Review: Camus Cognac VSOP
Camus Cognac VSOP is made from a blend of eaux-de-vie, some coming from the cru of Borderies. The Borderies Cru is the smallest of the six winemaking regions of Cognac, and the Camus family is the regions largest land owner. Camus VSOP is aged for a minimum of 4 years in fine grain barrels low in tannins due to the “French light toasting” process which allows for a balance of oakiness and fresh flavors. For five generations the Camus family has been crafting cognac, starting with Jean Baptiste Camus who organized a consortium of cognac producers in 1863 under the name La Grande Marque. Camus VSOP is one of several cognacs in the Camus Intensely Aromatic line of cognac. Camus also produces a Borderies Signature, and Aromatic Gems line. Read more 
Review: NYAK VS Cognac
NYAK VS Cognac was recently introduced in ten US states. More will follow. Dennis McKinley CEO of Detroit Equities, Patrick Charpentier former VP with Remy Cointreau, and Jerome Hyafil former EVP of Seagrams Spirits and Wine partnered to launch the brand. NYAK has also recently aligned with famed rapper Young M.A. NYAK is crafted at a sixth generation family owned distillery built in 1830. The aging cellars and distillery overlook the lazy Lary River. The wines used are sourced from the House owned vineyards and from grower partners. The grapes come from various regions including Petite Champagne. The first distillation is in a 10,000 liter copper pot still. The second in 2500 liter copper pot stills. The spirits matures a minimum 2 years in French oak barrels prior to bottling. Read more
Review: Grand Brulot
Grand Brulot is a VSOP Cognac blended with French Brandy and Ecuadorian coffee beans. It is handcrafted by the Tardy family on their estate in the Cognac region of France. Christoph Tardy, a fifth generation cognac producer starts with the finest eaux de vie, made with a blend of Ugni Blanc and Colombard grapes from their single estate. The Tardy family has been handcrafting grape spirits since 1880. The spirit is aged for 4-5 years in French oak barrels. 100% Robusta Ecuadorian coffee bean essence is extracted and blended with brandy to meld for a couple of months before it is blended with the VSOP cognac. The blend is comprised of 51% VSOP Cognac, and 49% liqueur de cafe. In the 18th century the French introduced the concept of spiking their coffee with brandy to create a digestif. Grand Brulot was created to bring that tradition back. Read more
Review: Chalfonte VSOP Grande Fine Cognac
Chalfonte VSOP Grande Fine Cognac is made from white grapes grown in the Grande Champagne cru. The Grande Champagne terroir is characterized by a maritime climate and chalky soils over limestone and sandstone. Chalfonte is distilled, aged and blended in limited quantity in the heart of the Cognac region. While Chalfonte VSOP Grande Fine Cognac may not be a household name, it was the highest scoring cognac reviewed by The Beverage Testing Institute in 2017. Read more
Review: Courvoisier VSOP Cognac
Courvoisier VSOP Cognac is crafted from white grapes grown in the Grande and Petite Champagne, and Fins Bois crus. Courvoisier nurtures a close relationship with over 800 vine growers to ensure the grapes used are the finest in the Cognac region. The grapes are harvested at their peak, at the end of summer. Once pressed the juices ferment over seven days. The wine is double distilled only from November to March using traditional and unusually small 25 hectoliter alembic pot stills. The eaux-de-vies are aged in barrels handcrafted from the finest French oak. Master Blender Patrice Pinet then fuses these fine spirits into a consistent and harmonious blend. Read more
Review: Hennessy VSOP Privilege Cognac
Hennessy VSOP Privilege Cognac is made from a blend of over 60 eaux-de-vie made from 100% Ugni grapes sourced from four crus, including Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, and Fins Bois. The wine is double distilled using iconic Charentais copper stills and aged for a minimum of four years in French oak barrels sourced form Limousin or Troncais forests. The House of Hennessy was founded in 1765 by Richard Hennessy who was an Irish officer in the army of Louis XV. The Prince of Wales, a cognac connoisseur and the future King George IV of Great Briton personally requested a very special old pale from the House of Hennessy. Delivered in 1818 this new classification, VSOP became a benchmark for all cognac makers. Read more
Review: Martell VSOP Medaillon Cognac
Martell VSOP Medaillon Cognac is crafted from eaux-de-vie sourced from four crus including Borderies, Petite Champagne, Grande Champagne, and Fins Bois. Martell is the only cognac producer to distil only clear wine, where all the sediments and impurities have been removed. The eaux-de-vie is aged for four to seven years in lightly toasted Troncais oak barrels. Founded in 1715 by Englishman Jean Martell, Martell is the oldest of the great cognac houses. Jean Martell left his hometown of Jersey to start trading eaux-de-vie and opened his first distillery on the banks of the Charente. In 1831 his great grandson Frederic Martell crafted for the first time a blend of eaux-de-vie named Very Superior Old Pale. In 1838 the family purchased the Chateau de Chanteloup, the iconic House of Martell. Read more
Review: Landy VSOP Cognac
Landy VSOP Cognac is one of three cognac brands created by Maison Ferrand. The other two include Pierre Ferrand, and Claude Chatelier. Maison Ferrand is the result of the encounter in 1989 between Alexander Gabriel and one of the oldest winemaking families in the Cognac region. They are now the sixth largest producer of cognac. The home office and production facility is located amid the vineyards of Charente in the 18th century Chateau de Bonbonnet. In 2010 Landy entered a marketing partnership with Snoop Dogg. Landy VSOP Cognac is made from eaux-de-vie originating from the Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, and Fins Bois cru. Double distilled separately in small 25 hectoliter copper pot stills, the young cognac is kept in cool cellars in new Limousin oak casks for one year. The spirit is then transferred to older casks where the softer tannins enable the cognac to mature while avoiding the development of excessive oak flavor. The eaux-de-vie is aged for a minimum of four years before the casks are blended by their Cellar Master. Read more
Review: H by Hine VSOP Cognac
H by Hine VSOP Cognac is blended from twenty young eaux-de-vie from the Petite Champagne and Grande Champagne crus. Each is aged for a minimum four years in lightly charred wood barrels. The history of this house dates back to 1791 when a young Englishman set out from his native Dorset to learn the secrets of how cognac, his fathers favorite tipple is produced. He had just turned 16. Soon after arriving he was imprisoned at Chateau de Jarnac while fleeing the French Revolution. He remained sequestered for several months, but later married Francoise-Elisabeth, the daughter of his host. In 1817 Thomas Hine gave his name to this house established on the banks of the Charente in 1763. Read more
Review: Camus Borderies XO Cognac
Camus Borderies XO Cognac was first released in 2000. Camus cognac has been produced by five generations of the Camus family since 1863 when Jean Baptiste Camus organized a group of producers to sell cognac under the brand La Grande Marque. Cyril Camus currently leads the company and he also developed Camus Borderies XO Cognac. Produced mainly from the most prized vines in Domaines Camus Estates, the wine is distilled on the lees. Borderies XO is a single-growth extra old cognac having been aged in Limousin oak barrels for over six years. Read more