There's something about an old Cognac label that can't be faked — the patina in the gold foil, the slight curl in the paper, the three stars that once told the buyer exactly what he was getting. This bottle travelled from Cognac, France, to Hamburg, where it was bottled by a trading house that closed its doors more than 25 years ago.

Expert Description

Larsen Cognac Three Stars is a French Cognac bottled at 40%.

Larsen was founded in 1926 by Norwegian Jens Reidar Larsen, who fell in love with the Cognac region and built his house around his Norse heritage - hence the nickname "The Cognac of the Vikings" and the ship in the logo. This particular bottle wasn't bottled at Larsen's own house in France, but imported in bulk and bottled in Hamburg by Ferdinand Fera, a German trading house dating back to 1870. The "Three Stars" designation is an older quality grade from before VS, VSOP and XO became the industry standard, roughly comparable to today's VS level.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Typical for a young, three-star expression, the nose offers ripe apricots, a touch of vanilla and a light, dry oak note.

Palate

Round and slightly sweet, with caramelised sugar and ripe plums, carried by a gentle spiciness from the cask.

Finish

Short to medium and warm, with a hint of dried figs towards the end.

Specifications

Name: Larsen Cognac Three Stars 35 CL
Distillery: Larsen
Bottler: Ferdinand Fera
Region/Country: France, Cognac
Type: Cognac
ABV: 40%
Size: 35 CL
Distillation method: Double distilled in a traditional Charentais pot still
Serving suggestion: Room temperature in a Cognac glass, often alongside a cup of coffee

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Round · Spiced · Lightly Oaked

Did You Know?

Ferdinand Fera, the company that bottled this bottle in Hamburg, was founded all the way back in 1870. The company went bankrupt in the late 1990s, so this bottle is as much a piece of trading history today as it is a Cognac.

Explore our full range of Larsen

Behind the faded label and heavy glass stopper, this bottle carries a piece of another era. It's a Rémy Martin V.S.O.P., bottled long before the house's current packaging came to define its shelf presence – a small window into the story of Cognac's most famous export.

Expert Description

Rémy Martin V.S.O.P. is a French Cognac bottled in the 1980s on French oak casks at 40%. The bottle belongs to the Fine Champagne Cognac category, meaning it's distilled exclusively from grapes grown in Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne – the two finest crus in the Cognac region.

The label carries the German text "Französisches Erzeugnis," suggesting this particular bottle was originally destined for the German export market. Its dark, oval neck label and gold lettering are typical of Rémy Martin's packaging before the house modernized its look.

The cognac is a blend of eaux-de-vie, composed by the cellar master from Limousin oak casks of varying ages. Unlike whisky, cognac doesn't continue developing once bottled, so the character inside is essentially unchanged since the day it was filled.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla, ripe apricot and a touch of baked apple, with a little more patina than a newer bottling.

Palate

Rounded and layered, with stone fruit, a hint of liquorice and warm oak spice.

Finish

Soft and long, with toasted nuts and a last trace of vanilla.

Specifications

Name: Rémy Martin V.S.O.P.
Distillery: Rémy Martin
Region/Country: France, Cognac (Fine Champagne)
Type: Cognac
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: French Limousin oak casks
Distillation Method: Double distilled in traditional copper pot stills
Bottled: 1980s

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Vanilla-sweet · Oak-aged · Smooth

Investment Potential

Medium. This is a discontinued bottling with an older label design that's sought after by collectors, and since cognac doesn't evolve further in the bottle, the contents remain stable regardless of age. Value depends heavily on fill level and label condition, though.

Did You Know?

The German text on the label is a small clue to this bottle's journey – many Rémy Martin bottles from this era were filled specifically for export markets like Germany, with local language requirements printed directly onto the French label.

See our full range of Rémy Martin

Behind the faded label and heavy glass stopper, this bottle carries a piece of another era. It's a Rémy Martin V.S.O.P., bottled long before the house's current packaging came to define its shelf presence – a small window into the story of Cognac's most famous export.

Expert Description

Rémy Martin V.S.O.P. is a French Cognac bottled in the 1980s on French oak casks at 40%. The bottle belongs to the Fine Champagne Cognac category, meaning it's distilled exclusively from grapes grown in Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne – the two finest crus in the Cognac region.

Its dark, oval neck label and gold lettering are typical of Rémy Martin's packaging before the house modernized its look.

The cognac is a blend of eaux-de-vie, composed by the cellar master from Limousin oak casks of varying ages. Unlike whisky, cognac doesn't continue developing once bottled, so the character inside is essentially unchanged since the day it was filled.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla, ripe apricot and a touch of baked apple, with a little more patina than a newer bottling.

Palate

Rounded and layered, with stone fruit, a hint of liquorice and warm oak spice.

Finish

Soft and long, with toasted nuts and a last trace of vanilla.

Specifications

Name: Rémy Martin V.S.O.P.
Distillery: Rémy Martin
Region/Country: France, Cognac (Fine Champagne)
Type: Cognac
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: French Limousin oak casks
Distillation Method: Double distilled in traditional copper pot stills
Bottled: 1980s

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Vanilla-sweet · Oak-aged · Smooth

Investment Potential

Medium. This is a discontinued bottling with an older label design that's sought after by collectors, and since cognac doesn't evolve further in the bottle, the contents remain stable regardless of age. Value depends heavily on fill level and label condition, though.

Did You Know?

The German text on the label is a small clue to this bottle's journey – many Rémy Martin bottles from this era were filled specifically for export markets like Germany.

See our full range of Rémy Martin

Behind the faded label and heavy glass stopper, this bottle carries a piece of another era. It's a Rémy Martin V.S.O.P., bottled long before the house's current packaging came to define its shelf presence – a small window into the story of Cognac's most famous export.

Expert Description

Rémy Martin V.S.O.P. is a French Cognac bottled in the 1980s on French oak casks at 40%. The bottle belongs to the Fine Champagne Cognac category, meaning it's distilled exclusively from grapes grown in Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne – the two finest crus in the Cognac region.

Its dark, oval neck label and gold lettering are typical of Rémy Martin's packaging before the house modernized its look.

The cognac is a blend of eaux-de-vie, composed by the cellar master from Limousin oak casks of varying ages. Unlike whisky, cognac doesn't continue developing once bottled, so the character inside is essentially unchanged since the day it was filled.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla, ripe apricot and a touch of baked apple, with a little more patina than a newer bottling.

Palate

Rounded and layered, with stone fruit, a hint of liquorice and warm oak spice.

Finish

Soft and long, with toasted nuts and a last trace of vanilla.

