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Christmas Gift Guides For Him & For Her

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It is that time of year when we are all looking for Christmas gift ideas. What to buy the person who has everything? Or the person you really want to treat? Well, to help a little with your festive shopping we have put together some Gift Guides for Him & Her. We have lots of wonderful, special products on our website but here are a few of our favourites:

For Him

Gift Guide

Toutain Reserve 3 Year Old Calvados Distilled, naturally fermented ciders are aged in French oak casks to produce a calvados with a strong palate and a lingering flavour of cooked apples. £39.30

Hermitage 10 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac. Flavours of spice and coffee, with pineapple in the background, are characteristic of cognacs from the top cru. Excellent value for one with such a good pedigree. £64.10

Mosgaard Organic Single Malt Pedro Ximenez Cask Whisky. Double matured, first in new French oak casks and then finished in old Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, adding sweetness and a rich, mahogany colour. £67.20

Delord 25 Year Old Bas Armagnac. Aromas of vanilla and cinnamon lead to flavours of coffee, cocoa and bitter oranges and a long finish with notes of walnut and almond. £83.05

Hermitage 25 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac. This is a particularly complex cognac that has been aged for 25 years in Limousin oak barrels. It has a multitude of aromas and flavours including spices and roasted nuts. £135.60

For Her

Dupont Dream Calvados Liqueur. Calvados cream liqueur with clean appley flavour, delicious and much more appealing than the popularly branded whisky cream liqueurs. £31.80

Mosgaard Organic Tangerine Gin. Sweet and floral organic tangerine gin made from fresh tangerines. The citrus package, gives it a more aromatic expression and is balanced with lime. £39.60

Chateau de Bordeneuve La Grande Josiane, Orange Armagnac Liqueur. A subtle alliance between the fullness and strength of Bas Armagnac and the softness and perfume of bitter oranges meticulously selected for their maturity.  £43.80

Nusbaumer 20 Year Old Reserve Poire William Eau de Vie (Pear). This pear brandy is made from small, red Williams pears that grow on hillsides with excellent sun exposure. Aged for 20 years, it is one of the best we have tasted. £84.00

Dupont Pomme Captive Pays d’Auge Calvados. This apple, macerating in calvados, is created in the spring when a carafe is suspended from the branch of the apple tree as soon as the first little apple appears; it then continues to grow inside. £127.80

Black Friday Month!!

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Bargain Brandies Throughout November

Our Offers this month are some of our best ever!  We will be offering different products, at up to 50% Off, throughout the month of November so, do keep checking back to find Black Friday Month bargains.

Mosgaard Organic Single Malt Port Wine Cask Whisky

This Port Wine Cask Whisky is Mosgaard’s newest whisky, it is dark and intense with vinous and spicy sweetness.  The barrels are the secret, built from two types of old Port Wine casks. Staves from both Ruby and Tawny port casks are mixed to make the Mosgaard casks.  The result is that the Port Wine Cask whisky matures in balance with vinous notes from Ruby port and spicy notes and sweetness from Tawny.

Montanaro Barolo Chinato

The Montanaro Barolo Chinato is an aromatised wine made from Montanaro’s original recipe dating back to the end of the 19th Century. The Barolo Docg wine has an alcoholic infusion of about 30 herbs and spices, the main ones being China Calissaia, Gentian, Rhubarb, Cinnamon, bitter Orange, Cardamom, Nutmeg and Cloves. The chemists of the Langhe area applied the valued properties of Cinchona to the Barolo wine creating a drink with medical properties. Over time it has become one of the most sophisticated proposals of Albese enology. It is perfect served with ice but also as an aperitif served on the rocks with soda, it also goes really well with dark chocolate and desserts.

Paul Devoille Liqueur  de Framboise

This Doulce France Liqueur de Framboise is a luxury raspberry crème liqueur. Macerated raspberries are used to provide a raspberry coloured and flavoured liqueur.

