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Tag: brandy

Understanding VSOP and XO Cognac: A Deeper Dive into Age and Quality

Posted / in Learning about Brandy, Trade Training and tagged , , , ,

When exploring the world of Cognac, two terms often encountered are VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) and XO (Extra Old). These labels indicate the age of the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend—four years for VSOP and ten years for XO. However, the story behind these labels is far more nuanced, especially when considering the practices of major producers versus smaller, artisanal distillers.

The Reality of VSOP and XO Cognac

Historically, VSOP and XO cognacs represented significant quality and ageing. XO, in particular, used to indicate a blend where the average age was around 25 years. However, due to commercial pressures, many mass-produced XO cognacs today contain spirits that are much younger, often barely meeting the ten year minimum. This shift has led to a broad spectrum of quality within these categories, making it challenging for consumers to gauge the true value and character of the cognac they are purchasing.

Why Hermitage Cognac Stands Apart

At Hermitage Cognac, we have chosen to eschew these generic labels in favour of age statements and vintages. This decision is rooted in our commitment to authenticity and transparency. Unlike the large houses that blend hundreds of different eaux de vie, Hermitage focuses on single estate cognacs from the premier cru region of Grande Champagne. This ensures that each bottle offers a pure, unadulterated expression of the terroir and technique behind it.

Our entry level Hermitage 10 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac is an exceptional choice. It is barrel aged for a minimum of ten years and is refined, luxurious and unblended, a spirit which far exceeds young generic blends with a minimum age requirement of only four years. In comparison, our 10 year old cognac offers a depth and complexity that only comes from much longer ageing in oak casks.

Hermitage 20 year old Grande Champagne Cognac has a minimum barrel age of 20 years, thus making it a superior choice to XO blends whose minimum age requirement is only 10 years in oak, it offers a richer, more intense and smoother flavour profile. Moreover, it is sourced entirely from a single estate in the Grande Champagne region, ensuring consistency and quality that is unmatched by generic XO cognac blends from larger producers.

The Benefits of Knowing the Age of Your Cognac

By choosing a cognac from Hermitage Cognac, you gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of what is in your glass. The age statement on our bottles is not just a number; it is a guarantee of the time, care, and expertise that have gone into producing each cognac. This transparency allows you to appreciate the true character of a well aged spirit, unblended and free from additives that mask the natural flavour.

Owning a bottle of Hermitage Cognac is more than just a purchase; it’s an investment in quality and tradition. Each sip offers a journey through decades of careful cellar ageing, reflecting the unique terroir of Grande Champagne. Whether enjoyed personally, given as a gift, or kept as an investment,  a bottle of Hermitage Cognac is a testament to the highest standards of cognac production and an indulgence in the very best that this golden nectar has to offer.

Discovering the Charm of Pineau des Charentes

Posted / in Recipes and tagged , , ,

Pineau des Charentes, a unique fortified wine, blends freshly pressed grape juice with Cognac and hails from the heart of the Cognac region in France. This distinctive drink, available in white, red, and rosé varieties, offers a range of flavours influenced by its age. Younger Pineau is known for its fresh, fruity character, while older versions present more complex notes of dried fruit, nuts, and rich, concentrated flavours. The drink’s versatility makes it a perfect choice for any occasion, whether enjoyed as an aperitif, a dessert wine, or a delightful base for summer cocktails.

Protected under the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) since 1945, Pineau des Charentes benefits from the expertise of generations of Cognac cellar masters. The drink’s production is deeply rooted in tradition, with a careful balance of 25% Cognac ‘eau de vie’ and 75% grape juice, aged in oak barrels. The result is a spirited wine that captures the essence of the Cognac region. It’s a versatile drink that pairs exceptionally well with various dishes, from seafood and white meats to rich desserts like chocolate and blue cheeses. Pineau’s lightness and modest alcohol content of around 17% make it a great choice for both before and after a meal.

As we embrace the summer season, Pineau des Charentes shines as a refreshing and elegant option for outdoor gatherings. Its light, fruity profile is perfect for warm evenings spent with friends and family. The Château Montifaud Pineau des Charentes White 4YO, in particular, is an excellent representation of this style, offering a taste that is both sophisticated and accessible. Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or new to Pineau, this product is sure to impress.

