Refined flavors and delicate aromas.
Refined flavors and delicate aromas.
When thinking of luxury and opulence, there’s just one spirit that comes to mind: Cognac. From music videos to exclusive lounge and club settings, Cognac has become synonymous with high-end living. However, its wealth runs much deeper. The warm, golden amber color and luscious flavors are the result of traditional aging practices, rich terroir, and a storied history.
Like Champagne, Cognac can only be made in Cognac, France, and is well-regulated to ensure that quality triumphs over quantity. Most batches are crafted from a curated selection of grapes and created with skillful aging techniques that involve an assortment of barrel styles and time spent in them. The process isn’t quick, but the result is well worth the effort and cost.
When the blend is finally ready, it’s a masterclass in elegance. From the smooth and delicate flavors, accented with hints of sweetness from candied fruits and nutty aromas, to the lingering finish, it’s the kind of spirit that’s meant to be savored.
Ahead, see the best Cognacs to add to your collection. These bottles are not only rich in flavor but are also a beautiful addition to your home bar.
The deeply golden amber hue of this Cognac hints at how rich its flavor profile is. On the nose, you'll find strong aromas of ripe fruits, flower blossoms, and balsamic. Upon sipping, those flavors become more pronounced and are rounded out by earthy nuances—think herbs, aged wood, creamy oak, and sweet spices. Each sip is packed with flavor and has a long, spicy finish that's still elegant and refined.
Hine's Cognacs are a complete lesson in French elegance, and their latest XO 1er Cru release is no exception. The Cognac begins with an exclusive selection of grapes from the limestone-rich vineyards in Grande Champagne. It's then double distilled and aged in toasted oak barrels. The result is a delicate yet complex flavor, rich in aromas of dried apricot, cinnamon, candied orange peel, and hints of honey and blossoms for sweetness. The diamond-cut decanter is the cherry on top, making it a bottle to covet.
Released in 2023, Martingale is a fresh style of Cognac with beautiful nuances and refined flavors. Like the honeyed hue, the palate is delicate and smooth, offering light aromas of spring flowers, orange citrus, and fresh almonds. Instead of rich and heady, it has a soft finish that brings its elegance full circle.
Cognac Park Borderies is a delightfully smooth sip with an equally enjoyable profile. The nose delivers bright floral notes and jammy fruits, while the palate is much rounder with lush vanilla, butterscotch, baking spices, and sherry aromas. It's a prime example of balance and showcases the distinct qualities of its production, being aged for 15 years in several different casks to ensure the finish is nice and smooth.
Organic practices and minimal intervention make this bottle a unique option. The process creates a naturally balanced Cognac with jubilant aromas of floral and stone fruit notes. But don't be fooled—the flavors are deep, giving the Cognac much more of a pronounced profile than other VSOPs.
This Cognac is aged first in traditional Cognac barrels before maturing in a sweet wine cask called Banyuls barrels. The process imparts distinct candied aromas, such as nuts, prunes, and raisins, along with spicier notes of clove and licorice. It also adds to the darker color of the Cognac and gives it a mature finish that's lengthy and well-balanced.
This Cognac is special because it's made with grapes from two noteworthy sub-regions in Cognac: Petite Champagne and Borderies. The blend showcases the distinct flavors of each region—think lively citrus and smooth, nutty vanilla—before being aged in toasted Limousine oak barrels to create the smooth and elegant flavor.
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by Karina Young | August 11, 2023
by Lauryn Jiles | March 8, 2024
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