A SHORT NOTE ON THE BASICS OF COGNAC FROM USA TODAY NEWS

Cognac is celebrating 1000 years of the city to be a major hub for business development. Long before the cognac was popular the city was very active in salt, vinegar and wines.

The US newspaper USA TODAY gives a personal account on what makes cognac so special, its history and why it is going through a trendy revival with more than 40% increased sales in the past 6 years, as explained by the bars looking for authentic and original cocktail recipes with careful selections of ingredients.

Cognac Bottle with VS, VSOP, and XO ages and colors simulation

"Cognac is often complex, sometimes heated, at times best on its own and at others within a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. It is an art and a culture, refined and steeped in history. We honor this age-old spirit in our exploration."

"... the cognac is designated under V.S. (“very special”) until it hits four years of aging, the benchmark for V.S.O.P. (very superior old pale), and the third and final classification is XO (extra old) or Napoleon, reserved for cognacs aged six years or longer.

In its simplest form and at its core, cognac is a brandy defined by its regional boundaries and its compliance with legal requirements as set by French law. Like any wine or spirit, cognac differs in taste in its various expressions and its flavor profile is dependent upon a number of factors (aging, grape variety, blending). It's often rich, has notes of caramel, and is slightly acidic and sometimes floral."

Source: USA TODAY

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SPIRIT ONLINE RETAILERS ARE FOCUSING ON CRAFT SPIRITS

Retail distribution in the wine & spirits has a curious evolution cycle.

Small retailers of Wines & Spirits, then Larger retailers, then Online Retailers, then Online but just spirits for instance, then more narrow and specific with an online store with just Craft Spirits. See for example the one below from New York.

Check for instance: https://www.newyorkcraftspirits.com

New York Craft Spirits

It is becoming interesting how the marketplace is changing into wider or more specific retailing formats.

The 2 trends are education and price as far I can see.

Retail business models with less education = the local liquor store. Dirty, Messy and not enjoyable but just across and for people not looking for anything special.

The other end of the spectrum is large numbers of everything with huge assortments, premium products and prices, and many store attendants that know, with a club membership and special talks to attend and tastings.

Everything in between is the danger zone.

POMACE BRANDY MADE BY CRAFT WINERIES

Not too many wineries are piggybacking off the craft spirit movement using their grapes to make brandy such as the long-time pioneer, Charbay Winery & Distillery did over 30 years ago, way before craft spirits were trendy.

TastingTable.com gives an account of Brooklyn's Red Hook Winery which is using the pressed grape skins left from making its wines (the pomace) to create barrel-aged grappa. The barrel aging and the fact that it is made in small pot stills results in a heavier texture and more complex flavor than most grappas.

Red Hook Winery Still in Brooklyn, NY, USA

It is too bad that they are still calling it Grappa. That should be left to the Italians!

In Europe the category name is 'Marc'. I think they should say 'Marc of Chardonnay', and let the Grappas be for Italians' Marc.

Pomace Brandy, or Marc, Grappa if it is made in Italy in my book!

Red Hook Winery, Grappa, Pomace Brandy, Brooklyn, NY, USA

"Working out of a 19th-century shipping warehouse at the end of a pier in Brooklyn, Colin Alevras is busy tending to barrels of Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc at Red Hook Winery. 

Before greeting a midweek customer at the tasting counter, Alevras, the shop foreman, stops to check another barrel—but this one isn't filled with wine. It's filled with grappa that's been aging at the winery since 2012 ... This small-batch, Brooklyn-based grappa will challenge everything you know about the storied spirit."

Source:  TastingTable.com

ALDI OFFERS ITS BIGGEST PREMIUM SPIRIT RANGE AT THE LOWEST PRICES: CHECK THIS COGNAC!

This Christmas the famous German supermarket is offering never seen before prices in his stores in Europe, and in particular in the UK.

Aldi Chritmas 2016 Spirits Selection

"But even the store’s most pricey drink – the £39.99 Glen Marnoch Whisky, a 28-year-old single malt – is half the price of competitors’ offerings.

Aldi is also selling a 70cl bottle of Chevalier 1989 Grande Champagne Cognac for just £29.99 – which is 74 per cent cheaper than a similar bottle of 1990 cognac from alcohol retailer Master of Malt.

The new range comes as part of the German chain’s luxury Christmas drinks selection – which it describes as its ‘most premium range to date’." THE SUN

Aldi super low prices for wine & Spirits

Source: THE SUN

+18% SALES TO DATE FOR 2016 FOR MARTELL IN THE USA

After posting a 4% sales increase to $1.8 billion in the U.S. market in its fiscal year ended in June, Pernod Ricard sees that progress continuing.