Specifications

Name: Rémy Martin V.S.O.P.
Distillery: Rémy Martin
Region/Country: France, Cognac (Fine Champagne)
Type: Cognac
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL - frosted glass, note fill level in the bottle
Cask Type: French Limousin oak casks
Distillation Method: Double distilled in traditional copper pot stills
Bottled: 1980s - white tax stamp

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Vanilla-sweet · Oak-aged · Smooth

Investment Potential

Medium. This is a discontinued bottling with an older label design that's sought after by collectors, and since cognac doesn't evolve further in the bottle, the contents remain stable regardless of age. Value depends heavily on fill level and label condition, though.

Did You Know?

The German text on the label is a small clue to this bottle's journey – many Rémy Martin bottles from this era were filled specifically for export markets like Germany.

See our full range of Rémy Martin

The year 1968 saw student riots sweep across France, and the grapes behind this Cognac were harvested that same restless summer. The spirit has since rested in oak for longer than most of us have been alive, a liquid time capsule from Grande Champagne.

Expert's Description

A. de Fussigny Vintage 1968 is a French Cognac from Grande Champagne, bottled at 43%.

The house of A. de Fussigny was founded in the 19th century by an Italian merchant with a clear ambition: to craft Cognac of the very highest quality for Europe's finest hotels and restaurants. In 2008, Patrick and Jean-Dominic took over the reins after more than 20 years each in the Cognac trade, and they have carried the founder's philosophy forward through careful grape selection and patient, unhurried ageing.

Grande Champagne is the chalkiest and finest of Cognac's six cru areas, and it is here that the longest-lived eaux-de-vie are distilled. A vintage Cognac like this one is not a blend of several harvests but a single distillate from 1968, allowed to mature for decades without being married to younger spirit.

Decades on oak have given the Cognac its deep, rancio-driven character, the kind only the oldest vintages achieve, where fresh fruit recedes in favour of spiced wood and an almost oxidised, sherry-like complexity.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fig, orange peel and a whisper of old leather open the glass, carried by a gentle rancio note and faint tobacco.

Palate

The palate is dark and spiced, with dark honey, toasted almonds and cedar, while a light bitter orange note keeps the sweetness in check.

Finish

The finish is long and dry, with lingering spice and a final trace of orange oil.

Specifications

Name: A. de Fussigny Vintage 1968
Distillery: A. de Fussigny
Country: France
Type: French Cognac
Vintage: 1968
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French Oak
EAN no.: 3700485101144

Flavour Profile

Rancio · Dried Fig · Cedar · Orange Peel

Investment Potential

As one of the oldest vintage Cognacs in the range, A. de Fussigny Vintage 1968 carries a medium to high investment potential. Single-vintage Cognac from before 1970 grows scarcer by the year, and comparably old Grande Champagne vintages often change hands at auction for well above their original release price.

Did You Know?

When the grapes for this Cognac were harvested in 1968, the Cognac region had not yet felt the Asian demand boom that would transform the industry decades later, meaning the 1968 vintage was laid down at a time when a small house like A. de Fussigny measured itself purely on quality rather than volume.

Only 2820 bottles exist of this vintage, and every one of them was born on the same soil where the grapes were harvested in 1985 and the Cognac finally bottled thirty years later in 2015. From grape to bottle, the entire journey has taken place within the boundaries of a single estate.

Expert's Description

ABK6 Millesime 1985 Vintage Single Estate is a French Cognac, distilled in 1985 and bottled in 2015, at 40%.

The Cognac comes from Domaines Francis Abécassis, a house that stands apart from most others in the Cognac region by growing, distilling, ageing and bottling its entire range on its own land. Francis Abécassis moved to Cognac in the early 2000s and built his house around exactly this single-estate idea, rather than buying eaux-de-vie from a wide network of independent growers, as most houses do.

This particular vintage comes from just six small casks in the house's so-called paradise cellar, where the most treasured eaux-de-vie rest. Three decades on oak have given the Cognac a complex, mature profile, far removed from the house's younger, fresher releases.

The bottle also comes with a set of 10 Cognac glasses, making it a natural centrepiece when a rare vintage is shared among friends.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Floral notes meet dried fruit, cedar and a hint of orange peel.

Palate

The palate offers pepper, quince and caramelised tones, balanced by gentle oak spice and ripe dates.

Finish

Long and harmonious, with lingering warmth, hazelnut and a final touch of oak.

Specifications

Name: ABK6 Millesime 1985 Vintage Single Estate
Distillery: ABK6
Country: France
Type: French Cognac
Vintage: 1985, bottled 2015
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French Oak, paradise cellar
EAN no.: 3459280566824
Includes: 10 Cognac glasses
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed at room temperature in a tulip-shaped Cognac glass, alongside coffee or a cigar

Flavour Profile

Dried Fruit · Orange Peel · Pepper · Caramel

Did You Know?

The entire production behind this bottle, from the grapes picked in 1985 to the final bottling in 2015, took place on the very same small estate, making ABK6 one of only a handful of Cognac houses practising true single-estate production from soil to bottle.

In Rüdesheim am Rhein, where the Rhine winds past steep vineyards, Asbach has distilled brandy since 1892. This 3 year old expression is the house's most accessible release, yet it carries the same craft roots as the older bottlings.

Expert's Description

Asbach Original 3 Year Old is a German Brandy, matured for at least 3 years, bottled at 38%.

The house of Asbach was founded in 1892 by Hugo Asbach in Rüdesheim am Rhein, and it was the first German distillery to produce brandy following the French model. The Asbach name has since become so closely tied to German brandy that many Germans use it as a generic term for the category.

The brandy is distilled from selected wine and then matured in French Limousin oak casks, which lend spiced warmth and depth even after just a few years on wood.

The short but careful maturation makes this 3 year old edition a more direct and fruit-forward experience than the house's older bottlings, suiting both everyday enjoyment and a first introduction to German brandy.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe apples, gentle vanilla and a hint of spiced oak.

Palate

Round and fruity with soft notes of raisin and caramel, lifted by a touch of pepper from the cask.

Finish

Short to medium, with warm spice and a final dry wood note.

Specifications

Name: Asbach Original 3 Year Old
Distillery: Asbach
Country: Germany
Type: German Brandy
Age: 3 years
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Limousin Oak
EAN no.: 4016500033116
Serving suggestion: Enjoy at room temperature, with an ice cube, or in a warm toddy

Flavour Profile

Apple · Vanilla · Caramel · Spiced Oak

Did You Know?

