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Spirits Business Top Ten Award-Winning Cognacs

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award-winning CognacsThe Spirits Business have just announced their top 10 award-winning cognacs and Hermitage appear in the list three times with their 10 Year Old, 1975 and 1972.  Spirits Business comments are thus:

For those looking for a single estate Cognac to spend a relaxing evening with, the Hermitage 10 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac is the one to opt for, according to judge Bryan Rodriguez, wine and spirits buyer at Harvey Nichols.  He said: “I thought this was fabulous. I can see myself putting it into a balloon glass and just nosing it, and relaxing for half an hour.”  Having been double distilled on a small Charentais Alembic still to help concentrate the wine flavours during distillation, it offers notes of spice and coffee with a gentle underlying hint of pineapple.

Both of the Masters medals awarded in the Vintage Single Estate category went to Hermitage, the first for its 1972 Petite Champagne Cognac and the second for its 1975 Grande Champagne Cognac expression.  Having both spent close to four decades ageing in Limousin oak casks, the judges were impressed with the 1975’s “roasted walnut and chocolate whip aroma” and “magnificent” palate, while its 1972 Petite Champagne Cognac was celebrated for its “well rounded combination of fruit, sweetness and spice.”

Read the full article here.

Father’s Day – Sunday 19th June 2022

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Father's DayGifts for all the men in your life …

Buying gifts for Father’s Day is a notorious problem, but for those who enjoy a glass of something special we have the answer:

Delicious, handpicked, single estate Hermitage Cognacs with age statements.  Almost 50% of the range are award-winning and after decades of ageing in oak barrels each one has unique, complex flavours.

Vintage Armagnacs from the top Bas cru.  Packaged with the year of harvesting on the label, we have every vintage from 1928 to 2004.  Ideal for selecting a special anniversary or year of birth.

Pays d’Auge Calvados is the best and ours have been well aged and are full of appley flavour.

World Gin Day – Saturday 11th June 2022

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World Gin DayYet another alcohol related special day occurs this Saturday; it is World Gin Day.  According to the website its purpose is:

‘Simple, it’s a day for everyone and anyone (over the legal drinking age of course…!) to celebrate and enjoy gin! Whether you’re already a fan of the juniper spirit, or looking for an intro, World Gin Day is the perfect opportunity to get involved.’

And World Gin Day has been going for a while now:

‘World Gin Day itself was actually founded by Neil Houston in 2009, a very bright idea to bring his friends together to drink gin in Birmingham! Emma and Neil were already firm gin-friends, and so it made sense to bring the celebrations to London in 2010, involving some of Emma’s friends too, in a lovely little gin bar called Graphic in Soho. Since then the day has grown year on year, reaching an ever bigger audience.’

So what better excuse to try some new producers and flavours?  Our gins come from Denmark.  Produced by Mosgaard, they are all certified organic and come in a range of flavours from Tangerine to Oak Cask Aged.  Follow this link and get into the party spirit for next Saturday.

National Cognac Day – Saturday 4th June 2022

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National Cognac Day 2022National Cognac Day on June 4th invites you to enjoy one of the finest alcoholic drinks available. Cognac, which originates from a town of the same name in France, is a type of brandy enjoyed because of its distilled and fine taste.  Cognac begins as a white wine that has been produced in one of six designated growing regions.  This definition explains the axiom ‘ all cognac is brandy but not all brandy is cognac’.  Ironically, the white wine from which cognac starts, is considered by most wine connoisseurs to be entirely undrinkable.  But once it has been distilled in an alembic still and aged in oak casks for years, it is absolutely delicious.

Cognac comes in multiple grades and exploring them can be a great way to spend National Cognac Day.   At the entry level cognac is great for making cocktails such as the Sidecar or French Connection.  At the  other end of the spectrum, single estate, unblended, vintage cognacs should be savoured, every sip enjoyed for its individuality and complex flavours.  Hermitage specialise in producing cognacs with numbers on the bottles so you know exactly what you’re buying and each one is unique.  National Cognac Day is the perfect opportunity to get to know one of the world’s most premium drinks.

World Aperitivo Day – Thursday 26th May 2022

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World Aperitivo DayThe first World Aperitivo Day will be rolled out on a global basis on 26 May 2022, but what exactly is an aperitivo?

The Italian tradition of Aperitivo dates back over 2000 years, and is a ritual observed across the Peninsula.  Italians know how to relax as the sun goes down and get ready for dinner with friends or family – they sip an aperitivo.  The word comes from the Latin aperire “to open” meaning, in this case, to open the appetite for the meal to come.  It’s a pre-dinner drink, usually low in alcohol and accompanied by small snacks such as olives or nuts.  Federico Gordini, who is rolling out World Aperitivo Day in Milan, says “The Aperitivo is an identifying part of the Italian lifestyle, a ‘way of living’ we are proud to share with the international community.”

Most aperitivo drinks are a special combination of fortified white wine and various herbs and spices which claim to stimulated the appetite.  It is said that claimed that “It’s only Aperitivo if at least 50% of it is made in Italy”.  All are fantastic mixed with soda, or in a slightly sweeter Spritz with sparkling wine or prosecco.

We have a wonderful Montenarro Aperitivo 6pm from Italy for you to try and Thursday is the perfect opportunity.

