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, intense flavor, says Patrice Pinet, Master Blender for Courvoisier. It is then aged in mature barrels to round out the taste profile and deliver a silky finish.

The end result is, according to Courvoisier, a rich Cognac with a good balance between floral, fruity aromas and wood, with notes of carnation, orange peel, clove, toast and crusty bread.

C by Courvoisier is available this month, and a 750ml bottle of the 80 proof Cognac will retail for about $35.

Like that? Drink this:
- Introducing Hennessy Black
- Sipping Conjure Cognac with Ludacris
- Pierre Ferrand Introduces 1840 Original Formula Cognac

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 or 20 years. Camus XO Elegance is fairly light on the nose, with lots of sweet fruit upfront. Some wood balances the fruit, but the wood character is less prominent than many XO Cognacs. Drink up to find notes of dried apricots and honey, plus a touch of flowers and spice. It finishes long, dry and clean, with just a hint of vanilla.

Camus XO Cognac is pretty representative of the Camus style of Cognacs in general – lots of fruit, light oak. It’s a pleasant, easy-drinking, subtle Cognac that’s suitable for everyday sipping, should your budget allow it.

Stats:
– 40% Alcohol by Volume
– $120

Like that? Drink this:
– Remy Martin 1738 Accord Royal Cognac
– Germain-Robin Brandy Reviews

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 help from cocktail historian David Wondrich. Their formula was comprised after extensive tasting and evaluation of surviving examples of three-star Cognacs going back to the early nineteenth century.

1840 Original Formula will officially launch in New Orleans at this month’s Tales of the Cocktail, and it will launch nationwide on August 1st. It’s 90 proof (45% ABV) and carries a suggested price of $45 for a 750ml bottle.

And now for a Cognac cocktail –

The Chanticleer

1 barspoon superfine sugar
1 barspoon water
2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
1 dash absinthe
2 ounces Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula

Add sugar to a small tumbler, then add water and stir to dissolve. Add remaining ingredients, and stir with cracked ice until cold. Twist lemon peel over the top and serve.

Like that? Drink this:
- Remy Martin 1738 Accord Royal Cognac
- Giorgio G XO Cognac Review
- Introducing Louis XIII Le Jeroboam 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 XIII Le Jeroboam will set you back nearly $23,000.

So how does it taste? Very good. Our sample is rich and luxurious, with aromas of fruits, flowers and spices and deep flavors of honey and more fruit.

For more info on the launch, check out www.tasteoflegend.com. And click below for more photos of Louis XIII Le Jeroboam.

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 bottle typically priced at or above $1,500, it’s the epitome of a luxury spirit.

That said, Louis XIII by Remy Martin is readying for some big product news. As part of this announcement, they’re sending out samples to spirits and luxury bloggers around the world, which will result in a virtual world tour of the new product. Stay tuned as we report back with our findings.

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 candied fruit, vanilla and spice. The finish is absurdly long. I was tasting Giorgio G for 20 minutes after drinking it, which isn’t a bad thing.

The spirit is distributed by Emperor’s Brand, but it’s not widely available. Ordering through the company is probably the best bet for anyone interested in scoring a bottle of Giorgio G Cognac.

Stats:
- 40% Alcohol by Volume
- $N/A

Click for more liquor reviews.

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 than a handful of tastings and some recent, ill-fated brushes with Hennessy Black and Conjure, I’ve merely dabbled in the category.  Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal might change that a bit, as I like this stuff.  A lot.

The copper-colored spirit is bursting with oak and candied fruit on the nose, plus chocolate and a hint of cinnamon.  The bouquet is very well balanced, with each scent folded into the next.  Upon tasting 1738, I found lots of oak, more fruit and some light floral notes playing in the background.  It remains very smooth and round on the palate, and the finish is absurdly long.

All in all, I like it.  You could mix Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal into a Sidecar or numerous other cocktails calling for cognac, but with something that’s such a smooth sipping spirit, why bother?

Stats:
- 40% Alcohol by Volume
- $50

Click for more liquor reviews.

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 something that was as close to Louis XIII as possible, but for a way more affordable price.

Q. How involved were you in the production process?

I went to France to help handcraft it because I want everybody to feel like they’re part of the experience when they buy a bottle. I’m not just another celebrity attaching my name to something; I’m actually invested in it. It’s one VS, one VSOP and one XO cognac all mixed together. That’s why it’s so smooth. It’s higher quality cognac for a better price.

Q: Who do you imagine drinking your cognac?

Just like my fan base, it’s extremely versatile.  There is no limit.  As I like to say, it’s the “new brown in town.”  There’s no one demographic. If I had to say, it’s for the sophisticated, luxurious, innovative individual who’s creative and is not afraid to take a chance on something.

After sampling the cognac neat in a snifter, Ludacris encouraged me to mix it with some pineapple juice and ice. Not normally my thing, but sure. The result was actually pretty good, in a very-drinkable-and-tastes-like-juice kind of way.  As a sipping brandy, I found it too sweet, overly fruity and lacking balance, but it works as a mixing spirit, which is how I imagine most people will consume Conjure.

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 variety of mixed drinks, similar to tequila and vodka. Hennessy Black was introduced in 2009 in select cities, but beginning this month, will be available nationwide.  To support the release of Hennessy Black, the brand will aim to reach young, hip consumers through dance and music in high-energy settings across the country.

Packaged in a sleek, bold, black bottle, Hennessy Black is a versatile blend of 35 to 45 unique, pale and gold colored eaux-de-vie selected for their elegant floral characteristics, subsequently aged in French oak barrels for at least five years. Hennessy Black’s gentler wood influence results in a different expression of Hennessy cognac: lighter and fresher with scents of jasmine, daffodils and orange flowers that are delicately mixed with hints of citrus, honey, and fresh grapes. This unique combination of ingredients creates a distinctively smooth cognac with surprising finesse, balance and floral notes.

The new Hennessy Black will be available at the top bars and nightclubs nationwide. The suggested retail price per 750ml bottle is $39.99.

Have you gotten your hands on a bottle?  Weigh in with some thoughts 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 Rum – Pusser’s 15 Year Old ($55)
Cachaça – Leblon ($30)
Reposado Tequila – Trago Reposado ($45)
Añejo Tequila – El Jimador Añejo ($30) and Mujer Bonita Añejo ($25) – TIE
Mescal – El Zacatecano Añejo Mescal ($42)
Bourbon – Elijah Craig Single Barrel ($40)
Canadian Whiskey – Seagrams VO ($23)
Irish Whiskey – Bushmills 1608 ($100)
Blended Scotch – The Grand Bark Equinoxe ($55)
Single Malt Scotch – Ardbed Single Malt ($85)
Armagnac – Comte de Lauvia 21 Year Old ($35)
Pisco – Pisco O Torontel ($35)
Cream Liqueur – Godiva White Chocolate ($30)

More info here – www.sfspiritscomp.com