Asbach was the first distillery in Germany allowed to call its spirit brandy at all, because Hugo Asbach insisted on using the French distillation method instead of the cheaper German alternatives common in his day.

Eight years on oak is a long time for a German brandy, and it shows: Asbach 8 Year Old is a rounder, more contemplative take on the house's classic style, from the same Rüdesheim distillery that set the German brandy standard back in 1892.

Expert's Description

Asbach 8 Year Old is a German Brandy, matured for up to 8 years, bottled at 40%.

The brandy is produced by the respected Asbach distillery in Rüdesheim am Rhein, known since 1892 for quality brandy made in the French tradition. This 8 year old edition represents a more mature and complex version of the house's core style.

Distilled from wine and matured in small oak casks, the brandy gains a round, full character, while its natural colour and lack of chill-filtration underline an authentic, unadulterated expression.

With a medium body and balanced sweetness, the 8 year old edition appeals to both newcomers and seasoned brandy lovers seeking more depth than the house's younger bottlings.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apple, apricot and a hint of coconut, supported by red grape.

Palate

Full and round with a clear presence of oak and a soft, ripe sweetness.

Finish

Medium length, with warm spice and a final dry wood note, without any smoke.

Specifications

Name: Asbach 8 Year Old
Distillery: Asbach
Country: Germany
Type: German Brandy
Age: 8 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak
EAN no.: 4016500013101
Serving suggestion: Enjoy after dinner as a digestif, with dessert, or alone as a sipping brandy

Flavour Profile

Apple · Apricot · Coconut · Oak

Did You Know?

Asbach 8 Year Old is made without chill-filtration and without added colouring, meaning the bottle's deep colour comes entirely from eight years of contact with the oak cask rather than from caramel colouring, as is common in many other brandies.

In 1903, the young Norwegian lieutenant Thomas Bache-Gabrielsen left the army and travelled to the town of Cognac to learn the craft from the ground up. Two years later he took over an old Cognac house together with a fellow countryman, and the Bache-Gabrielsen family has run it ever since, generation after generation.

Expert's Description

Bache Gabrielsen VSOP Triple Cask is a French Cognac, bottled at 40%.

The house of Bache Gabrielsen was founded in 1905 in the town of Cognac by the Norwegian Thomas Bache-Gabrielsen, who fell in love with both the region and his future wife when he arrived in France to learn the wine and spirits trade. Today the house is run by his great-grandson Hervé Bache-Gabrielsen, and its Cognac remains the best-selling in Norway.

The Triple Cask expression is blended from eaux-de-vie matured in three different cask types, giving a broader flavour palette than a VSOP aged in a single cask type. Balancing three cask profiles so they reinforce rather than overwhelm each other takes a trained hand.

As a VSOP, the Cognac is at least 4 years old, but it is the interplay between the casks that sets it apart from the house's other VSOP releases.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Mature wood, vanilla and dried fruit meet apricot kernel and hazelnut.

Palate

Fruity and elegant, with notes of banana and a hint of oriental spice.

Finish

Medium length, with soft sweetness and a closing, lightly nutty dryness.

Specifications

Name: Bache Gabrielsen VSOP Triple Cask
Distillery: Bache Gabrielsen
Country: France
Type: French Cognac
Age: Minimum 4 years, VSOP
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Triple Cask, three cask types
EAN no.: 3428681000619
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat at room temperature or with a single ice cube

Flavour Profile

Vanilla · Dried Fruit · Hazelnut · Banana

Did You Know?

Bache Gabrielsen remains the best-selling Cognac in Norway to this day, more than a hundred years after a Norwegian officer left the army to learn the craft of Cognac in France.

The name means ten thousand bottles, and that same spirit of scarcity has defined the house of Ximénez-Spínola since 1729. Chestnut casks older than most of us give this brandy a softness oak rarely matches.

Expert's Description

Bodegas Ximenez-Spinola Diez Mil Botellas is a Spanish Brandy, bottled at 40%.

The winery was founded in 1729 by Phelipe Zarzana Spinola and was originally called Zarzana Spinola. When a major English customer found the name impossible to pronounce, it was changed to Ximénez-Spínola, the name the house still carries today. From the outset, the house has worked exclusively with the Pedro Ximénez grape.

What sets this brandy apart is the use of chestnut casks during ageing, a tradition that nearly disappeared in Spain after the civil war of 1939, when large parts of the country's chestnut forests were felled. The casks at Bodegas Ximénez-Spínola are all at least 70 years old and therefore release only a very limited amount of tannin.

The brandy is distilled from a Solera founded in 1984 and subsequently ages for a minimum of 12 years in the old chestnut casks, giving it a rounder, softer taste than brandy aged in oak.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Unmistakable notes of plum and raisin.

Palate

Smooth with a light sweetness that masks the alcohol and lends a pleasant roundness.

Finish

Round and soft, with lingering dried fruit and a hint of spice from the chestnut wood.

Specifications

Name: Bodegas Ximenez-Spinola Diez Mil Botellas
Distillery: Ximénez-Spínola
Country: Spain
Type: Spanish Brandy
Age: Minimum 12 years, Solera
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Chestnut Wood
EAN no.: 843700199803
Serving suggestion: Enjoy after the meal, alone or with a cigar

Flavour Profile

Plum · Raisin · Dried Fruit · Chestnut Wood

Did You Know?

The casks this brandy is aged in are all at least 70 years old and date from a time when enough chestnut wood could still be found in Spain to build barrels, a tradition that largely ended after much of the country's chestnut forests were felled during the civil war.

The story of Braastad does not begin in a distillery, but at a wedding. In 1913, the Norwegian immigrant Sverre Braastad married Edith Rousseau, granddaughter of the founder of the Cognac house Tiffon, giving rise to a name that has since bridged the Charente river between two families.

Expert's Description

Braastad VSOP House Tiffon is a French Cognac, bottled at 40%.

The Cognac house Tiffon was founded in 1875 by Mederic Tiffon in the town of Jarnac, on the banks of the Charente. When the Norwegian Sverre Braastad took over the family business in 1919 following his wife's family, the Braastad name became Tiffon's bridge to the Norwegian market, where it has enjoyed great standing ever since.

This VSOP is blended from carefully selected eaux-de-vie matured for at least 4 years in French oak casks. The relatively long maturation gives the Cognac a golden colour and a rich, rounded flavour profile.

Braastad VSOP represents the classic, approachable style that has made the house a steady favourite for Cognac lovers seeking depth without the complexity that an XO demands patience to explore.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe fruit and vanilla meet a light touch of nuts.

Palate

Rich and round, with spice and a soft, golden sweetness.

