| |
Dwelling
Hundreds of tastings,
all of the music,
all of the rambligs
and all of the enjoyable
(hopefully!)
Whiskyfun.com
Assured ad-free
copyright 2002-2025
|
 |
|
| Hello, that is one among our (virtually) each day tastings. Santé! |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
February 9, 2025
|
|
  |
|
|
|
A phrase of warning
Let me please remind you that my humble assessments of any spirits are accomplished from the standpoint of a malt whisky fanatic who, what’s extra, is aboslutely not an knowledgeable in rum, brandy, tequila, vodka, gin or every other spirits. Thanks – and peace! |
|
Just a few anthological outdated Cognacs for this Sunday
A wild aperitif, adopted by simply two or three (or 4) outdated Cognacs… Then, subsequent Sunday, we’ll return to rums, that are fairly actually taking up WF Towerz.
Remembering Albert Ayler
1936-1970
|
 |
|
Reminder: our scores for Cognacs and Armagnacs might seem very excessive, however not like our method to whiskies and rums, we focus solely on the easiest bottles, which inevitably raises the typical scores considerably. Apologies, however we merely shouldn’t have the time and vitality to style common Cognacs or Armagnacs.
|
|
|
Prunier ‘Uncommon Blended Cognac’ (52.9%, Swell de Spirits, 450 bottles, 2024) 
Uncommon and intriguing, this mix contains 10% Fins Bois pure Colombard 2012, 25% Petite Champagne pure Folignan 2014, and 65% Folle Blanche from Fins Bois 2011. Should you’re questioning what Folignan is, I wasn’t conversant in it till simply now both. A fast dive into DeepSeek suggests it’s ‘an artificial compound that acts as a constructive allosteric modulator of the GABA_A receptor.’ Hmm, effectively, let’s go away that apart. ChatGPT, alongside Grok, informs us that Folignan is definitely a hybrid created in 1964 by crossing Ugni Blanc with Folle Blanche, formally recognised inside the Cognac appellation since 2005 however restricted to a most of 10% of a winery’s varieties. That appears to take a look at… Color: gold. Nostril: a fairly fats and barely earthy profile, opening with shocking wafts of sea breeze and recent rubber (new trainers), earlier than creating into richer natural tones—potting soil, seaweed, damp leaves, tobacco, pistachio oil, and peanut oil. This seems like a Cognac made for the outside. With water: the identical profile persists however provides notes of metallic polish and outdated silverware. Mouth (neat): tough, peppery, and bone-dry at first, however quickly tamed by fruit peelings—peach, melon, apple—earlier than evolving into the fruits themselves, now mingled with a contact of liquorice extract. It grows more and more salty and even spicy. With water: extra fruit-forward, although all inexperienced and white fruits now, together with crisp little inexperienced pears. End: lengthy and saline, nonetheless very dry, although riper peach and softer liquorice lend a contact of refinement and poise. Feedback: might it’s the Folignan that imparts this ultra-dry high quality, paying homage to Manzanilla? Or is it the Fins Bois terroir? This will get remarkably near sure coastal Scottish malts.
SGP:361 – 87 factors. |
|
|
Marie Foucher ‘Lot 75 – L’esprit Nomade’ (50.18%, Malternative Belgium, Fins Bois, 324 bottles) 
This takes us to the village of Foussignac. On the Malternative Belgium web site, you’ll discover the tales behind every bottling and every character, typically fairly transferring and paying homage to Grosperrin’s fashion. In any case, nice spirits are largely about nice characters. Color: deep gold. Nostril: initially a contact shy, however the fruits slowly rise to the floor—yellow peaches, honey, sultanas, and ripe bananas. You’ll be able to inform water will work wonders right here; for my part, Cognac appears to react about 10% lower than malt to dilution. By which I imply {that a} 50% Cognac feels akin to a 60% malt—a purely private remark. With water: damp leaves, roasted chestnuts, lanolin, sesame oil, and even shoe polish. One other little enchantment. Mouth (neat): neglect it, it’s excellent. Astonishingly fruity, partially unique, with figs galore—figs, figs, and extra figs. With water: peaches, apples, and pears burst ahead like Mbappé charging into the field. Seems like a purpose is inevitable. End: not everlasting, however who cares? The arrival of liquorice and highly effective honey wraps all of it up fantastically. Feedback: what can I say? That is excellent. As soon as once more, beware the dangerously excessive drinkability index. You would possibly need to ask your higher half to cover the bottle.
