Tag: best cognac

Paul Beau is a name synonymous with exceptional quality in cognac circles.  The company dates back to the end of the 1800s, when Samuel Beau began to work the vineyards surrounding his Segonzac estate in Grande Champagne.  When he died in 1914, the cognac house passed to his son, Paul, who together with his wife, grew the estate to over 100 hectares in size. They also modernized the buildings and distillery, whilst keeping the traditional alembic stills to ensure the quality of their produce.  In 1977 they decided to sell directly under their own label – and the Paul Beau brand name… Read more

National 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… Read more

If you’re looking for Christmas Suggestions you will have found two recommendations for Hermitage Cognacs in the press last week.  Olly Smith, well known wines and spirits journalist and television presenter featured our Hermitage 20 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac in the Mail on Sunday magazine last weekend.  “Imagine a giant pineapple given a toffee-apple dip and you get this ultimate festive spirit, hugely divergent in its range of flavours” he said. Richard Woodard, writing in Decanter, also featured Hermitage in his ‘Best Cognacs for Christmas 2021‘.  In describing our award-winning Hermitage 50 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac he wrote: “It’s… Read more

As most of you know, I spend a great deal of my time tasting cognacs because as a company we believe that every cognac must be perfect for its intended type of customer. But being perfect doesn’t necessarily mean it is the cognac which excels in taste above all others.  The simple truth is that a cognac which I may consider is the best cognac may not be the same one that you like because our palates have become accustomed, over time, to different taste characteristics which our brains have accepted as good. Perhaps the term ‘taste characteristics’ is one… Read more