Finish

Medium length and harmonious, with a final warm wood note.

Specifications

Name: Braastad VSOP House Tiffon
Distillery: Braastad
Country: France
Type: French Cognac
Age: Minimum 4 years, VSOP
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French Oak
EAN no.: 3364048109147
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat, with an ice cube, or in a Cognac cocktail

Flavour Profile

Ripe Fruit · Vanilla · Nuts · Spice

Did You Know?

The Braastad name came about because a Norwegian officer married into the French Tiffon family in 1913, making this Cognac house one of the very few in the entire Cognac region to carry a Scandinavian family name on its label.

Three times, Braastad XO Fine has won silver at one of the world's most respected spirits competitions in London, an achievement that takes more than good grapes. It takes a blender willing to wait until the right casks are ready.

Expert's Description

Braastad XO House Tiffon is a French Cognac, bottled at 40%.

The XO classification requires the Cognac to be a blend from Grande and Petite Champagne, with at least half originating from Grande Champagne, the district's finest cru. Braastad XO is blended from some of the house's oldest and most carefully selected eaux-de-vie, a tradition dating back to the Tiffon house's founding in Jarnac in 1875.

Compared with the house's VSOP, the XO is far more complex, since the longer time on oak has allowed the eaux-de-vie to develop deeper, more spiced and wood-driven nuances.

Braastad XO Fine has won silver on several occasions at The International Wine and Spirit Competition in London, underlining the house's consistent quality well beyond its Norwegian home market.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Deep, ripe fruit meets spiced oak and a hint of dried apricot.

Palate

Full and well-balanced, with notes of caramel, nuts and a touch of rancio.

Finish

Long and warm, with lingering spice and a soft, wood-driven close.

Specifications

Name: Braastad XO House Tiffon
Distillery: Braastad
Country: France
Type: French Cognac
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French Oak
EAN no.: 3364048109062
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat at room temperature, ideally after the meal

Flavour Profile

Caramel · Spiced Oak · Dried Apricot · Rancio

Did You Know?

Braastad XO Fine has won silver a full three times at The International Wine and Spirit Competition in London, an international contest where Cognac houses from around the world compete to be named the best of the year.

The story goes that a cellar master in Jerez discovered some forgotten, mysterious casks tucked in a corner of the bodega back in 1889. What later became Carlos I is named after the Spanish king Charles I, portrayed on horseback by Titian after the Battle of Mühlberg.

Expert's Description

Carlos I Imperial XO is a Spanish Brandy de Jerez, bottled at 38%.

The brandy is produced by the house of Osborne, founded in 1772 in El Puerto de Santa María at the heart of the Jerez district, one of Spain's oldest and most respected houses in sherry and brandy. Carlos I is traditionally distilled from the Airén grape using alquitaras, pot stills of Arab origin.

Maturation follows the dynamic criaderas y soleras system, where younger and older brandy are continuously blended through a series of American oak casks that previously held sherry. For Imperial XO, the casks average more than 20 years old, giving the brandy an unusual depth.

The dynamic system means each bottle holds brandy of many different ages, brought together through decades of careful blending rather than a single vintage.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and liquorice meet a deep sherry character from the old casks.

Palate

Soft and light on the palate, with a pleasant feel balanced by the vanilla and liquorice tones.

Finish

Medium length and round, with lingering sweetness and a hint of dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Carlos I Imperial XO
Distillery: Carlos I, Osborne
Country: Spain
Type: Spanish Brandy de Jerez
Age: Average over 20 years, Solera
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American Oak, ex-Sherry
EAN no.: 8410337016087
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat after the meal, ideally at room temperature

Flavour Profile

Vanilla · Liquorice · Sherry · Dried Fruit

Did You Know?

The Carlos I name comes from a painting by Titian depicting the Spanish king Charles I on horseback after the Battle of Mühlberg in 1548, and the portrait still adorns the bottle's label to this day.

Where Imperial XO draws its depth from casks that have rested for decades, Solera Gran Reserva is a more youthful, yet still sherry-driven expression from the same house, where the aroma of the former sherry casks remains clear in the glass.

Expert's Description

Carlos I Solera Gran Reserva Sherry Cask is a Spanish Brandy de Jerez, bottled at 40%.

Like the rest of the house's brandy, Carlos I Solera Gran Reserva is produced by Osborne, founded in 1772 in El Puerto de Santa María, and is traditionally distilled using alquitaras, pot stills of Arab origin.

Maturation follows the same dynamic criaderas y soleras system as the rest of the range, but here the casks average around 10 years old, giving a fresher, more sherry-forward style than the much older Imperial XO.

The shorter ageing means the character from the former sherry casks is more prominent, while the brandy's own sweetness and spice keep the balance.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and liquorice sit close to a clear sherry tone.

Palate

Soft and light on the palate, with a pleasant roundness where the sherry's dryness meets the brandy's sweetness.

Finish

Short to medium, with a final, dry sherry note.

Specifications

Name: Carlos I Solera Gran Reserva Sherry Cask
Distillery: Carlos I, Osborne
Country: Spain
Type: Spanish Brandy de Jerez
Age: Average 10 years, Solera
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Sherry Cask
EAN no.: 8410337017084
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat after the meal, ideally at room temperature

Flavour Profile

Vanilla · Liquorice · Sherry · Spice

Did You Know?

Both Solera Gran Reserva and Imperial XO come from the same dynamic solera system at Osborne, but because the solera is constantly drawn from and replenished with younger brandy, the two expressions are never quite identical from bottle to bottle.

1939 was the year Europe went to war again. As the world held its breath, the grapes for this Armagnac were harvested and distilled in Gascony, unaware the bottle would not be filled until 67 years later, in 2006.

Expert's Description

Castarède 1939 Vintage Appellation is a French Bas-Armagnac, distilled in 1939 and bottled in 2006, at 40%.

The house of Castarède was founded in 1832, making it the oldest trading house in the entire Armagnac region. Across six generations, the family has curated one of France's most extensive archives of vintage Armagnac, with bottles dating back to 1893.

This 1939 vintage was distilled in Bas Armagnac, the finest of the district's three production zones, and matured in oak for 67 years before being bottled in 2006. Every bottle carries a back label guaranteeing its vintage and bottling date.

The 67 years of cask contact have given the Armagnac a depth and an integrated sweetness found only in the very oldest vintages, setting it markedly apart from the district's younger, more fruit-driven releases.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried apricot, old leather and a deep rancio tone.

Palate

Integrated sweetness meets spiced oak, tobacco and a hint of prune.