Whisky Drinkers Recognise Armagnac Value

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Henry Jeffrey’s latest article in Club Oenologique hails armagnac as a growing market gaining much attention from whisky and bourbon drinkers.  Not only because of its wonderful flavours and availability but also because it is such excellent value for money.  David Baker, our MD, is quoted, once or twice, referring to the unbelievable price increases seen in whisky in recent years.  “Whisky prices have become ridiculous” he said, whilst amazed that people will pay ten or even a hundred times what they would pay for a fine cognac or armagnac for whiskies that are “just not that spectacular”.  Armagnac value can no longer be ignored.

Henry’s view is that ‘if you love the taste of a well-aged single malt, especially a meaty Sherry-cask whisky like Glenfarclas, then Armagnac offers similar flavours for much less money.’  He goes on to say that ‘you can still pick up rare vintages at what are, by whisky standards, ridiculously good prices. Now is the time to buy; those prices are only going one way.’

We are great fans of armagnac, especially highly respected producers such as Delord and Castarede.  The Bas Armagnacs that they sell are really quite outstanding, which is why we stock so many on our website!

Read the full article here.

National Cognac Day Sunday 4th June 2023

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National Cognac DayWe love to celebrate National Cognac Day!  This year it’s on Sunday 4th June so if you have a bottle you keep for special occasions or fancy trying something new for the first time, this is time to do it!

Cognac, which originates from a town of the same name in France, is a type of brandy, the generic name for spirits that have been made from fruit.  It begins life as a white wine, that has been produced in one of six designated growing regions, and is then distilled in an alembic still and aged in oak casks for years.

Cognac’s production is a science and indeed an art.  If the drink is new to you, here are some handy links to find out more about it:

The other very important factor you need to know is that most cognacs are blended.  This is essential to produce large quantities of a product, that always tastes the same.

But, here at Hermitage we do it differently.  Our cognacs are not blended, they come from Single Estates and each one has unique and identifiable flavours.  So, if you really want to try something new, Hermitage is the place to go.  Each bottle will tell you how many years the cognac has been in the barrel and if it’s a vintage, the year the grapes were harvested.  Enjoy!!

Christmas Gifts For Under £100

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In our second gift guide, designed to make choosing those precious Christmas gifts just a little bit easier, we have selected 5 of our favourites, all of which are priced at under £100:

Under £100Montanaro Grappa Barolo Cannubi    £72.30  A unique grappa distilled from the grape marcs of Nebbiolo da Barolo from the famous Cannubi cru. One of Montanaro’s finest it has an unmistakable intensity on the nose and cleanliness and elegance in the mouth; soft, velvety, sweet and delicate flavours with notes of dried fruit and jam. Aged in Slavonian oak barrels for 4-5 years, it has a golden yellow colour typical of wood-aged distillates.

Hermitage 2010 Grande Champagne Cognac   £76.14   Another wonderful vintage from the Chez Richon stills, this cognac is still in cask and maturing all the time. Traditional flavours of mocha and toffee are accompanied by butterscotch and sweet spices to delight your palate. As our award-winning 2005 vintage has run out, we are pleased to have found this 2010 as a worthy replacement.

Toutain Hors d’Age 15 Year Old Calvados   £77.22    There are 35 apple varieties allowable for the production of calvados and Toutain grow all their own in their orchards near Beuzeville, Normandy. This Hors d’Age calvados has been aged in oak for 15 years to produce a complex and fine calvados suitable for drinking during or after a meal.

Mosgaard Organic Single Malt Palo Cortado Cask Whisky   £84.12  Finished in casks built from American white oak, which had been medium toasted, and put into stock with Palo Cortado sherry for 1.5 years.  (Palo Cortado is a sherry with the nose of Amontillado and the body from Oloroso).  It has been bottled at a strength of 53% which balances the spicy malt and green citrus notes.

Delord 1992 Bas Armagnac   £88.26   An armagnac with character from Delord. It was distilled in 1992 and aged in wooden barrels until its recent bottling. It is contact with the wood that has helped give its beautiful colour of old gold with copper highlights.  

