| |
Residence
Hundreds of tastings,
all of the ramblings
and all of the enjoyable
(hopefully!)
Whiskyfun.com
Assured ad-free
copyright 2002-2025
|
 |
|
| Hello, that is certainly one of our (virtually) every day tastings. Santé! |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
Could 17, 2025
|
|
  |
|
|
|
A phrase of warning
Let me please remind you that my humble assessments of any spirits are completed from the standpoint of a malt whisky fanatic who, what’s extra, is aboslutely not an skilled in rum, brandy, tequila, vodka, gin or every other spirits. Thanks – and peace! |
|
A wee Cognac verticale spanning 50 years, from 2015 to 1965
Beginning with a ‘petit’ apéritif earlier than we sort out the little large cognacs – or large little cognacs – from the F1 groups presently main the race to the World Championship. Hope you see what I imply.
|
|
‘It is Hine! It is dry!
A stunning twilight. The setting solar. A dry air full of reminiscences. For really unforgettable moments, that uncommon and treasured style that warms the center. Hine Cognac — acclaimed because the most interesting Cognac by connoisseurs the world over, as a result of it’s… dry.’
(Journal advert, USA, early Sixties). |
|
|
Hine ‘Homage to Thomas Hine’ (40%, OB, Grade Champagne, +/-2025) 
Right here we’ve a moderately top-tier XO (100€+) The ‘Vintage’ model didn’t fairly win us over a couple of years in the past, however this Homage has a tremendous status… It’s a mix of cognacs aged in England—thus early landed—and really outdated cognacs matured in Jarnac. Let’s examine if it§’s ‘sec’… Color: amber. Nostril: moderately gentle, pretty dry, with a contact of sandalwood and hints of incense and eucalyptus lending it a distinctly Far Japanese character. Mouth: extra assertive on the palate regardless of the low energy, with fruit peels, hints of calmly burnt caramel, liquorice, pistachio cream, then a contact of triple sec, candied zest, lemon liqueur, melon, peach… All of it turns into more and more vigorous and contemporary, it’s actually very nice. End: good size contemplating the energy, with these citrus components nonetheless current, a contact of menthol, and a slight trace of inexperienced tea and contemporary hay. Feedback: I actually like this Hine, it’s a tremendous home in any case. One would possibly be aware the English spelling ‘Homage’ moderately than the French ‘Hommage’. However then, Thomas Hine was certainly English…
SGP:551 – 85 factors. |
|
|
Jean-Luc Pasquet 8 yo 2015/2024 (57.8%, C. Dully Choice, Grande Champagne, folle blanche, cask #338, 214 bottles) 
From a couple of rows of folle blanche planted by the Pasquet household within the Seventies. Cognacs made completely from folle blanche stay uncommon—although they have been in fact way more widespread earlier than phylloxera. Color: gold. Nostril: now that is distinctly off the crushed observe, extra textured proper from the beginning, closely camphory, marked by eucalyptus and therapeutic massage balms, then we transfer into extra classical notes—maple syrup, pure vanilla, oranges and peach. Beautiful aniseed notes bide their time within the background, together with hints of white and yellow flowers. With water: a couple of earthy touches, in any other case it stays the course—it swims like a champion. Mouth (neat): that very same firmness and stress on the assault, liquorice with menthol, virtually a whiff of smoke (let’s say one thing Ben Nevis-ish), even a saline edge. Citrus zest. With water: we dive into the center of the grape, although if one yields to it, one is swept off to each Scotland and Martinique. End: lengthy, with a cavalry cost of candied citrus. Liquorice and fir bud within the aftertaste. Feedback: I wouldn’t say I’m shocked, nevertheless it’s not usually that such younger cognacs come throughout as this ‘full’, when you see what I imply. We’re already brushing up towards perfection, proof that the best cognacs, too, do not essentially want lengthy ageing.