Pernod Ricard Logo

The U.S. accounts for 19% of the company’s global sales. Pernod Ricard cited the market’s overall premiumization progress.

Ultra-premium spirits ($42-$84) and the prestige segment ($85+), which have smaller shares, rose 13% and 17% respectively.

MARTELL COGNAC +18% IN THE USA for the first 52 weeks of 2016.

Sources: Shanken Daily News

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ARIK LEVY DESIGNS LAST HENNESSY LIMITED EDITION BOTTLE

To mark the arrival of Hennessy’s eighth generation master blender Renaud Fillioux, 7th generation Yann Fillioux has created his ultimate blend: the legacy cognac Hennessy·8, presented in a limited edition of 250 bottles.

Hennessy 8 designed by Arik Levy crafted by Baccarat limited to 250 bottles

Hennessy·8 is also named after the eight blends it contains. Seven of these were hand-selected by Yann Fillioux to illustrate each of the seven successive generations of Hennessy master blenders, and the 8th blend was selected by Renaud Fillioux.

Hennessy asked the internationally renowned artist Arik Levy to design an exceptional bottle.

Baccarat crystal produces the 250 crystal decanter, with this unique design of  8 inset rings.

The number 8 is obviously culturally revered in Asia, which might be part of the appeal.

Each carafe is individually numbered and signed by Arik Levy and may be personalised upon request. It is accompanied by an elegant box containing four tasting glasses originally designed by glassmaker Georg Riedel and Yann Fillioux 30 years ago; these have been re-edited exclusively for Hennessy·8. A pipette made of oak barrel wood and a cork holder are also included.

A  brochure describing the Hennessy·8, as well as a dedicated key, a personalised authentication plate and a numbered certificate signed by Yann Fillioux complete the presentation.

The debut edition of Hennessy·8 features just 100 carafes and chests worldwide. These 100 bottles were initially offered through a VIP email campaign sent to a targeted list of clients, and it has now been opened to the public through Harrods in the UK.

Price on request through Harrods.

Source: The Drinks Report

NEW IDEAS IN COGNAC FROM LESSER KNOWN BRANDS

Cognac Abecassis, Bourgoin Cognac, Comandon Cognac, Cognac Marancheville, Cognac Philbert, and Cognac Pierre Ferrand.

What do these brands of cognac have in common?

Making cognac ... that is true!

But mostly bringing forward a wind of innovation in the cognac scene with different propositions perhaps with some "Trendy Exceptions". Here are a few examples from other brands than the big 4 brands of cognac.

===> Cognac Abecassis have not been the first putting forward the concept of Single Estate cognac. Other cognac Brands such as Cognac Menuet had used this concept a long time before. But Abecassis has contributed to growing the idea of Single Estate spirit concept in the world of cognac. Other more recent innovation includes making a liqueur from cognac and honey with ABK6 Honey, 87% of cognac and 13% of honey from chestnut trees sourced from the local region of Cognac.

Abk6 Honey Liqueur

===> Bourgoin Cognac is a rather large cognac supplier to the trade whose decided recently to offer cognacs aged in 50 liters casks and in small 325ml bottles, sort of micro-cognac distilling.

Cognac Bourgoin

===> Comandon Cognac is the pioneer of Single Batch and Single cask cognac, and a rather exclusive cognac independent bottler. A Single Batch cognac is a cognac that is a one-off cognac, where the cognac is not repeated and made the same evrytime but rather individualized unique batch. Single Cask cognac is a cognac which is made from one cask: for the most part these single casks will be vintages, with one specific region of Cognac.

In conclusion, a rather authentic crafted cognac with singular and unique characteristics. Here again these 2 concepts are both by definition one-off cognac lots which cannot be repeated.

Comandon Cognac Single Cask, Vintage 2012, Grande Champagne Cask #22

===> Cognac marancheville which consists in offering limited edition cognacs sort of like Cognac Grosperrin from a dedicated cellar.

Cognac Marancheville VSOP

===> Cognac Philbert's vision is sort mirroring the crafted scotch whisky with a rather 'single malt' type of philosophy. This is an intriguing new adventure for the two brothers in charge of the 208 years old family estate. They produce a single estate cognac through the classic line of VS, VSOP and XO, and vary the line depending on whether the products are made in their distillery in Grande Champagne versus their distillery in Petite Champagne. 

Each distillery has a unique style and terroir,  and it is attended by one of the two brothers in charge of the production: Xavier Precigout in Petite Champagne and Pierre-Olivier Precigout in Grande Champagne. They offer cognacs for the fanatic of authenticity. In addition, they were the first ever to offer vintage rare cask finish cognacs with a selection of cognacs finished either in Sauternes casks or Sherry Xeres casks for both the variations from Grande and Petite Champagne.