 

World Whisky Day – Saturday 21 May 2022

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World Whisky DayWorld Whisky Day is an annual, global day of whisky, which invites everyone to try a dram and celebrate the water of life.  (In Ireland’s Gaelic language, the word “whiskey” means “water of life.)  Taking place annually on the third Saturday in May, this special occasion is celebrated by whisky lovers worldwide with tastings, events and gatherings.

If you can’t find an event happening near you why not host your own World Whisky Day event?  It’s about making whisky fun for all, not about being exclusive or prescriptive. All you need to participate is a bottle of whisky – whatever variety, however you enjoy it.

Whether you’re a novice whisky drinker, or a seasoned professional passionate about infusing just the right flavours into your brew, you can enjoy World Whisky Day.  It is an historical classic that’s been distilled with care for over 500 years. The beverage of kings and peasants alike for generations, whisky is easily poured between friends and can be the catalyst to make some great memories.

For something really different try our organic Mosgaard whisky range from Denmark ….  you won’t be disappointed.

Hermitage Cognacs toast four Master awards at Global Cognac Masters 2022

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Cognac Masters 2022We are thrilled to announce that the Cognac Masters 2022 results have just been released and it was an exceptional medal haul for Hermitage.

A Master Medal was awarded to all four entrants, providing the best set of results for Hermitage ever.  These latest winners are:

Hermitage 10 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac.  Judge’s comments: Candied orange aromas. Really nice texture to this Cognac, hints of spice and rich fruitiness. Very sippable actually, would also be ideal for mixing.

Hermitage 25 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac.  Judges’ comments: Superbly expressive nose with rancio, cedar wood and sandalwood, followed by deep dark dried fruits – raisins, prunes, sultanas – milk choc, vanilla, delicious juicy peach and plump sultana, deep woody spices add wonderful earthy notes, long finish that keeps going.

Hermitage 1975 Grande Champagne Cognac.   Judges’ comments: Very resinous palate, dry tannins, slightly saline. Hint of bitterness, stone fruits.

Hermitage 1972 Petite Champagne Cognac  Judges’ comments: Well-rounded palate- some citrus mid-palate, lifts everything. Nice combo of fruit, sweetness and spice – higher ABV holds well. Complex and well balanced.

The MD, David Baker, said

“We are really thrilled by this unprecedented recognition for our brandies. We work incredibly hard to source the very best cognacs we can find in the region, always from single estates and with age statements attached to them, and this is a tremendous reward for our efforts.  It also demonstrates that it’s possible to have exceptional quality, even in the more modest ranges such as with our 10 year old Grande Champagne (which won Master in the the VSOP – single estate flight).”

Read more about the competition results here:    The Cognac Masters 2022 results – The Spirits Business

Hermitage 1972 on The Drinking Hour

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Hermitage 1972Another mention for David Baker and Hermitage Cognacs, including Hermitage 1972, on David Kermode’s podcast, The Drinking Hour.  In Episode 54 David interviews Joel Harrison, IWSC judge and writer, about cognac, how it’s made and the production situation.  About 35 minutes in, Joel refers to our very own David Baker as “the Indiana Jones of Cognac” and of Hermitage Cognacs as being “ridiculously well-priced”.  He goes on to say that “anything that David Baker is bottling is great” and when asked for his favourite cognacs he describes Hermitage as “Brilliant stuff at fantastic value”.

Towards the end of the podcast (at 49 mins) David Kermode recommends some of the IWSC winners.  Talking about our Hermitage 1972 Petite Champagne Cognac the judges described it as having “a sensationally aromatic nose with a balance of sweetness and acidity noteworthy of its age, integrated wood, spicy concentration and mildly drying tanins on the cigar hungry finish”. And David commented that in a terrible year for wine this would make the perfect 50th present for someone.  Too true!

Listen to the podcast here:

The Drinking Hour: With David Kermode – FoodFM: Episode 54 – Cognac on Apple Podcasts

 

Latest Hermitage Releases

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HermitageWe have recently added two new, exciting releases to our Hermitage Cognac stable, both distilled over 50 years ago.

The 1975 comes from the region near St Preuil, in central Grande Champagne.

An enchanting cognac, it has flavours of clove, turmeric and blackberry complemented by thyme, rosemary, pork crackle with white truffle and kumquats on the tail.

Less than a barrel of this fine, rare cognac exists.

The 1972 vintage comes from Petite Champagne where it has been mellowing in its oak cask for almost 40 years and although its strength is 45% abv, it has a sublime balance.

Petite Champagne cognacs are often lighter than cognacs from their neighbour, Grande Champagne.

This is particularly true in the east of the cru, from where this 1972 originates.

New Vintage Armagnacs – 1949, 1972 & 1985

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New Vintage ArmagnacsIt is always good to receive new products for our customers and this week we have three new vintage armagnacs to introduce.

Castarede is one of our favourite suppliers of Bas Armagnac, they are also one of the oldest producers of armagnac in Gascony.  Here, the vines grow on poor and acidic clay loam soils with pockets of iron elements that colour it reddish brown. This area produces light, fruity, delicate and highly reputed eaux de vie, from which the armagnacs are distilled.  The latest 1985 and 1972 vintages, distilled 35 and 50 years ago respectively, have these qualities in abundance and for those looking for a 50th birthday gift, you need look no longer!

We also have a rare 1949 vintage produced by Baron de Sigognac, not long after the end of the war, in the year that the NATO Treaty was signed in Washington DC.  This Bas Armagnac is harmonious and elegant on the palate, powerful and well balanced with a long, smooth vanilla finish.