Cognacs With Age Statements

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Age StatementsCognac house Maison Bache Gabrielsen has released a new series of cognacs with age statements called Years in Cask.  Good to see them following in our footsteps!  These cognacs are also vintages so by definition they must be single estate and cannot be blended.  Once vintage cognacs have reached their optimum maturity they are transferred to glass bonbonnes where they will mature no further.

Bache Gabrielsen have released 4 new cognacs aged from 19 to 37 years.  The younger two come from Grande Champagne, the top cru, where cognacs take the longest to mature whilst the older two come from Fin Bois, a lesser known cru.  Their prices range from £163 to £344 for a 70cl bottle with abvs being between 40 and 47 percent.  It is great to see another cognac house heralding the benefits of age statement and vintage cognac but before you part with your hard earned cash to try them out, take a look at the quality and price of the following, produced by Hermitage:

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.

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.

Hermitage Cognacs Review

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Hermitage Cognacs ReviewThanks to Robin Goldsmith, freelance drinks writer at The Write Taste, for reviewing our Hermitage Cognacs as “deliciously decadent vintage Cognacs”.  The cognacs that Robin tasted are three of which we are particularly proud:

Hermitage 2008 Grande Champagne Cognac.  A very, very special and extraordinary find. This 2008 Cognac is just 10 years old, single-barrel, single-estate and very expensive, but it is one in a million. Smooth and perfectly balanced, it’s rich, spicy and full of intrigue. There are less than 200 bottles available so it won’t last – it is too good to last. Don’t do anything other than just drink it, you will never find another cognac like this even at double the price.  IWSC 2020 – Gold Award

Hermitage 1952 Grande Champagne Cognac.  A magnificent cognac from the Premier Cru which has been aged in cellars that are of medium dampness for more than 50 years. It was stored in old oak 250 litre barrels which had a medium toasting. Beautifully balanced, this superb cognac from the 1950s has matured with great finesse and elegance.  IWSC 2021 – Gold Award

Hermitage 50 year Old Grande Champagne Cognac.  Originally our 45 year old Grande Champagne Cognac, we have watched this remarkable brandy develop in its cask for many years. It is now more than 50 years old and still it grows in maturity, richness and finesse. The flavours of fruit cake, sultanas and porcini will continue to develop in this masterpiece.  IWSC 2021 – The Cognac Trophy & Gold Outstanding Award

Wonderful Mother’s Day Gifts – Sunday 27th March 2022

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Mother's DayMarch is always the perfect time of year to celebrate Mother’s Day – spring is here and there are signs of new life appearing around every corner.  So how do you say thanks to your Mum for all the years of love, kindness and support?  Well this year we have lots of new ideas including gins, vermouths, eaux de vie, grappa and bitters.  And three of them are on offer for this month making them even more attractive:

Mosgaard Organic Oak Cask Aged Gin – Cask Gin is based on Mosgaard’s Dry Gin which is distilled and reduced to 60% abv and then aged in old bourbon and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for 8-9 months. The whisky and sherry casks add sweetness, vanilla and caramel notes to the citrus and juniper flavours. Enjoy neat with a cup of coffee, spice it up with Ginger Ale and orange zest or use it in a dry martini.

Nusbaumer – 20 Year Old Reserve Poire William Eau de Vie (Pear) – This pear brandy is made from small, red Williams pears that grow on hillsides with excellent sun exposure and natural irrigation. Native to the Hautes-Alpes, this sun-drenched fruit is particularly juicy and fragrant. The brandy has been aged for 20 years and is one of the best we have tasted.  Presented in an antique-style bottle that protects it from the light, it is made in very small batches and the bottle is sealed by hand with wax.

Grape Brandy Jacopo Poli Chiara di Moscato – Jacopo Poli Chiara di Moscato is a single vintage grape brandy from a single variety of grape. It was distilled from the wine made from the White Muscat grapes from the Euganean Hills (Veneto). Distilled in small lots on a ‘bain marie’, it has a sweet flavour with a light touch of citrus fruits.