SGP:662 – 89 factors. |
|
|
Domaine du Chêne ‘XXO d’avant 1992’ (48.4%, Artwork Malts, Bons Bois, Sequence of Artwork 6, L’Or de Jo, barrique, casks #7100–7108, 2024)
Color: deep amber. Nostril: cider apple and wooden varnish, then pure rubber and myrtle, the entire thing wrapped in a tremendous marmalade of orange and grapefruit, then misted with winery peach liqueur. Very good-looking woodiness, barely resinous, very elegant. Mouth: all this interprets onto the palate in a most charmingly rustic vogue, virtually ‘non-commercial’ when you see what I imply, with fixed nods in the direction of its Armagnac cousins. I hope I’m not offending anybody by saying that. Fir, black tea, fennel, lime, liquorice wooden and so on. End: lengthy, with these moderately inexperienced tannins and nonetheless loads of lime. It simply tickles a bit. Feedback: a Domaine du Chêne model with a barely extra country-house model than others we’ve already tried, but nonetheless clearly of very excessive calibre. The younger folle blanche might have overshadowed it a contact, I shall have phrases with whoever assembled this line-up. Proper.
SGP:561 – 88 factors. |
|
|
Voyer ‘Lot 85’ (53.7%, Grape of the Artwork, Grande Champagne, 295 bottles) 
A pleasant instance of a really tremendous home that used to supply some really charming cognacs, although they might have lacked a little bit of oomph, merely as a result of customary 40% vol. One imagines the thirsty horde of indies (love you guys) will need to have inspired them to launch higher-strength bottlings, with outcomes that now appear fairly self-evident. Color: full gold. Nostril: a powerful lemony cavalcade, very vigorous, virtually acidic on the nostril, although swiftly rescued by chalk and a contact of honey. Beautiful. With water: candle wax, damp earth, shoe polish. Mouth (neat): very, very compact. Mint, liquorice, lemon, chalk, basta cosi. With water: the water attracts out much more citrus, we discover blood orange, bergamot and so forth. End: lengthy, barely earthier, with a contact of ‘dunnage’. Feedback: nothing so as to add, it’s singular, so it’s excellent (what?)
SGP:651 – 90 factors. |
|
|
Jean-Luc Pasquet ‘L.53.y Le Cognac de Limburg Whisky Truthful 2025’ (51.4%, OB, Confluences, Positive Champagne, 1 bottle)
Don’t trouble studying this tasting be aware, it’s completely pointless since there was just one bottle. You’ve been warned. Proper, we’ll be fast about it… Color: amber. Nostril: it’s a dialogue between winery peaches stewed in honey and fir liqueur enriched with a contact of liquorice. With water: mint tea wraps all of it up. Mouth (neat): sandalwood, cinnamon stick, bergamot, sultanas, a whisper of muscat. With water: orange salad dressed with honey, olive oil and mint. Killer stuff. End: that is the worst bit, it’s the underside of the bottle, and not a single drop stays. In the whole world! Feedback: one actually shouldn’t rating such a novel flask, however let’s say someplace bang between 90 and 92.
SGP:661 – /factors. |
|
|
Héritage ‘Lot 74’ (44.7%, Genuine Spirits, Grande Champagne, 2024)
Pure ugni blanc, single-origin although undisclosed. That’s fairly all proper. Color: amber. Nostril: we’re in barely old-school territory right here, with caramel, toffee, buttercream, tobacco, then a stunning burst of peppermint and some puffs of lavender, all with tremendous magnificence. We’re now moderately curious concerning the palate… Mouth: it opens with one thing virtually medicinal, but additionally saline, then shifts in the direction of mint, orange and eucalyptus, with a contact of black tea offering the tannic spine. In any case, this child is fifty years outdated! End: medium in size, earthier, with touches of mushroom, peppermint, cedarwood… and nonetheless that… let’s say darjeeling tea. Feedback: my grandfathers and my father would have completely adored this magnificent barely old-skool cognac and I’m actually not going to contradict them.
SGP:451 – 88 factors. |
|
|
La Prenellerie ‘Lot 73’ (52.6%, Genuine Spirits, Bons Bois, 2025)
Right here we’re on the mouth of the Gironde, then, in a setting that’s virtually maritime. Color: amber. Nostril: oh, the honeys! And fudge with touches of pink pepper and mint chocolate. With water: mint tea with a mocha spoonful of fir honey, and a touch of sauna oil. Mouth (neat): very tremendous stress, on citron, eucalyptus and myrtle. We wonder if this child wasn’t in actual fact distilled in Corsica. We love Corsica at WF – Bons Bois too, in fact. With water: a really beautiful fruity simplicity, heading in the direction of all types of plums, the entire sprinkled with a little bit of floor cinnamon. End: not everlasting however sure features do recall outdated agricole rums. Feedback: let’s not overlook that outdated spirits are inclined to converge – and tannicity to turn into a bit extra talkative.