Finish

Very long and warm, with lingering wood notes and a trace of dark honey.

Specifications

Name: Castarède 1939 Vintage Appellation
Distillery: Castarède
Country: France
Type: French Bas-Armagnac
Vintage: 1939, bottled 2006
Age: 67 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: French Oak, Gascony

Flavour Profile

Rancio · Dried Apricot · Spiced Oak · Dark Honey

Investment Potential

As one of the oldest vintages in the range, Castarède 1939 carries a high investment potential. Pre-war Armagnac with a documented vintage and bottling date is among the most sought-after by collectors, and comparably old Bas Armagnac bottles often change hands at auction for well above their original release price.

Did You Know?

When this Armagnac was distilled in 1939, Castarède had already been a trading house for over a hundred years, and the family continued its work of harvesting and distilling grapes even as the Second World War broke out later that same year.

As German troops marched into France in the summer of 1940, the harvest in Gascony carried on as it always had. The grapes were picked, pressed and distilled, with no one then knowing the bottle would not be filled until 66 years later.

Expert's Description

Castarède 1940 Vintage Appellation is a French Bas-Armagnac, distilled in 1940 and bottled in 2006, at 40%.

The house of Castarède was founded in 1832 and is the oldest trading house in the entire Armagnac region, run across six generations by the same family. Its archive of vintage Armagnac is among the most extensive in France, with bottles dating back to 1893.

This 1940 vintage was distilled in Bas Armagnac and matured for 66 years in oak before being bottled in 2006. Every bottle carries a back label documenting both the distillation and bottling years.

The many decades on cask have given the Armagnac a deep, integrated character, where the freshness of a young spirit has long since given way to a calm, mature complexity.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Prune, dark chocolate and a light smoky wood note.

Palate

Deep and spiced, with notes of toasted almond and a warm, almost syrupy sweetness.

Finish

Long and warm, with lingering spice and a final note of dried figs.

Specifications

Name: Castarède 1940 Vintage Appellation
Distillery: Castarède
Country: France
Type: French Bas-Armagnac
Vintage: 1940, bottled 2006
Age: 66 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: French Oak, Gascony

Flavour Profile

Prune · Dark Chocolate · Toasted Almond · Spice

Investment Potential

As a documented wartime vintage, Castarède 1940 carries a high investment potential. Armagnac from the early war years is rare, as production was curtailed in many places, and comparably old Bas Armagnac bottles often change hands at auction for well above their original release price.

Did You Know?

Despite the outbreak of war in 1940, the Castarède family continued distilling using the same methods as always, meaning this bottle is at its core a distillate from one of the most turbulent years in modern European history.

In 1942, amid the German occupation of France, this Armagnac was distilled in the country's south-western corner, far from the front lines but not from the hardships of daily life. 64 years later, it was finally bottled in 2006.

Expert's Description

Castarède 1942 Vintage Appellation is a French Bas-Armagnac, distilled in 1942 and bottled in 2006, at 40%.

The house of Castarède, founded in 1832, is the oldest trading house in the entire Armagnac region and has built one of France's most extensive archives of vintage Armagnac across six generations, with bottles dating back to 1893.

This 1942 vintage was distilled in Bas Armagnac and rested in oak for 64 years before being bottled in 2006. The back label on every bottle documents both the distillation and bottling years.

Compared with its two-years-older sister vintages from 1939 and 1940, the 1942 vintage is slightly younger, yet still carries the same deep, integrated character that only decades of cask ageing can bring.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted walnut, dark caramel and a light earthy undertone.

Palate

Warm and spiced, with notes of dried dates and a hint of pepper.

Finish

Long and soft, with a closing, dry tobacco note.

Specifications

Name: Castarède 1942 Vintage Appellation
Distillery: Castarède
Country: France
Type: French Bas-Armagnac
Vintage: 1942, bottled 2006
Age: 64 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: French Oak, Gascony

Flavour Profile

Toasted Walnut · Dark Caramel · Dried Dates · Tobacco

Investment Potential

As a documented wartime vintage, Castarède 1942 carries a medium to high investment potential. Vintage Armagnac from the 1940s grows scarcer by the year, and comparably old Bas Armagnac bottles often change hands for above their original release price when they appear on the secondary market.

Did You Know?

Although France in 1942 was split between the occupied zone and Vichy-controlled territory, the Armagnac region in Gascony continued its distillation, making this bottle one of the physical threads connecting today's tasting experience directly to the everyday life of the war years.

Twelve years is enough time for a young, fruit-driven Armagnac to grow round and thoughtful, without yet reaching the almost meditative depth of the house's oldest bottles. Intemporel 12 Year Old is the balance point in between.

Expert's Description

Château de Laubade 12 Year Old Intemporel is a French Bas-Armagnac, matured for a minimum of 12 years, bottled at 40%.

Château de Laubade has made Armagnac since the early 1700s and was restored in 1974 by Jean-Jacques Lesgourgues, who raised the estate to become one of the most respected in the entire Armagnac region, named World Class Distillery at the World Spirits Award three years running.

The Intemporel range is the house's flagship, and the 12 year old edition represents the point where the young fruitiness of the Signature expression has truly begun to merge with the cask's spice and caramel.

The oak casks used for maturation come from the house's own cooperage, where Gascony oak is air-dried for at least three years before being built into barrels, a process unique to Château de Laubade in the entire district.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit, vanilla and a light touch of spice.

Palate

Round and full, with notes of caramel, prune and toasted oak.

Finish

Elegant and well-balanced, with a warm, lingering close.

Specifications

Name: Château de Laubade 12 Year Old Intemporel
Distillery: Château de Laubade
Country: France
Type: French Bas-Armagnac
Age: Minimum 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French Oak, Gascony
EAN no.: 3270310118338
Serving suggestion: Enjoy as a digestif or with dark chocolate

Flavour Profile

Caramel · Prune · Toasted Oak · Vanilla

Did You Know?

Château de Laubade has won the title World Class Distillery at the World Spirits Award three years running, in 2010, 2011 and 2012, an achievement no other Armagnac house in the district has matched.

In 2007, this bottle was named the world's best brandy at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, an award that put Château de Laubade and the entire Armagnac category firmly on the international spirits map.

Expert's Description

Château de Laubade Bas Armagnac Intemporel No 5 is a French Bas-Armagnac, bottled at 40%.

Intemporel No 5 is the house's oldest and most ambitious release in the Intemporel range, made primarily from the Baco grape, of which Château de Laubade holds the largest production in the entire Armagnac region. The Baco grape lends the Armagnac a distinctive peppery spice and a hint of smoke that few other grapes in the region can match.