For those looking to explore Pineau des Charentes in a new way, we recommend trying the Pineaujito—a summer cocktail that swaps rum for Pineau, adding a unique twist to a classic recipe:

  1. Crush 8 fresh mint leaves in a tall glass.
  2. Add 6 pieces of lime.
  3. Mix in 4 teaspoons of brown sugar (or 12 teaspoons of cane sugar).
  4. Fill the glass with ice cubes.
  5. Pour in 60 ml of Château Montifaud Pineau des Charentes White 4YO
  6. Stir well and top with sparkling water.
  7. Garnish with a mint leaf.

This cocktail not only highlights the fresh, fruity notes of Pineau but also offers a refreshing alternative to more traditional summer drinks. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy the unique qualities of Pineau des Charentes while celebrating the warm weather.

At Brandyclassics, we are proud to feature the Château Montifaud Pineau des Charentes White 4YO in our selection. This Pineau is a beautiful representation of the tradition and expertise that define the Cognac region. To add this delightful drink to your collection and make the most of your summer, visit our product page.

Different Types of Brandy

Posted / in Brandy Education, Learning about Brandy, News and tagged , , , , ,

Here at Brandyclassics and Bunch & Bushel we sell three main types of French brandy: cognac, armagnac and calvados.

Brandy is the generic name for spirits that have been made from fruit and produced all over the world.  But some brandies have very specific guidelines concerning their production.  So what is the difference between our products?  This can be summarised as follows:

brandyCOGNAC

  • Made from specific grape varieties
  • Produced in the Cognac region of France only
  • The eau de vie must be distilled twice
  • Distilled in copper pot Charentais stills.

ARMAGNAC

  • Made from specific grape varieties
  • Produced in the Armagnac region of France only
  • The eau de vie is distilled just once
  • Produced on a continuous Alembic still

CALVADOS

  • Made from apples
  • Produced in the Calvados region in Normandy
  • Top cru calvados must use the double distillation method on a pot still to be labelled Pays d’Auge
  • Column still distillation is mandatory to produce Calvados Domfrontais

Read more about the production of these wonderful French brandies on our Brandy Education page.  Another useful article outlining the differences between 12 types of brandy can be found here.

 

Father’s Day Gifts for Sunday 20th June 2021

Posted / in News and tagged , , , ,

Father'sCognac is known as the King of Brandies so makes the perfect gift this Father’s Day.  What better way to say “Thanks”, “I Love You” or just, “Enjoy”?

It’s been a tricky time for everyone these last 12 months so, in preparation for this year’s special day we have spectacular offers on three of our very own Hermitage Cognacs:

Hermitage 2010 Grande Champagne is our latest vintage, ideal for those wanting to try a new cognac.

Hermitage Cafe 20 Grande Champagne is dark and robust, perfect for the coffee lover.

Hermitage 40 Year Old Grande Champagne is a Master medal winner, the choice of connoisseurs.

And to tempt your taste buds even further, the Master of Malt Blog includes our 2021 Master Medal Winner, Hermitage 1990, as one of its Top Ten Cognacs for Father’s Day.  Enjoy!

Armagnac Crus

Posted / in Brandy Education, Learning about Brandy, News, The History of Armagnac and tagged , , , ,

armagnac crusArmagnac is produced in the south west of France in the departments of Gers and Landes in the region known as Gascony. The region has very little industry and the landscape is relatively flat, very green and the people are friendly, living an altogether quieter life than those in Cognac to the north. Indeed, most of the land is given over to agriculture and perhaps well described by Nick Faith, the famous writer on French Brandies, as the land of Fois Gras.  An ideal base for armagnac crus.

The climate is perhaps a little warmer than in Cognac but still enjoys the temperate conditions so necessary for growing grapes. These are made into wine and then distilled into the oldest spirit in the world, armagnac. It was perhaps made famous by the French musketeer d’Artagnan and immortalised by Alexandre Dunas.

There are three armagnac crus, the smallest is Bas Armagnac. However, whilst it is the smallest in land mass, it is the largest armagnac production region making around 57% of all the armagnac produced. The department is in the north west of the region, closest to the Atlantic where, millions of years ago, the sea washed in sandy and silty soil which now produces some of the finest armagnacs. These fine spirits are fruity, light and delicate and regarded as the best armagnacs in the region. The main town in the Bas department is Eauze, a small market town where the BNIA can be found.

To the East of Bas is the second cru of armagnac known as Ténarèze. The department is slightly bigger than Bas and in the centre lies the town of Condom with its beautiful buildings and Armagnac museum. The cru comprises about 40% of all the armagnac vineyards and the armagnacs produced here tend to develop much slower than those in Bas. The clay and limestone soil produces rich and fruity spirits which are often used whilst relatively young to make generic blends.