SGP:451 – 89 factors. |
|
|
Jean-Luc Pasquet 52 yo 1972/2025 (54.5%, Maltbarn, Grande Champagne)
1972, that’s so rock and roll! Color: darkish purple amber. Nostril: it’s virtually brutal, a bit blurry, not terribly orderly, a contact ‘cooked’, stewed, with rubber… And it finally ends up being dominated by damson, vieille prune from Souillac and the like. That is actually a kind of circumstances the place you inform your self you ought so as to add a couple of drops of water right away. With water: whole outdated bachelor’s jam and classic mint liqueur. And I swear there’s an outdated Bunnahabhain vibe in there (with my profuse apologies). Mouth (neat): the other of the nostril, exact from the outset, outdated bourbon, varnish, tinned peaches, overripe apples, hints of pure tar. With water: it slips the leash so to talk, heading into fern, classic orange liqueur, blond tobacco, hay… End: lengthy, with rising tannicity, however because it veers in the direction of liquorice wooden, all the pieces stays simply completely tremendous. Feedback: who stated rock and roll? We’re bordering on Captain Beefheart right here, nothing specifically is smart, but the entire exudes simple, immense appeal. In different phrases, a little bit of organised chaos – adore it.
SGP:561 – 90 factors. |
|
A final one, from one other discreet home we’re very keen on…
|
|
|
Rémi Landier ‘Lot 72-73-74 Les Champs Fruités’ (50.13%, Malternative Belgium, Fins Bois, 350 bottles, 2025)
Color: deep gold. Nostril: the precise reverse of the earlier one, as a result of even when this child is multi-vintage, we’re within the realm of precision right here, of near-simplicity – that is virtually Bauhaus cognac. Chamomile, very ripe winery peaches, heather honey, and that’s it. All proper then, let’s say these are completely different heather honeys, particularly white and ling. Briefly, it’s magnificently compact, I’m virtually afraid. With water: arrival of balms and ointments, camphor and the like. Mouth (neat): cedar and balsa, then oranges and honey, adopted by a light-weight maritime oloroso facet and a contact of Iberian ham. Certainly, that’s additionally the oak ‘rising’. With water: it’s much more noticeable when you’ve added water, as virtually at all times. That acquainted mint tea and bitter chocolate be aware. End: it’s an amusing sensation, the tannicity barely closes in on the spirit, virtually like a door. Doesn’t cease a couple of basic touches of peach, orange and sultanas from persevering with their patrol, however the entire turns into dry if not drying. Feedback: one wonders whether or not there’s any actual level in declaring the ABV to the hundredth of a level, however perhaps it makes it much more ‘distinctive’. A powerful ‘seco’ cognac, at any fee.
SGP:461 – 89 factors. |
|
However who stated the earlier one was going to be the final, who?…
|
|
|
Les Grandes Jouberteries ‘Lot 65’ (49.6%, Genuine Spirits, Fins Bois, 2025)
Ugni blanc and full maturation in wooden. We tasted a sister bottling final yr and it was elegant (WF 91). Color: amber. Nostril: that is pure fudge, combined with pistachio nougat, the entire sure with toasted sesame oil laced with a contact of orange peel important oil. So, what are we listening to from 1965? Why, in fact, The Zombies and Rod Argent with ‘She’s Not There’. Or Santana’s model, on Moonflower. Proper then, let’s press on… Mouth: splendid fir honey, and to be truthful there’s very practically solely that, ultimately, the query is whether or not or not you want fir honey. I agree, who doesn’t. All proper, that’s an exaggeration, there are apples and oranges too, then peaches and dried apricots, and fairly a little bit of cinnamon. It’s splendid and it’s… 60 years outdated, give or take. End: lengthy, with inevitably extra marked tannins, black tea, darkish chocolate and mint, thyme tisane, tobacco, a couple of Corinth raisins and black pepper within the aftertaste… The end is probably not probably the most dazzling side of such an outdated spirit, however the entire ‘holds up’ completely. Feedback: a mighty beast!
SGP:461 – 91 factors. |
|
One other tremendous choice at the moment, or an actual little treasure trove of cognacs. Au revoir, CU.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
