced more contemporary marketing through their advertisements, bottle shapes and labelling.  That is, until now.   Returning to their Norwegian roots, Braastad recently commissioned Snøhetta and Magne Furuholmen to design a new bottle and label for their latest cognac presentation.  Named simply Contemporary XO the sleek lines of the bottle and funky lettering epitomise minimalist Scandinavian style.  So will this original style appeal to the traditional cognac lover?  Only time will tell but one thing is for sure – the contents will not be as original.  Most XOs these days are a blend of many different cognacs that only have to be 6 years old.

We prefer to use more traditional bottle shapes such as ‘Exception’ and ‘Helios’ for our single estate cognacs.

Is Cognac Better Than Whisky?

Posted / in Brandy Education, Learning about Brandy, News, The History of Cognac and tagged

An impossible question to answer, it is of course down to personal taste, but we do have a few facts to consider.  Cognac is made from grapes and whisky from grain so cognac can develop a variety of fruitful aromas and flavours which whisky cannot.  Both spirits are aged in barrels and improve over time but cognac is the more complex, takes longer to produce and inevitably, is more expensive.  Additionally, it is double distilled and must be made in accordance with strict regulations.  Whisky can be produced anywhere in the world but cognac must come from the designated Cognac region in France.  In the mid nineteenth century cognac was the most popular spirit in Britain.  Today it is renewing this popularity with very modern ‘rapper’ ambassadors like Jay-Z and Snoop Dog advocating cognac in their music and their personal lives.  In comparison, whisky has always had its fair share of celebrity endorsements and the recent launch of Haig Club by David Beckham is no exception.  Medicinally it’s said that cognac is better for your heart than whisky and rarely results in a hangover – great benefits certainly but for us, the sheer depth and intensity of flavour, fruitiness, warmth and complexity means that cognac will always be the King of Spirits.

A really magical example is the Hermitage 43 year old Cognac, sold by Brandyclassics.

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On Trade Business is Looking Up

Posted / in News and tagged

The Budget also gives a boost

Like-for-like sales in the On Trade sector grew by 1.6% in February, according to figures produced by the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.  This result marks the 23rd consecutive month of positive growth and illustrates the public’s continuing desire to go out to eat and drink.  Such consistent growth indicates that public confidence in the UK economy is improving at a steady rate.  This boost to the On Trade sector may well accelerate throughout the remainder of 2015 following the government’s recent Budget.  Duty on spirits was cut by 2%, a move which followed hard on the heels of the abolishment of the Alcohol Duty Escalator in 2014.  Described as a “momentous result” by WTSA campaigners, this recognition of market need by the government is extremely good news for the industry and Hermitage Cognacs which are sold in many of the world’s top hotels and restaurants.

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New Hermitage Cognac Vintages Available

Posted / in Brandy Bottle Reviews, News, News from the Brandy Houses and tagged

We are very excited about the addition of three, new, luxury Grande Champagne Cognacs to our Hermitage collection.  Our best-selling Hermitage 2000 has now sold out but any one of these new arrivals would be a perfect alternative.  Hermitage 2005 is very similar in style with its mocha, toffee and spice flavours and is remarkable for a cognac of its age.  Already a Masters winner at the recent Cognac Masters Awards, Hermitage Provenance 10 is “really expressive”, according to the judges, and will surely have everyone coming back for more.  And Hermitage 20 Year Old is a gorgeous, deep golden cognac with complex flavours and is beautifully presented in an elegant Helios carafe.

But don’t just take our word for it – try them for yourself.

 

The Charente Scene – Spring 2015 in the Cognac Producing Region

Posted / in News and tagged

The Oak Sensation

Just at the moment the emphasis on cognac production in the Charente region has changed slightly.  On a recent visit to the area we met with one of the major barrel makers who reported that they are currently reducing their production of barrels.  This is partly because most new barrel orders come at the end of the year and partly because they need to concentrate on bulk tank production.  With the on-going need for blended cognacs, large storage facilities, where blending can take place with the minimum risk of quality deterioration, are constantly in demand. These giant barrels can hold between 14,000 and 120,000 litres of cognac and the oak staves can be as much as three inches thick. Clearly such big tanks are not ideal for storage as the cognac exposure to the tannins in the wood is far less than in a normal sized barrel.  However, for the big houses this can be a cost effective method of cognac storage.

All Hermitage Cognacs are aged in much smaller barrels and you can read more about the ageing process here.

Hermitage Exports Cognac to China

Posted / in News and tagged

Last month we were delighted to welcome Logan and Ada from Zhongshan Yutian Wine Co. to our French offices, SARL Hermitage, in Chez Richon, Segonzac.  After a highly successful visit touring our facilities and the Cognac region, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed covering the regular supply of Grape Brandies and Hermitage Cognacs to China over the next 12 months.  The first order is due to be dispatched shortly and we expect to sign a formal contract later this year.

Find out more about our Export Trade products here.