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Category: News

Half a Million Bottles of Cognac Seized

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Cognac delivery seized

Chinese customs officials have arrested four suspected smugglers and confiscated more than 520,000 bottles of Louis Royer XO Cognac bound for the Chinese mainland. It is alleged that those arrested avoided paying the correct excise duty and VAT by lowering the declared price by 30% and falsifying customs declarations at their HK company. Clamping down on imports appears to be another measure by the Chinese government to curb luxury spend and cognac exports to China continue to fall.

Entry Level Cognac Brands Haven’t Improved Quality

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According to Hine Cognac’s CEO, “The trend towards premiumisation across all consumer categories, including fashion and alcohol, is seeing brands improve their image without improving quality.” This trend has meant that lower grade brands have been able to improve their overall perception without improving their quality. However he goes on to say that “connoisseurs are now seeking products with flawless raw material, of precise provenance and uncompromising quality” in their search for truly premium brands. So, it’s not about the logo, discerning customers want superb quality, like Hermitage – take our 43 year old for example.

Revamping Cognac’s Image?

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Various spirits have enjoyed a revamping of their image in recent years as cocktail culture continues to evolve, but what about cognac? It still tends to conjure up one of two images. The first is of an older gentleman in a suit, sitting in an overstuffed leather chair next to the fire with a large snifter. The second involves a whole lot of bling and rap music, thanks to the various rappers who have claimed cognac as their signature beverage. But what about influencing those outside of these two somewhat polarised groups? Even cocktail consultant Jordan Watson does not believe cocktails are the way ahead stating that “The higher-end, older cognacs are best for sipping on their own so as to fully appreciate their amazing range and depth of aromas and flavours.” So how can we get this message across to other sectors of the younger generation? Justin Bieber, at just 21, is clearly a fan and one of the oldest cognac houses has just employed its youngest cellar master ever, at just 35 years old, perhaps indicating a different approach? Maybe this is the start of a new trend to broaden the appeal of cognac as an elegant drink to youngsters?

The Charente Scene – Winter 2016

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Very much as expected, the grape harvest in 2015 is producing one of the best and biggest quantities of distilled spirit ever.  It looks like the total will be well over 800,000hl, indicating a record year.  Despite this, many distillers are fearful of a new demand on cognac from export markets, especially the USA where a record 4.3 million cases (51.6 million bottles) were sold last year. The US market is predominantly led by Hennessy whose share is 67%, the majority of which is of VS quality.  It has been made popular by influential rappers such as Nas and Jay-Z and the trend seems to be increasing.  Many of the distillers who sell their cognacs to Hennessy believe that surges in demand, such as that from China a few years ago, will lead to their instability; the current large production requirement may not be needed in 2 -3 years’ time.  In contrast, many of the Hermitage vintages have been aged for decades and are now in extremely short supply.  Take a look at the Hermitage 1903 for example, only a couple of bottles remain.

2015 – A Good Year for Armagnac

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According to the regulatory body representing Armagnac producers, the BNIA (Bureau National Interprofessionnel l’Armagnac), Armagnac distillation started on 8 October, the earliest date in living memory.  Favourable weather conditions in the spring got the vines off to a good start.  This was followed by a very hot July, and then the “right” amount of rain in August, which helped to speed up grape maturation.  As a consequence, harvesting started two weeks earlier than usual on 10 September.  “It is important to harvest early as the producers are looking for wines that are high in acidity and low in alcohol for the distillation and October can be a very sunny and warm month,” a BNIA spokesperson explained.  When harvesting early, it is also important to distil early or keep the wines cold. The harvest itself was deemed “good quality” – it will be very fruity and rich with fine lees, and the producers are expecting a particularly good vintage.  So, make a note for the future, 2015 Armagnac should be delicious!  And while you’re waiting, how about another recent vintage to whet your appetite – the Domaine du Cardinat 1994?

The Ageing of Cognac Inspires Film

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100 YearsDirected by Robert Rodriguez, the appropriately named ‘100 Years’ envisages what Earth will be like a century from now.  The film was inspired by the cognac production process, where the best cognacs are aged in cellars, untouched, for decades, only to be enjoyed by a future generation.  So grapes that were harvested and distilled in 2015 will be left in oak barrels to age for up to 100 years.  Vintage cognacs are only bottled once they have reached their optimum maturation, which is usually when the next generation is in charge!  The film follows the same concept.  It has been placed in a bulletproof time-automated safe and guests have received exclusive invitations, for their descendants, to attend the premiere in 2115.  Presumably, the intention is that they will enjoy it with a 2015 vintage cognac!  Today you can enjoy other cognacs made over 100 years ago – try our Hermitage 1900, it was certainly worth waiting for!

Hermitage 1966 Grande Champagne Cognac

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Hermitage 1966 CognacThe New Year is traditionally the time to consider all things new – like the latest vintage from Hermitage Cognacs. It is 50 years since the Hermitage 1966 Grande Champagne Cognac was distilled. Aged to perfection in oak barrels, only a few bottles of this precious treasure remain. Rare, complex and with incredible balance, this cognac makes a fantastic gift for a 50 year old birthday or anniversary, or to commemorate something special that happened in 1966… like England winning the World Cup!

Indestructible bottle-carrying suitcase

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A virtually indestructible suitcase, with special inserts for bottles, goes on sale in the UK shortly for £229.  The hard shell with high density foam inners protects the bottles whilst in transit and no doubt ‘does what it says on the tin’.  Here at Brandyclassics though, we find that wrapping your bottles with woolly pullies and packing them in the middle of a stout case works just as well.  Think what a lovely bottle of cognac you could buy for £229 instead ….. like this A.E.Dor No 7 for instance!

Whole Bottle of Cognac Drunk Before Flying

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A Chinese woman reportedly downed a full bottle of XO cognac at a Beijing airport security control after being told that she could not take it on board.  Staff told her she was not allowed to carry the bottle in her hand luggage because it exceeded the 100ml limit and so, not wanting to waste the purchase, she apparently drank the entire contents.  This did not seem to help her cause any as she was then deemed too drunk to board the flight.  But looking on the plus side, at least she was probably too inebriated to taste most of it!

One of the few XOs we stock is certainly too good to be treated in this way – the Fontpinot is to be savoured and enjoyed.  View our whole range of luxury cognacs here.

Conviviality Retail Buys On Trade Wholesaler Matthew Clark

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A hindrance to the premium cognac market?

The owner of Bargain Booze, one of the UK’s largest off licence chains, is moving into the On Trade business with its recent purchase of Matthew Clark.  Bargain Booze is renowned for its cut price alcohol brands and has recently taken on Aldi in the direct comparison advertising stakes.  They have clearly set out to dominate the cheaper end of the alcohol market.  Matthew Clark has also had its cut price strategies providing cheap blended cognacs and spirits to the On Trade free of charge with accompanying orders.  Whilst very appealing to the recipients this is very disappointing for the customers who are looking for luxury cognacs with individuality.  It is little wonder that so many good quality cognacs are being (mis)guided into the mixer market and now sadly, as a result of this takeover, there will be even more inexperienced cognac distributors selling what is a very complex product.

Take a look at these luxury cognacs that should never be wasted in a cocktail!