Château de Laubade was restored from ruin in 1974 by Jean-Jacques Lesgourgues and has since established itself as one of the district's very finest estates, including the title World Class Distillery at the World Spirits Award three years running.

The oak casks used for No 5 come from the house's own cooperage, where Gascony oak is air-dried for at least three years, a process that gives the casks an unusual character from the very first filling.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rich and peppery, with a hint of smoke and ripe forest berries.

Palate

Big and spiced, with a clear character from the Baco grape and a warm, almost peppery intensity.

Finish

Long and complex, with lingering spice and a lightly smoky close.

Specifications

Name: Château de Laubade Bas Armagnac Intemporel No 5
Distillery: Château de Laubade
Country: France
Type: French Bas-Armagnac
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French Oak, Gascony
EAN no.: 9145525064241
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat at room temperature, ideally to close a meal

Flavour Profile

Pepper · Smoke · Forest Berries · Spice

Did You Know?

Intemporel No 5 was named the world's best brandy at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2007, an award that places it shoulder to shoulder with the most celebrated Cognacs, even though Armagnac has historically received far less international attention.

In 1974, Jean-Jacques Lesgourgues bought a crumbling château in Gascony with one clear plan: to restore an Armagnac estate to its former greatness. Signature is the house's youngest, most direct expression, where the grape itself, more than the cask, sets the tone.

Expert's Description

Chateau de Laubade AOP Bas Armagnac Signature is a French Bas-Armagnac, bottled at 42%.

Château de Laubade has made Armagnac since the early 1700s and was already granted Château Appellation Contrôlée status in 1855. After a long period of decline, Jean-Jacques Lesgourgues bought the crumbling château in 1974 and restored it to what is today one of the largest and most respected estates in the entire Armagnac region.

Signature has matured for only two years on cask, meaning the grape itself, rather than the wood, comes through most clearly. This youthful style makes it particularly well suited to food, including matured cheeses, white meat and fish.

Château de Laubade also runs its own cooperage, where the finest Gascony oak is air-dried for at least three years before being built into barrels, a rarity among Armagnac producers that underlines the house's craft ambition.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh grape, plum and a light, green freshness.

Palate

Clean and full, with a clear fruit character and only a faint touch of oak.

Finish

Short to medium, with a fresh, dry close.

Specifications

Name: Château de Laubade AOP Bas Armagnac Signature
Distillery: Château de Laubade
Country: France
Type: French Bas-Armagnac
ABV: 42%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French Oak, short ageing, 2 years
EAN no.: 3270310089027
Serving suggestion: Enjoy with food such as matured cheeses, white meat or fish

Flavour Profile

Grape · Plum · Fresh Fruit · Light Oak

Did You Know?

Château de Laubade is the only Armagnac producer with its own cooperage, where craftsmen select and air-dry Gascony oak for three years before building it into the casks that age the rest of the house's range.

In Petite Champagne, where the chalky soil gives Ugni Blanc grapes their fine acidity, the Cognac house Lhéraud bottles a small series under the name De Pradiere. Cognac VS de Pradiere is the youngest of them, a bright introduction to the terroir's character.

Expert's Description

Cognac VS de Pradiere is a French Cognac from Petite Champagne, aged in oak casks for a minimum of 3 years and bottled at 40%.

The De Pradiere range comes from the Cognac house Lhéraud, which has distilled in the region since the early 1800s, though for many years it mostly sold its cognac on to other houses rather than bottling under its own name.

The VS quality is the house's youngest expression, made exclusively from Ugni Blanc grapes grown in Petite Champagne, and it still carries a touch of the freshness that defines a young cognac, while the oak ageing has rounded out its edges.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers raisin and dried apricot with a light touch of oak in the background.

Palate

The palate is dry and crisp, as expected from a VS cognac, with citrus fruit and a hint of orange peel that slowly unfolds.

Finish

The finish lands softly with vanilla and a touch of spice that lingers for a while.

Specifications

Name: Cognac VS de Pradiere
Distillery: De Pradiere
Country: France
Type: VS Cognac from Petite Champagne
Age: Minimum 3 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 3558270020732
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed at room temperature in a cognac glass, with a single ice cube if preferred, or as the base of a fresh cognac cocktail.

Flavour Profile

Apricot · Citrus · Oak · Vanilla

Did You Know?

Did you know that Cognac VS de Pradiere comes from the house of Lhéraud, which for decades mostly sold its cognac on to larger houses and only began bottling under its own name in 1970? De Pradiere is one of the ranges that today carries the house's own signature.

There's something about an old bottle that no new one can fake. This one has travelled from Jarnac to Hamburg and on into a Danish collection, and the label still carries the fading and creases of decades spent being held up to the light.

Expert description

Courvoisier Luxe Cognac is a French Cognac from Jarnac in the heart of the Cognac region, bottled at 40%. This "Luxe" 3 Star bottling dates from an era when Courvoisier still marketed itself under the royal warrant "By Appointment to the Late King George VI" – a reference to the British court that the house was permitted to carry in its branding for decades. The bottle was imported into Germany by Charles Hosie in Hamburg, a detail that tells its own story about the Cognac's journey from the French cellars out into Europe. Courvoisier is one of the so-called big four Cognac houses and has, since its founding in 1809, cultivated a soft and approachable style that sets it apart from some of the more angular, powerful houses in the region. The Cognac is blended from several crus around Jarnac and matured in French oak casks in the house's own cellars, which gives it the rounded, elegant profile the house is known for.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe apples and plums meet a touch of dry oak spice, a combination often found in older Cognac-based bottlings.

Palate

Round and soft, with stone fruit sweetness balanced by a light, spiced oak warmth.

Finish

Mild and elegant, without sharp edges – a finish that matches the house's well-known, approachable style.

Specifications

Name: Courvoisier Luxe Cognac
Distillery: Courvoisier
Region/Country: France, Jarnac
Type: Cognac
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French oak casks
Edition: Luxe (3 Star), imported by Charles Hosie, Hamburg

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Soft · Elegant · Oak-Spiced

Investment Potential

High. This is a discontinued vintage bottling carrying the historic royal warrant along with a clear import provenance, both of which appeal to collectors of old Cognac bottlings. Comparable Courvoisier Luxe 3 Star bottles from the same era are trading today well above what a modern standard bottle would cost, and interest in vintage Cognac with this kind of historic labelling has been growing among collectors.

Did You Know?

Courvoisier is the only one of the big four Cognac houses ever officially permitted to use the imperial "N" in its marketing – a legacy of the brand's supposed connection to Napoleon Bonaparte, who is said to have taken the Cognac with him into exile.

