In Cognac news, Courvoisier recently announced the addition of C by Courvoisier to its portfolio. C by Courvoisier is produced in small batches and double aged, which – says the company – imparts an intense flavor profile that showcases a new side of Cognac. In creating C by Courvoisier, a blend of small-batch Cognacs specially selected from 50 winegrowers in the Fin Bois Cru region are carefully crafted by the house’s master blender. From there, it goes through a double-barrel aging process. First up is a young barrel that brings out a strong, wood character and gives it a full-bodied,...

Camus is a prolific maker of Cognacs, registering as the fifth largest Cognac house in the world. But until recently, Camus Cognacs weren’t available to the U.S. market, and it’s still a mostly unknown brand inside the states. Camus produces a handful of product ranges including Excellence, Rarissimes, Borderies and the Masterpiece Collection. Sitting near the top of the Excellence range is Camus XO, the focus of this review. XO or ‘extra old,’ designates a blend in which the youngest brandy is aged for no less than six years, but often is aged upwards of 15...

Pierre Ferrand today introduced its new Cognac, titled 1840 Original Formula. In name and style, the spirit harkens back to the 19th century, when Cognac was a popular component in cocktails. Rather than rare, old Cognacs meant for sipping, Cognac cocktails in the 1800s typically featured “three star” Cognacs. These were young and lively, yet darker and richer in flavor (and higher in proof) than today’s equivalents. Over the years, this style fell by the wayside along with Cognac cocktails in general. Pierre Ferrand’s 1840 Original Formula is a mixable Cognac that was created by Cognac Ferrand president Alexandre Gabriel with...

Last week we promised some Louis XIII news, and here it is. Remy Martin has just launched Le Jeroboam, a new expression of its Louis XIII cognac. It’s contained in an impressive crystal decanter, as seen above, which holds a whopping 3 liters of Louis XIII Grande Champagne Cognac. Fashioned by a team of crystal craftsman, the decanters are available in very limited quantity, with about 100 produced in the first year. Each decanter features five kilos of crystal, and the neck is adorned with 24-carat gold. In you find yourself with some extra cash lying around, a bottle of Louis...

Remy Martin dates back to 1724, but its most iconic spirit, Louis XIII, didn’t hit the market until 150 years later. Louis XIII is a blend of 1,200 eaux de vie, some up to 100 years old, from the Grande Champagne region of France. It’s aged in Limousine oak casks, and its name pays homage to the King of France, during whose reign the Remy Martin family settled in the Cognac region. The Louis XIII decanter is a notable site at better bars and restaurants around the world, where a 2 ounce pour can run upward of $150. And with a...

Giorgio G Cognac comes from Giorgio Gucci, the fashion icon. I know nothing about fashion, but I do appreciate a nice Cognac, which now makes Gucci relevant to me. The XO is a 35 year old blend of more than 70 different eaux-de-vie from the Grande Champagne region in France. The cognac is deep mahogany in color, with hints of red. The nose is incredibly intense, with fruit-forward notes of orange and passion fruit, plus some nuttiness and chocolate in the background. It’s very smooth and round on the palate. There’s some oaky dryness, but no alcohol burn. It tastes of...

In 1738, King Louis XV issued the Accord Royal, which decreed that only Rémy Martin could plant new vines on his land.  Rémy Martin’s 1738 Accord Royal cognac was created to commemorate the year and the honor. Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal is a Fine Champagne Cognac, which means that the eaux-de-vie selected come from the two best growth areas of the Cognac region – the Grande Champagne and the Petite Champagne.  The cognac is a blend of nearly 240 eaux-de-vie aged between four and 20 years in Limousin oak barrels. I’ve remained pretty ambivalent about cognac over the years, and other...

I recently sat down with Chris “Ludacris” Bridges in Dallas to discuss his cognac, Conjure.  As the majority owner of Conjure, Ludacris went to France in early 2009 to research his new cognac. He spent time with Birkedal Hartmann’s master blender, and the pair used more than 40 types of brandy before deciding upon a combination that reflected the rapper/actor’s taste. Here’s a sampling of what Ludacris had to say about Conjure: Q: What got you interested in producing your own cognac? I've been a cognac drinker for a long time.  Louis XIII was pretty much my favorite, so I wanted to make...

Today Hennessy announced the nationwide release of Hennessy Black.  Already debuted in select cities in 2009, this lighter, more floral cognac is aimed at the young, mixed drink crowd, rather than Hennessy’s establishment of sippers. From Hennessy – Hennessy, the number one selling cognac in the world, today announced the nationwide availability of Hennessy Black, marking the company’s first major product introduction in the United States in nearly 50 years.  Hennessy Black will differ from the brand’s existing line as a highly versatile, “done different” cognac, transitioning from being enjoyed as a sipping drink alone to being the main ingredient in a...

Recently 30 booze experts tasted 1,024 premium spirits for the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.  Entries represented 58 countries and six continents.  Some winners are noted below. Premium Awards Distillery of the Year – Glenmorangie Distillery Importer of the Year – Moët Hennessy USA Best in Show, White – Trago Silver Tequila ($40) Best in Show, Whisky – Isle of Jura Prophecy ($70) Best in Show, Brandy – Père Magloire 20 Year Old Calvados ($100) Best in Show, Liqueur – Grand Marnier 100th Anniversary ($135) “Best of” Awards Vodka – Chase ($40) Flavored Vodka – Rain Organics Cucumber Lime ($21) Gin – Beefeater 24 ($30) Rum – Vizcaya VXOP Solera  ($38) Extra-Aged...