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Category: News

Toutain Calvados – Apple Harvest Time

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Toutain Calvados

October always denotes the start of the apple harvest which, for us, means Calvados.  A French brandy made from apples, Calvados can only be made in a specified area of Normandy.  One of our favourite suppliers, Toutain, have their orchards in the top cru, Pays d’Auge.  The ‘cidre’ they produce is then distilled on column stills to enhance the fruity flavours.  This year we have extended our range of Toutain Calvados to include:

Toutain Reserve 3 Year Old – Fresh with a strong palate, full of taste. A lingering flavour of cooked apples.

Toutain XO 8 Year Old – Smooth, a mix of apple and wood. It is fresh with minerals and a slightly peppery taste.

Toutain Hors d’Age 15 Year Old  – Well balanced with flavours of green apples, dried fruit and vanilla.

Toutain Vieille Reserve 30 Year Old – Intense and round with flavours of vanilla, wood and hints of fruit on the tail.

Toutain Cuveé Ancestrale 45 Year Old – Intense and elegant with a long finish, reminiscent of ‘Tarte Tatin’.

Toutain Reserve Odile 60 Year Old – Apples and candied fruits (apricots, orange & ginger) with a spicy finish.

Our Latest Montanaro Grappa Di Arneis

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Montanaro Grappa

Our whole range of products from Montanaro, including grappas, vermouths and bitters, has been exceptionally well received by our customers. In fact, it was they that asked us to expand our offering of grappas to include the Montanaro Grappa Di Arneis. So, here it is! Marked by the floral and herbaceous fragrance, typical of the original vine of the Arneis grape, it is a wonderful Montanaro Grappa which explodes in the mouth with the very first sip and is so easy to drink.

Montanaro is one of the oldest distilleries in Langa established by Master of the Still, Francesco Trussoni in 1885. He established the first single vineyard Grappa using Nebbiolo grapes for Barolo. In 1922 Mario Montanaro, together with his wife Angela Trussoni and son Giuseppi, refined the product using the first alembic steam stills. At the end of 2000 Giuseppe Montanaro, aged almost eighty and without direct heirs, decided to sell the Montanaro Distillery to a group of “Albese “ businessmen. Today, Monatanaro is known worldwide as an excellent artisanal and prestigious distillery.

Magnum of Calvados Toutain 8 Year Old

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Magnum of calvados

We have a very special treat for the calvados lover ….. a magnum of 8 Year Old from the top cru. Calvados is usually sold in 70 cl bottles but this one is 150 cl and perfect for a gathering or celebration. This Toutain magnum of calvados comes in a traditionally shaped bottle and really does look the part. It would certainly be a talking point for its rarity, presence and wonderful flavour.

The Toutain family has been developing calvados in Normandy for 5 generations, while respecting family customs and ancestral traditions that give big names to small houses. It has been located at the Domaine de la Couterie since 1971, which is located at the gateway to the Pays d’Auge from Paris, in the small town of Beuzeville. The family business was created more than 95 years ago and today extends over an estate of 25 hectares of traditional ‘high-stem’ plants. These orchards consist of 35 varieties of cider apples, spread over two farms, both located in the AOC Calvados Pays d’Auge Geographical Area. Almost all of their calvados is distilled on a column type alembic still because this technique gives a more fruity flavour, which deepens with age.

This XO calvados has been aged for at least 8 years, initially in 30 – 40 hl oak barrels but subsequently in smaller, 15 – 20 hl ones. It has a wonderful appley flavour and can be drunk as an aperitif (straight on ice or in a cocktail) or as a digestif served at room temperature to allow enough time to air.

New 60 Year Old Cognac From Hermitage

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We are delighted to announce that we have a new Hermitage 60 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac on our shelves. It is the third cognac of this ageing to have made it into the Hermitage range. The previous two were great successes and all the stock available sold out. It has not been easy finding a suitable 60 Year Old Cognac replacement, though. David rejected many before finding this superb example of a top cru cognac, aged to perfection in oak barrels, for at least 60 years.

Its long ageing in wood has given such a depth of flavour and smoothness that it has been bottled at the slightly higher strength of 47% abv. This incredible cognac has been aged in damp cellars in the Premier Cru of cognac.  Aromas and flavours of plum, dark chocolate, liquorice, spices, toffee, almonds and dried fruits enhance this rich and beautifully matured cognac.  A long and glorious tail of citrus fruits, almonds and Marsala wine only add to the long complexity of flavours.

A perfect treat for the cognac connoisseur or as a 60th Birthday Gift.

Hermitage Cognac Marie Louise is 70 Years Old

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Hermitage Cognac Marie Louise is a Grande Champagne cognac from one of the region’s top artisan producers. Still in cask, it is now a magnificent 70 years old.

Some of the finest cognacs ever made were produced in the early twentieth century as, by this time, knowledge of distillation and the ageing process had been significantly refined. Cognac Marie Louise is one of the few remaining cognacs produced during this period. It is from the top cru, Grande Champagne and has matured for more than 70 years in oak casks.