Please note: This bottle is sold as a collector's item. The quality of the contents cannot be guaranteed, and the bottle itself may show scuffs and scratches – see the photo.

There's something about an old bottle that no new one can fake. This one has travelled from Jarnac to Hamburg and on into a Danish collection, and the label still carries the fading and creases of decades spent being held up to the light.

Expert description

Courvoisier Luxe Cognac is a French Cognac from Jarnac in the heart of the Cognac region, bottled at 40%. This "Luxe" 3 Star bottling dates from an era when Courvoisier still marketed itself under the royal warrant "By Appointment to the Late King George VI" – a reference to the British court that the house was permitted to carry in its branding for decades. The bottle was imported into Germany by Charles Hosie in Hamburg, a detail that tells its own story about the Cognac's journey from the French cellars out into Europe. Courvoisier is one of the so-called big four Cognac houses and has, since its founding in 1809, cultivated a soft and approachable style that sets it apart from some of the more angular, powerful houses in the region. The Cognac is blended from several crus around Jarnac and matured in French oak casks in the house's own cellars, which gives it the rounded, elegant profile the house is known for.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe apples and plums meet a touch of dry oak spice, a combination often found in older Cognac-based bottlings.

Palate

Round and soft, with stone fruit sweetness balanced by a light, spiced oak warmth.

Finish

Mild and elegant, without sharp edges – a finish that matches the house's well-known, approachable style.

Specifications

Name: Courvoisier Luxe Cognac
Distillery: Courvoisier
Region/Country: France, Jarnac
Type: Cognac
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French oak casks
Edition: Luxe (3 Star), imported by Charles Hosie, Hamburg

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Soft · Elegant · Oak-Spiced

Investment Potential

High. This is a discontinued vintage bottling carrying the historic royal warrant along with a clear import provenance, both of which appeal to collectors of old Cognac bottlings. Comparable Courvoisier Luxe 3 Star bottles from the same era are trading today well above what a modern standard bottle would cost, and interest in vintage Cognac with this kind of historic labelling has been growing among collectors.

Did You Know?

Courvoisier is the only one of the big four Cognac houses ever officially permitted to use the imperial "N" in its marketing – a legacy of the brand's supposed connection to Napoleon Bonaparte, who is said to have taken the Cognac with him into exile.

Please note: This bottle is sold as a collector's item. The quality of the contents cannot be guaranteed, and the bottle itself may show scuffs and scratches – see the photo.

On the banks of the Charente river in Jarnac, cognac has been distilled under the name Courvoisier since 1809. The house tied its name to Napoleon early on, and the story of the emperor's fondness for the cognac still follows the bottle today.

Expert's Description

Courvoisier VS is a French Cognac, a blend aged between 4 and 8 years in oak casks and bottled at 40%.

Courvoisier was founded in 1809 in Jarnac on the Charente river and ranks among the great, classic Cognac houses. The story of the house's close ties to Napoleon Bonaparte has become part of its identity, and the name still carries the nickname the emperor's favourite cognac.

The VS quality is blended from grapes grown in the two cru-certified areas of Fins Bois and Petite Champagne, giving it its complex, fruity character with remarkable body and depth.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is fruity and floral with light notes of oak.

Palate

The palate offers orange, lemon and pear, spiced with a touch of oak.

Finish

The finish is round and gently sweet, with a warmth that spreads slowly.

Specifications

Name: Courvoisier VS
Distillery: Courvoisier
Country: France
Type: VS French Cognac
Age: 4-8 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 3049197110076
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat at room temperature or as the base of cocktails and mixed drinks.

Flavour Profile

Orange · Pear · Oak · Spice

Did You Know?

Did you know that Courvoisier is often called the emperor's cognac? Legend has it that Napoleon took a case of cognac with him into exile on Saint Helena in 1815, and the story has followed the house's name ever since.

In the Douro Valley, where the river cuts through terraced vineyards, the house of Dalva has distilled its wines into brandy for more than a hundred years. Dalva Brandy VSOP carries that warm, southern heritage into the glass.

Expert's Description

Dalva Brandy VSOP is a Portuguese Brandy, aged in oak casks and bottled at 36%.

The house behind the bottle, C. da Silva, was founded in 1862 and forms part of the historic Port wine tradition in the Douro Valley. Alongside Port, the family has for generations also distilled Douro grapes into brandy under the Dalva name.

The brandy is made from the classic Douro grape varieties Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cão, and has gained a round, harmonious character from oak ageing, with soft notes of dried fruit and vanilla.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers dried fruit and vanilla with a touch of warm spice.

Palate

The palate is round and full-bodied with ripe raisins and a touch of oak that gives good structure.

Finish

The finish is warm and elegant, closing softly with a hint of spice.

Specifications

Name: Dalva Brandy VSOP
Distillery: C. da Silva (Dalva)
Country: Portugal
Type: Portuguese Brandy
ABV: 36%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Serving suggestion: Enjoy as an after-dinner drink, in cocktails, or as a quiet pleasure on its own.

Flavour Profile

Dried fruit · Vanilla · Raisin · Spice

Did You Know?

Did you know that Dalva Brandy is made from the same grape varieties used to produce Port wine in the Douro Valley? That is one of the reasons the brandy has such a full, fruity character.

The recipe dates from 1804 and remains largely unchanged. No shortcuts, no tricks - just time, old craft, and a small still in Saint-Preuil. Daniel Bouju Empereur XO is the house's tribute to the original method.

Expert's Description

Daniel Bouju Empereur XO is a French Cognac from Grande Champagne, aged in new Limousin oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The cognac comes from the small family house Daniel Bouju, where the original 1804 recipe still forms the basis of production. The house has always held that strength and character should come from the raw materials and cask ageing, not from additives.

Empereur XO is made exclusively from Ugni Blanc grapes and represents the house's XO quality, where long ageing has produced a dark, refined and characterful cognac.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers nutmeg, clove and a touch of ginger.

Palate

The palate is harmonious with ripe plum and vanilla blending smoothly together.

Finish

The finish is long and impressive, with the spices lingering for a good while.

Specifications

Name: Daniel Bouju Empereur XO
Distillery: Daniel Bouju
Country: France
Type: XO Grande Champagne Cognac
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: New Limousin oak casks
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat at room temperature in a cognac glass, ideally as a close to a good dinner.

Flavour Profile

Plum · Nutmeg · Clove · Vanilla

Did You Know?