SGP:651 – 91 factors. |
|
We’re beginning off too excessive, as soon as extra. I imply, the scores are too excessive, proper.
|
|
|
François Voyer ‘Lot 77 – Monsieur Doute’ (48.7%, Malternative Belgium, Grande Champagne, 214 bottles)
Holy Suzy, 1977, that’s Speaking Heads! Color: amber gold. Nostril: an avalanche of raisins—each grape selection, each origin, each stage of ripeness. I’m conscious that such an outline may appear partial or simplistic, however I couldn’t care much less (S., please behave). Mouth: as I’ve already talked about, our Belgian mates are beginning to annoy us (simply joking, we like them—Alsatians are principally Belgians who by no means made it to Switzerland). However right here we go once more with one other completely superb Grande Champagne they’ve unearthed. Gorgeous toasted notes, alongside that cascade of raisins and ripe peaches of each possible selection. A sturdy, frivolously salted liquorice steps in to revive order, and never a second too quickly. End: extra of the identical. Feedback: an outdated Cognac that’s retained a exceptional quantity of vigour—very similar to David Byrne. By the way in which, do you know David Byrne was born in Dumbarton, Scotland?
SGP:641 – 91 factors. |
|
|
Jean-Luc Pasquet ‘Lot n°73’ (50.8%, Spirit of the Day x Spirit Gallery, Grande Champagne, 197 bottles, 2024) 
Bravo S., selecting a Pasquet isn’t precisely going to chill issues down, is it? Color: amber. Nostril: sharper and livelier, with inexperienced apple, younger pineapple, and a contact of patchouli, in a method paying homage to sure Fins Bois. Beautiful notes of Iberian ham, a touch of maritime tar, inexperienced bananas, and a hefty 500g pack of liquorice straight from Schiphol. Saying that as a result of we don’t discover these in France. With water: water smooths it out properly, bringing it nearer to softly honeyed apple compote with faint yeasty touches, à la Springbank (sure, actually). A touch of metallic polish makes a reappearance too. Mouth (neat): agency and even fruitier. This time, unique fruits arrive in droves, all the time underlined by a streak of pepper and chilli, paying homage to Réunion delicacies (rougail). With water: honey, mead, raisins, stewed fruits, and really darkish chocolate, with perhaps two or three espresso beans sneaking in. End: good size, fantastically oily, barely extra natural as is commonly the case (and a contact of grape skins), with hints of outdated wooden and humus on the finish. Feedback: a stunning journey with loads of twists and turns—it’s no motorway. Oh, and I virtually forgot to say a touch of salinity within the aftertaste.
SGP:561 – 89 factors. |
|
|
Grosperrin – Bertandeau ‘Lot 71 – La Bonne trigger’ (52.9%, Malternative Belgium, Petite Champagne, 323 bottles, 2023)
Allez, let’s choose up the tempo. Color: gold. Nostril: right here we’re coming into the territory of varnish and outdated tree stumps, with wild mushrooms (not making an attempt to sound intelligent, I promise, however I’m reminded of coral fungi, which pairs properly with the tree stumps), then pinecones and a faint rubbery contact. That is adopted by inexperienced and black teas, a touch of ham fats, and eventually complete oranges making a daring entrance. With water: stunning! Figs, sultanas, and winery peaches emerge, every little thing changing into extra basic and approachable. Mouth (neat): an outdated bourbon-like vibe at first, with loads of energy and a marked rye character, adopted by roasted pineapple and black pepper. With water: oh sure, water works wonders right here! A simple unique fruit jam, however don’t add an excessive amount of water, as it’d launch an excessive amount of tannicity. End: pretty lengthy, with a light-weight muscat-like be aware past the same old fruit mixture. The aftertaste turns noticeably earthier and woodier, with a leather-based and tobacco edge. Feedback: there’s additionally a stunning story behind this cask, which I’ll go away you to find on the suitable web sites (not Disney’s, thoughts you).
SGP:561 – 90 factors. |
|
|
Paul Beau ‘Lot 70 – En Danseuse’ (43.11%, Malternative Belgium, Grande Champagne, 290 bottles, 2024)
The official Paul Beau bottlings we tasted a superb few years in the past didn’t blow us away, however the context right here is sort of completely different… Color: golden gold (significantly, what?). Nostril: there’s quite a lot of class right here—delicate waxes, little yellow fruits, tiny herbs, fruity oils (olive, peanut, sesame, sunflower), adopted by toasted nuts, let’s consider. Pecan, macadamia, peanut, hazelnut… The entire ensemble almost results in that notorious unfold that’s been tormenting mums for many years. It then finishes with winery peach, as is so typically the case. Mouth: this child is sort of astonishing, paying homage to malts distilled in comparable years (assume Glen Grant, Glenlivet, and even Bushmills), with honey, pollen, ripe peach, blackberry, and candy wines from southwestern France (200 kilometres south of Cognac)—like Monbazillac, Sauternes, Jurançon doux, Cérons (love Cérons), or Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh doux, amongst others. Oh, and a few outdated Pineau, in the event you desire. End: of medium size however with attractive softness, that includes ripe fruits and honey. A phenomenal citric signature, with a tiny contact of salinity and liquorice on the finish. Feedback: 1970! Greatest loved whereas listening to Hendrix, Joplin… or Albert Ayler. An impressive outdated Cognac filled with gentleness.
SGP:651 – 90 factors. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
