The other grape beverage

[BobMac]

I know it's not wine, but its close.

Is anyone else into Cognac or Armangnac? Personally I discovered Cognac earlier this year and have been wrapped with it ever since. Due to budget restraints I drink VS and VSOP only, but share amoung Hennessy, Remy, Courvoisier & Martell.

Would be intrested to know peoples opinions on the various cognacs out there, and even on the Aussie stuff (heard the very old St Aggies brand is meant to be tops for the price).

Cheers

[Gavin Trott]

I know it's not wine, but its close.

Is anyone else into Cognac or Armangnac? Personally I discovered Cognac earlier this year and have been wrapped with it ever since. Due to budget restraints I drink VS and VSOP only, but share amoung Hennessy, Remy, Courvoisier & Martell.

Would be intrested to know peoples opinions on the various cognacs out there, and even on the Aussie stuff (heard the very old St Aggies brand is meant to be tops for the price).

Cheers

Hello

Just out of interest, last week I went to a Hennessy Masterclass here in Adelaide. Someone from Hennessy talked us through all aspects, then we tasted the cognacs, everything through to the Richard Hennessy ... quite a remarkable afternoon.

The Richard Hennessy averages some 130 years of age in the blend, quite amazing.

Anyone else here Cognac drinkers?

[BobMac]

Hello

Just out of interest, last week I went to a Hennessy Masterclass here in Adelaide. Someone from Hennessy talked us through all aspects, then we tasted the cognacs, everything through to the Richard Hennessy ... quite a remarkable afternoon.

The Richard Hennessy averages some 130 years of age in the blend, quite amazing.

Anyone else here Cognac drinkers?

But was it worth the $1500? Or more importantly, is it a whole lot better than the Paradis?

[Gavin Trott]

But was it worth the $1500? Or more importantly, is it a whole lot better than the Paradis?

As we went up the range they, as you would know, became increasingly rich, complex, intense and the Paradis was absolutely mind boggling.

Surprisingly the intensity did not seem to go up with the Richard Hennessy, the aroma became almost ethereal (sorry, bit lost for words here) very complex, satin smooth, something different with each sniff and taste, ever changing, quite literally amazing.

Worth the extra, well that depends on the drinker's budget as always, but was it much much better than the Paradis, most definitely.

[Neville K]

Bobmac,

Not one to sing the VC tune but hot off the cellar press, in a desultory month of events is this that might interest you

"Thursday 30th October,
7 – 9pm

MELBOURNE (KING ST)
Hennessy Cognac masterclass

YouÂ’ll enjoy a guided tasting of Hennessy V.S., V.S.O.P., X.O., Paradis and Richard with brand ambassador Cerenitha Chow, plus there will be great giveaways on the night. Cost is just $25.

Phone Doug Waugh at the store on 9614 2825 to book your place"

[TORB]

Bob,

I love both Cognac and Armagnac but drink very little of the stuff. Normally only when I feel like a glass of a top drop and then its XO. Either its bought duty free or occasionally you see it cheap at auctions. A bottle lasts me for ages so quality is more important than quantity. The Hardys XO is a very good drop but also not cheap.

Sorry I cant be of more help at the lower cost spectrum.

[MartinC]

I grew up on Cognac b4 I started to appreciate wines. My fav. is Martell Cordon Bleu for the prestige & Courvoiser Napoleon for VSOP.

But the best there is Leopold Gourmel "single" Cognac. Unblended without added caramel n sugar. Ethereal stuffs. It came in diff type - les fruits, les fluers, les spices indicating diff. barrel aged. For those of u who like Cognac, it's worth seeking out.

Cheers,

[Davo]

Halfway through a bottle of Remy XO. Given to the wife 2 years ago by one of her colleagues and thankfully she is not a spirits drinker. My first drink in the brandy line in over 30 years after a near fatal (or so it seemed the next day) night on brandy and dry.

Bloody good stuff but I doubt I will be buying it all that often as I see it is now $215 at duty free.

[Rob]

I am a bit fan of Cognac or Armangnac.

I purcahsed a bottle of Armangnac from France via fine wines of Europe and it was a beauty. It is an XO at least 35 years and the richness in flavour and the smooth ness in the texture is just mind blowing.

I found the commerical stuff like the the Remy Martin and other commerical available products not up to scratch.

I can purcahse a 1969 Armagnac for a fractions of the price to the Richards cognac.

This one is highly recommended if you can get one " Logis De La Mothe Grande Champagne XO Cognac - Appellation Grand Champagne Controlee". It costs about $120 back in 2002. The price is increasing yearly so you may need to fork out around $150 pb to get it shipped from France.

[michel]

This one is highly recommended if you can get one " Logis De La Mothe Grande Champagne XO Cognac - Appellation Grand Champagne Controlee". It costs about $120 back in 2002. The price is increasing yearly so you may need to fork out around $150 pb to get it shipped from France.

Rob
where on earth in Australia can you order this for 150 bucks.
All the prices here have gone crazy.
Anything good that is XO or better is now generally >250 dollars.
Last time I looked in East End Cellars and the Duty free shops all the good stuff including Remy Martin Extra was >330 dollars.

If anyone out there can find this then let us know -Yalumba Pot Still Brandy was about 40 dollars and has dissappeared two years ago. It is like a very decent quality Armagnac.

I drink one each Winter but the cost is prohibitive.
michel

[Noel]

Remember folks that to be XO the cognac only has to 10 years old. We have Grande Champagne XO for £30-£50 in the UK. At 2.4$ =£1 that means quite cheap. However many are not worth it. I would always look for the smaller grower. Here are a few i recommend for what it's worth.
Frapin, Duboigalant now called Maxime Tijol, Pierre Ferrand, Leopold Gourmel, Ragnaud Sabourin.
Of the bigger houses Hine still make top stuff. As do Delamain in a very elegant way.
XO Armagnac is generally cheaper. Look for an age designate first eg 20 years old. Often old vintage Armagnac's have been stored in demi-johns for years and often taste a bit reductive, mostly they have been taken out of barrel at 10-20 years so do not continue to soften. Bas Armagnac is the key region. Loads of good producers though Leon Lafite is probably the best. Although he has died, his daughter is keeping up the good work.
Avoid really dark looking ones which usually have just had a load of caramel added for colour, sweetness etc.
Cheers!
Noel

[michel]

. Bas Armagnac is the key region. Loads of good producers though Leon Lafite is probably the best. Although he has died, his daughter is keeping up the good work.
Avoid really dark looking ones which usually have just had a load of caramel added for colour, sweetness etc.
Cheers!
Noel

Thanks Noel
a few years ago we could get the Bas Armagnacs at sub 100 dollars Aus but now the world has collapsed and most have moved into >200dollars except for some of the less recognised producers.
Last year I bought a magnum of a Brandy that was stored in an airconditioned cellar for 100 dollars Aus and it was so old I had to go searching through the books to find out if the distiller was well recognised. He was and the Brandy was brilliant and cheap.
michel

[BobMac]

Thanks for the heads up Neville. I am going to do my best to get to that!