Did you know that Daniel Bouju still distils according to a recipe from 1804? The house itself calls it no hocus pocus - just patience and respect for the raw materials.

In Saint-Preuil, the place locals call the heart of the Cognac region, Daniel Bouju bottles a young and lively cognac straight into a decanter, ready to be displayed as a gift or as a centrepiece on the drinks cabinet.

Expert's Description

Daniel Bouju No 5 Caraffe is a French Cognac from Grande Champagne, aged in new Limousin oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The cognac comes from the small family house Daniel Bouju, based right in Saint-Preuil - an area the house itself calls the absolute heart of the Cognac region. No 5 is one of the house's younger, fresher expressions, bottled straight into a sleek decanter.

The young age gives the cognac a lively, almost grape-sweet character, while ageing in new Limousin casks adds a fine touch of wood and vanilla without losing its freshness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is light with forest floor, citrus and fresh grapes.

Palate

The palate is long and round with a touch of spice.

Finish

The finish is fresh and nuanced, closing with an elegant light tartness.

Specifications

Name: Daniel Bouju No 5 Caraffe
Distillery: Daniel Bouju
Country: France
Type: Grande Champagne Cognac
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: New Limousin oak casks
EAN no.: 3760008770080
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat at room temperature in a cognac glass, and the decanter makes it a fitting gift for special occasions.

Flavour Profile

Citrus · Forest floor · Grape · Spice

Did You Know?

Did you know that Saint-Preuil, home to Daniel Bouju, is considered by many locals to be the very heart of the Cognac region? The location is part of the reason the house has access to some of the region's finest grapes.

Vine flower, hawthorn and white peach - Daniel Bouju Premiers Arômes smells more of spring than of cognac's usual heavy notes. This is a cognac built on freshness rather than weight.

Expert's Description

Daniel Bouju Premiers Arômes is a French Cognac from Grande Champagne, aged in old Limousin oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The cognac is made exclusively from Ugni Blanc grapes at the small family house Daniel Bouju in Saint-Preuil. Where many of the house's other expressions rest in new casks, Premiers Arômes is instead left in old Limousin casks, which gives a more restrained, subtle cask influence.

The cognac is unfiltered and entirely free of added caramel colouring, giving an authentic expression where the grape's own floral aromas are allowed to take centre stage.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers vine flower, hawthorn and white peach, followed by crisp notes of pink grapefruit.

Palate

The palate is light and harmonious with a fine balance between fruit and acidity, where lemon plays a clear role.

Finish

The finish is short and fresh, leaving a clean, floral impression.

Specifications

Name: Daniel Bouju Premiers Arômes
Distillery: Daniel Bouju
Country: France
Type: Grande Champagne Cognac
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Old Limousin oak casks
Serving suggestion: Enjoy as an aperitif at room temperature or as an ingredient in elegant cocktails.

Flavour Profile

Vine flower · Peach · Grapefruit · Lemon

Did You Know?

Did you know that alongside cognac, Daniel Bouju also produces Pineau des Charentes, the sweet apéritif from the same region? Both are built on the house's same philosophy of clean, unadulterated flavour with no additives.

There's a quiet confidence to Saint-Preuil, the small village at the heart of Grande Champagne, where the Bouju family has distilled its own wine into cognac since 1805.

No bought-in grapes, no outsourced eaux-de-vie – just their own vines, their own copper still, and a belief in doing things at the pace cognac demands.

Expert's Description

Daniel Bouju Réserve Grande Champagne Cognac is a Grande Champagne Cognac aged in French Limousin oak casks and bottled at 40%.

Daniel Bouju is one of the last truly independent cognac houses in Charente – they grow their own grapes (mainly Ugni Blanc, complemented by Colombard and Folle Blanche), vinify their own wine, and distil it themselves in traditional Charente copper stills.

The Réserve is the house's entry point into the Grande Champagne style that defines the whole range: no added caramel colouring, no boisé, no shortcuts. Just wine, fire, and time in oak.

The cognac is bottled in a carafe-shaped bottle – a "carafon" – giving it a more festive, gift-ready look than the classic square cognac bottle.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft and floral, with ripe apricots and nectarines unfolding slowly alongside a touch of vanilla and a hint of gingerbread.

Palate

Clean and balanced, with fresh fruit and spice building towards a lightly peppery edge.

Finish

Long and fragrant, with a dry, woody finish that hints at just how much time is actually sitting in the glass.

Specifications

Name: Daniel Bouju Réserve Grande Champagne Cognac
Distillery: Daniel Bouju
Region/Country: Grande Champagne, France
Type: Grande Champagne Cognac
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Limousin oak casks
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled in a traditional Charente copper pot still
EAN no.: 3760008771094
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed at room temperature in a cognac glass, or as the base for a classic Sidecar

Distillery: Daniel Bouju

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Vanilla-sweet · Spiced · Floral

Did You Know?

The bottle's carafe shape, a "carafon", is an old French tradition for cognac meant to be served straight from the table on festive occasions – a bit like a wine carafe, just filled with cognac instead.

Discover our range of Daniel Bouju

In Saint-Preuil, in the heart of Grande Champagne, the Bouju family still runs their small distillery, bottling cognac in accessible sizes without compromising on craft. This 35 cl bottle is a small, concentrated taste of the house.

Expert's Description

Daniel Bouju Sélection Spécial is a French Cognac from Grande Champagne, aged in new Limousin oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The house of Daniel Bouju is a small family business founded in 1805 in Saint-Preuil, holding 25 hectares of vineyards at the very heart of the Cognac region. Production still takes place in the original farmhouse, where the cognac is distilled on a 16.5-hectolitre still.

Sélection Spécial is made exclusively from Ugni Blanc grapes and carries the house's signature: a dark, refined character with no added caramel colouring, its flavour drawn purely from natural cask ageing.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose blends oak ageing with floral notes and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

The palate is well-rounded and soft, never sharp or aggressive, with a touch of honey.

Finish

The finish is long and calm with a mild spice note that fades quietly.

Specifications

Name: Daniel Bouju Sélection Spécial
Distillery: Daniel Bouju
Country: France
Type: Grande Champagne Cognac
ABV: 40%
Size: 35 CL
Cask type: New Limousin oak casks
EAN no.: 3760008770011
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat at room temperature in a cognac glass, ideal for smaller pours thanks to its compact size.

Flavour Profile

Floral · Vanilla · Honey · Spice

Did You Know?

Did you know that the entire production at Daniel Bouju takes place on a single small 16.5-hectolitre still? That is a fraction of what the large Cognac houses distil on, but it results in a very hands-on craft from grape to bottle.