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Tag: iwsc

Hermitage 1972 on The Drinking Hour

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Hermitage 1972Another mention for David Baker and Hermitage Cognacs, including Hermitage 1972, on David Kermode’s podcast, The Drinking Hour.  In Episode 54 David interviews Joel Harrison, IWSC judge and writer, about cognac, how it’s made and the production situation.  About 35 minutes in, Joel refers to our very own David Baker as “the Indiana Jones of Cognac” and of Hermitage Cognacs as being “ridiculously well-priced”.  He goes on to say that “anything that David Baker is bottling is great” and when asked for his favourite cognacs he describes Hermitage as “Brilliant stuff at fantastic value”.

Towards the end of the podcast (at 49 mins) David Kermode recommends some of the IWSC winners.  Talking about our Hermitage 1972 Petite Champagne Cognac the judges described it as having “a sensationally aromatic nose with a balance of sweetness and acidity noteworthy of its age, integrated wood, spicy concentration and mildly drying tanins on the cigar hungry finish”. And David commented that in a terrible year for wine this would make the perfect 50th present for someone.  Too true!

Listen to the podcast here:

The Drinking Hour: With David Kermode – FoodFM: Episode 54 – Cognac on Apple Podcasts

 

IWSC 2021 – Excellent Results for Hermitage Cognacs

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IWSC 2021Hot off the press, we are delighted to share with you our results from the International Wines & Spirits Competition – IWSC 2021.

A GOLD OUTSTANDING Medal was awarded to:

Hermitage 50 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac and the judges commented “Like opening an old leather-bound book or antique oak armoire.  Figgy pudding and rich dark chocolate; wonderful rich spices and the bitterness of orange zest come through on the palate. Spicy but gentle and supremely dry.”

And GOLD Medals were awarded to:

Hermitage 1952 Grande Champagne Cognac  “With heavy, rum-like caramel and treacle aromas, this cognac has a big palate offering flavours of peach melba, butterscotch and creamy coffee. The quality and intensity of fruit is simply excellent.”

Hermitage 1955 Grande Champagne Cognac  “Forest floor, freshly cut grass and citrusy notes on the nose. A silky palate of orchard florals, lemon rind and a final hint of rose jelly to finish. Wonderfully complex and hugely commendable.”

Hermitage Paradis 1890 Grande Champagne Cognac  “A tropical note behind the oaky, polished wood and roasted coffee aromas. Black tea on the palate is balanced with spice and creamy caramel. Dry, nuanced, refined and elegant.”

IWSC – Six of the World’s Best Cognacs

Posted / in Brandy Bottle Reviews, News, The Bottle Story and tagged , , , , ,

Best Cognacs“There can be few spirits with such an illustrious pedigree and premium connotations as Cognac.”  Following the last International Wine and Spirit’s Competition (IWSC) a list of the world’s six best cognacs was compiled.  How very pleasing it was to read that our Hermitage 2008 Grande Champagne Cognac was listed as one of them.  We have always known that this is a very special cognac.  Relatively youthful for one from the premier cru, it is just 10 years old, single-cask, single-estate and very expensive, but it is also one in a million.  The IWSC described it as “Fresh and powerful with a wealth of flavours delivered through a very expressive and complex set of aromas on the palate. Luscious leather, ginger and rancio notes are boldly evident and intricately balanced with cherry stones and warming spice.”  Being single-cask, availability is diminishing fast so if you would like to taste it for yourself, don’t hang about.  If you are interested in finding out more about single-cask cognacs take a look at our latest Technical Topic here.

Brandyclassics News – Alex Johnson Joins Us

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Alex JohnsonIt is with great pleasure and excitement that we introduce to you Alex Johnson, our new National Accounts Manager.  Alex will be responsible for building our already successful Hermitage brand and forging close, supportive customer relationships with both the On and Off Trade.  He has worked in the spirits sector of the drinks industry for more than 10 years and brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge associated with brown spirits and in particular cognacs.

More online tastings have been taking place and we have enjoyed some wonderful feedback from the Press.  Joel Harrison writing on the IWSC website, Douglas Blyde on Twitter and David Longfield in The Decanter have all extoled the virtues of our single estate, vintage Hermitage Cognacs, especially some of the older ones, made more than a century ago, which are now taking pride of place in our range.