Trading up to quality drinking occasions Sales of premium spirit brands in the UK are growing at a much faster rate than in the total alcohol industry as consumers seek to ‘trade up’ to satisfy their need for less but better drinking experiences.   This trend has been fuelled by continued austerity in Britain along with the government’s drive to curb the nation’s alcohol consumption.  According to the First Drinks Market Report 2013, premium spirit sales have grown in value by 25% in the on-trade and 4% in the off-trade sectors.  An influx of foreign wealth, particularly in London, is driving… Read more

Hermitage Cognacs were on top of the podium again in July 2013, this time at the highly prestigious International Wine and Spirits Competition.  Recognising the wonderful quality of carefully aged, single estate cognacs, the judges placed both the Hermitage Segonzac 25 year Old Grande Champagne Cognac and the Hermitage Chez Richon 2000 Grande Champagne Cognac at the top of their respective classes and awarded them each a Gold Medal.  These latest awards add to Hermitage Cognac’s vast medal haul to date which surely makes it one of the most successful Cognac Houses in existence.

Our export sales continue to increase but our business in Asia has recently had an added boost.  Previous sales in Macau and China have been overtaken by our first contract in Thailand.  The initial order is underway and agreement to ship a couple of containers annually is in the final stages.  We are confident that it will be the start of a long and fruitful relationship with our Thai customers. Not to be outdone, a delegation of Chinese businessmen is visiting Brandyclassics next month to negotiate a much larger and longer term contract which could amount to five containers per… Read more

Frapin has launched a new cognac called ‘Plume’ which refers to the symbol of the Frapin Cognac house – the quill.  Housed in a decanter featuring a stopper topped by two rose gold feathers, only 500 have been produced.  The cognac comes from the Grande Champagne cru and has been aged for over 60 years in 100 year old barrels but whether it  is worth the price tag of €2500 is debatable.  We cannot comment on its quality but Frapin Cognac has never been quite the same since their cellar master, Olivier Paultes, left to work for Hennessey.  During his… Read more

The harvest this year will start on the first week of October and the quantities allowed will be substantially greater than ever before. Technically we are allowed to produce nearly 20hl of pure spirit per hectare but this cannot ever be made as it would be impossible to grow enough grapes for such an optimistic target. However, it does at least show that the authorities are serious about increasing stock levels which we hope will save some of the older cognacs being used for the younger blends and allow an increase in overall quantity. So far the quantities are looking… Read more

The wonderful 1995 Pineau des Charentes from Chateau de Beaulon is the finest example of vintage Pineau we have tasted. Its rich peach and honey flavour is totally unique, as it has been aged in casks which contained a very famous sauterne wine. Pineau is made from grape juice which is added to the eau de vie before aging in oak casks. Both red and white pineau are made from the indigenous grapes of the region. Another glorious example from Chateau de Beaulon is their 5 year old white pineau which is made from chardonnay and sauvignon blanc. It’s perfect… Read more

It is hugely unfortunate that most people who drink brandy derive only the mildest pleasure from the experience provided for them by experts with generations of family understanding and knowledge to create what in every case is a totally unique experience. How nice it would be if we could all enhance our knowledge and understanding of the drink sufficiently to make each tasting a truly great and memorable experience. Perhaps part of our problem is that so many brandies have such minimal differences in taste that even for experts it becomes difficult to associate an individual brand with a specific… Read more

The award for the Best Bottle Design at this year’s VINEXPO went to Hardy’s ‘Printemps’ which was made in collaboration with crystal manufacturer Lalique.  The Jade coloured ornamental glass top, which is actually the stopper for the bottle, reminds one of ancient Samurai legends There are intricate drawings carved into the glass which give the bottle a playful touch and a hint of the exotic.  A limited edition of 400 pieces, it is certainly destined to be reused once the blended cognac contents have been consumed.  Hardy are well known for their audacious creations.  Not to everyone’s taste perhaps, many prefer sleeker, understated,… Read more

It seems that the French are almost paranoid about their holiday.  It starts in July and they gradually come back to reality at the end of August when there is so much to do one is lucky to be able to talk to them, let alone visit, for the following month. Of course at SARL Hermitage we carry on and this year we are hoping to be busy with orders from other countries. It is true to say that unless there is inclement weather, there is little to do in the vineyards at this time. Last year it rained all… Read more

In 1789 the locals around Cognac were preoccupied, not with the matters in Paris with the ancien régime but with the frost of the previous winter.  It would have reduced the townspeople to near starvation had it not been for the charitable intervention of some of the wealthier local merchants, notably M Martell. As relative outsiders to the French feudal ways, the Cognaçais were largely unaffected by the Revolution.  During the Napoleonic period they were hurt only by occasional attempts to interfere with trade with Britain which had become their best market.  As a result, Martell and Hennessy were able… Read more