This truly great cognac is named after Marie Louise, the second wife of Napoleon Boneparte. She bore his son who was given the title ‘Roi de Rome’ and who later became Napoleon II.

One litre of this glorious cognac is offered in crystal decanters produced by Cumbria Crystal, the last producer of completely hand-blown and hand-cut, full-lead luxury English crystal in the UK.

The complex aromas, intensity and depth of flavours created by its careful distillation and ageing have created a masterpiece of smoothness. The initial sensation is akin to lining one’s mouth with velvet. The rich and complex flavours of coffee, sultanas, toffee brittle, truffle, dried fig, cinnamon, hazelnut and clove are all wrapped up in an intensely rich rancio found only in the rarest of cognacs.

Only a few people will be privileged to taste this exceptional and rare cognac. Those that do will be delighted by the charm and elegance of Hermitage Cognac Marie Louise, made all those years ago.

“Likely to be one of the finest cognacs you have tasted.”  Victoria Moore, The Saturday Telegraph Luxury Supplement

Does Cognac Contain Allergens or Animal Products?

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allergens

With the increased focus on the labelling of foodstuffs correctly, and in detail, we do get asked about the content of cognac, including allergens.  To ensure we have accurate information for our customers, we put the question to the BNIC (Bureau National Interprofessionel du Cognac), Cognac’s governing body, and this is what they told us:

Cognac is made exclusively by the distillation  of wines, produced in a limited area, from specific grape varieties.  After distillation, Cognac is aged in oak barrels.  Based on this production process, cognac does not contain any of the allergenic substances or products listed in European Regulations.

Subsequent to this process, certain additions are authorised – sugar, caramel, decoction of oak chips and water.  None of these are from animal origin therefore, cognac appears to be compatible with vegetarian or vegan diets.

Additionally, none of the yeast strains qualified by the BNIC for fermentation of the wines, intended for cognac production, are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).  Therefore cognac can be classified as GMO free.

Cognac & Tonic – The Perfect 6pm Treat

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cognac & tonicGin & Tonic has been around since the days of The Raj and nowadays is often drunk as a precursor to dinner.  But tonic goes well with a number of spirits so this summer is a good time to try something different.  How about a simple cognac & tonic?  It is such a delicious, refreshing libation to enjoy.

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Cognac & Tonic

Mix three parts tonic water with one part cognac. Serve over ice in a red wine glass with a slice of lemon.

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And if that is to your liking, you can always replace the cognac with calvados to make Calvados & Tonic.

This month we have three spirits on offer and all can be enjoyed with tonic and a slice of lemon.

Mosgaard Organic Dry Gin

Hermitage 2010 Grande Champagne Cognac

Toutain Reserve 3 Year Old Calvados

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.

Bespoke Cognac Orders for Specific Vintages

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Bespoke Cognac

What a wonderful surprise this bespoke cognac was for a lucky eighteen year old!  Over two hundred bottles of the very best cognac from the top cru, Grande Champagne, distilled in their year of birth.

A bespoke order which we sourced on one of our many visits to the Cognac region.

It is not always possible to find a specific vintage of sufficient quality to bottle under our name, Hermitage, but on this occasion we were lucky.

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We are always happy to consider individual requests such as this one as searching for quality cognacs is our mission.  We can provide in 10 or 30 litre glass bonbonnes or bottle with bespoke labels for a once in a lifetime, unique gift or investment.

Evening Standard Brandy Recommendations

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Evening StandardThe Evening Standard has been reviewing much of the golden nectar recently.  In Nicky Rampley-Clarke’s article ‘Best Digestifs To Sip On Post Dinner’ he includes:

Hermitage 1995 Grande Champagne Cognac

‘A bottle to bring out for special occasions – and, indeed, the guests you really, really like – the Hermitage 1995 Grande Champagne Cognac is remarkably mature with flavours of butterscotch, walnuts, biscuits, baked apple peel, mandarin peel and damson. Rich and complex, this is an investment digestif.’

In another of his articles, ‘Best Armagnacs to Buy in 2023’ Nicky describes armagnac as ‘a distinctive type of brandy that’s made from grapes.  Produced in the Gascony region south-west of Bordeaux in France, it is a sweet spirit that makes for a lip-smacking digestif.  Think of it as a rustic rendition of brandy – fuller-bodied when compared to Cognac, perhaps.’  Two of our favourite armagnacs make his list:

Delord 25 Year Old Bas Armagnac

An Armagnac matured in oak barrels for 25 years and made from Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Bacco 22A and Folle Blanche grapes. Caramel, cocoa butter and vanilla make this a sweet sip indeed, alongside distinctive woody tannins, with the bottle itself presented in a beautiful wooden box. Great for a gift.

Baron de Saint-Fauste 10 Year Old Bas Armagnac

Soft and round with dried fruit and sweet nut flavours, this Armagnac delivers excellent value for money, while packaged up in a traditional bottle with curves in all the right places. Inhale those toffee, baked pear and almond aromas before drinking up that sweet, spicy liquid.