The largest cru is Haut Armagnac. It surrounds Ténarèze on three sides, north, east and south and the main town is Auch which is in the centre of the region. The cru is often referred to as white armagnac as the soil contains an abundance of limestone. The viticulture was developed here in the 19th century to meet the high market demand but has since dwindled away to only a few producers who make largely uninteresting armagnacs.

Whilst armagnac is not so well known as its big brother cognac, it is a beautiful spirit.  It has many rich and fruity flavours, the most common being prune, which can often be identified in the Delord range.  They are one of the older producers in the region situated in the top cru, Bas Armagnac.

Christmas 2020 Deliveries

Posted / in News and tagged , , , , ,

ChristmasFor Christmas deliveries to addresses in the UK please ensure your orders are with us by 10 am on Tuesday 22nd December 2020.

Generally UK orders placed before 12 noon will be delivered the following working day but please be aware that although we are able to process orders within 1 working day, Parcelforce are not always able to meet their normal delivery times at present.

Our deliveries to America are also taking longer than usual due to a shortage of flights so all orders to the rest of the world should be placed as soon as possible please.  More information can be found in our Terms and Conditions.

XO Brandy – What Does It Mean?

Posted in Brandy Education, Learning about Brandy, News and tagged , , , ,

XO BrandyXO brandy, XO cognac. XO armagnac. Why is the term XO used so often when few of us actually know what it means? Originally, XO stood for Extra Old. In terms of age, up until 2018, an XO cognac had to be at least 6 years old but this was also the required minimum age of Napoleon Cognac. So, after decades of promising change, the controlling body of cognac, the BNIC, agreed to make the minimum barrel age of an XO cognac 10 years old. This is important because cognacs do not mature once they have been taken from their oak casks and placed in glass. Armagnac also stepped into line and now age their XO brandies for a minimum of ten years.

The problem with all this is that brandies, particularly cognacs, need to be in a barrel for much longer than ten years to reach optimum maturity, so an XO brandy is actually not very old. It should be noted that some of the smaller brandy houses keep their XO cognacs in the barrel for longer than the required minimum age in order to produce a more mellow, flavoursome product. More recently it has been recognised that a 10 year old cognac is not particularly old so another generic age statement has been introduced, it is called XXO. The minimum age for an XXO cognac (Extra Extra Old) is 14 years in an oak cask. Even this is not long enough for cognacs from the premier cru, Grande Champagne. They are the slowest of all brandies to mature and may take up to twice as long as cognacs from other crus, requiring 50 years or even more.

The term XO is widely misunderstood and even at ten years old some brandies are only just drinkable. At Hermitage Cognacs, we do not sell generic XO brandies. We prefer to offer an age statement on each one to help customers understand how long their brandy has matured in the cask.

Brandy Bottles

Posted / in Brandy Education, Learning about Brandy and tagged ,

Glass containers and bottles are believed to have first been made around 1500 BC but serious use of containers made out of glass probably did not occur until around 100 BC. More practical applications for glass were established with the advent of glass blowing, probably around a thousand years later. Modern glass bottles are made in commercial moulds and most bottles that contain alcoholic beverages, including brandy bottles, are made of clear glass.

That however has not always been the case. The traditional brandy bottle started life as a green or, as in the case of cognac, black glass container. The dark colour may have been chosen to hide any sediment that had been left in the bottom of the barrel.  Modern glass however is pure and bright which enhances the cognac in the bottle to the highest level. Today we use a wide range of such bottles, many of which are produced from recycled glass.  Although the quality of the glass used varies considerably, we choose to buy all our bottles from Saverglass who have a large depot in Cognac.

Hermitage 1947The size of early hand blown bottles often depended on the quantity of glass the blower had on his pipe and so the quantity each bottle held was largely guess work.  It has now become tradition that the cognac bottle is an upright 70cl size but the volume only became metric in the mid-1950s. Before that, all spirits were measured in imperial measurements.  Strangely, European spirit bottles are now all 70cl whereas in the USA they opt for the slightly larger wine bottle size of 75cl.

Today, there is a general consistency of bottle shapes havingBaron de Sainte-Fauste developed from region to region and beverage to beverage. For cognac the very basic upright bottle shape is known as the “Cognacaise”.  At Hermitage, we use the “Exception” bottle but also a range of carafes to which many customers are attracted. The traditional bottle shape for armagnac is the “Basquaise” which is round with flat sides and for calvados the longer necked “Normandy” bottle is still generally supplied in bottle green.

Read more Technical Topics on our Brandy Education page.