Cognac Philbert 2012 Grande Champagne, Sherry Cask Finish, Winner of 2016 World Best Cognac San Francisco

===> Cognac Pierre Ferrand is very innovative with a cognac selection away from the standard VS, VSOP ... denominations but rather using specific model ranges such as 1840 or Amber, and recently starting a cask finish re-using Sauternes casks.

Cognac Pierre Ferrand Barrel Sauternes

Cognac is stereotyped as being always the same but this is not true!

VIDEOS, TRAILERS, MOVIES ARE NEEDED TO BUILD YOUR BRAND

Brands future will be in the visual and virtual world with inside momentum viewing. Getting people to see the work and join in the day-to-day activities. This kind of 'voyeur marketing' is based on the appeal of collaboration, relationship authenticity.

Universities are now offering Master's programme dedicated to the education of future media managers with virtual communication such as KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden:

"The main objective of the Media Management programme is to provide students with the skills required for managing innovative media companies. The programme equips you for managing positions, business developing, entrepreneurship skills, preparing you for advanced industrial positions, or continued graduate studies."

===> Brands need to manage their Creative, Production and Post-production as such:

Creative:  identity the voice. Evaluation and conceptualization to realize your video content projects.

Production:  writing and preparation of the shooting and music recording and editing.  Reviewing technical, human and even financial aspects.

Prost-Production: formatting, posting, communicating, and cross-marketing the visual contents with media.

Spacesheep Projects

Large communication firms and more intimate companies such as Spacesheep provide consulting for these services.

Sources: KTH, Spacesheep

LILAC HENNESSY HEADPHANIE YOUNG M.A. ... ALL THIS IS CONFUSING!!

Hennessy Cognac has had many relationships with rappers and Hip-Hop culture artists, and many limited edition bottles with amazing designs, i.e., Hennessy VS artistry.

Lilac Company, a Florida-based company recently launched a new product, "Headphanie" Hennessy.

Young M.A an up-coming female rapper from NY sings in one of her song "every time I'm out, why she stressin' me?/You call her Stephanie? I call her Headphanie".

It appears that Lilac Company did not have any agreement with neither Hennessy nor Young M.A., and hence the products are bieng taken away.

Source: Pulse

NEW LUXURY HOTELS IN COGNAC: CHEZ MONNET

Built in the 19th century, 'Chez Monnet' is in the heart of the quite town of Cognac. Originally, it was the childhood home of Jean Monnet, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, with its cellars from 1845.

Not so long ago it was sort of abandon but was recently purchased by British investor Mr Marandi. Now he is personnally investing €60 million to transform the site into a 15,000m2 luxury hotel, spa, restaurant and retail boutique complex.

Last October 2016 the first construction stone was set.

Hotel and resort is planned to be completed in Spring 2018.

(left, architect) Didier Poignant, Mr Marandi, Michel Gourinchas (Mayor of Cognac)

Source: HotelDesigns.net

BLOCKBUSTER MOVIE TRAILER FOR BURBERRY NEW CHRISTMAS COMMERCIAL

Burberry is celebrating its 160th anniversary this Christmas with a short film telling the story of Thomas Burberry, the man behind the iconic trench coat.

Burberry Pattern

Directed by Academy Award winner Asif Kapadia, this short film has the scope and scale of a blockbuster movie trailer, indeed.

After watching the 3.30 minutes I was looking all over the Internet for more story of this soon to come movie ... to find out this was just a commercial.
Well done!

Spectacular. Burberry has just raised the bar for luxury brand marketing.

Source: Youtube

VERY ELEGANT COGNAC FROM REMY MARTIN CELEBRATING XO QUALITY: CENTAURE

In 2011, Cellar Master Pierrette Trichet, Remy's  previous cellar master, created the Centaure as a cognac that reflects the house style: human, sincere, confident, and natural without ostentation. 

This cognac bears the name of the symbol of Rémy Martin, the centaur, half man, half horse.

Cognac Remy Martin Centaure Extra Old

Rémy Martin Centaure is the unpretentious XO cognac (Extra Old) for sincere moments with friends.

Made from a very fine selection of subtle eaux-de-vie, aged for at least six and up to 25 years, it is very smooth and easy to drink.

Rémy Martin Centaure is a blend of cognacs from the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, which blends is known as AOC Cognac Fine Champagne.

FRUITINESS (4/5 points)
Aromas coming from the still wine’s fermentation, distillation on the lees and ageing.

SMOOTHNESS (4/5 points)
Sensation on the mouth giving mellowness, balance and perfect harmony.

OPULENCE (4/5 points)
Defines the intensity of richness in the cognac’s aromas.

LENGTH (3/5 points)
The length of time for which the tastes are expressed after a sip.

Cognac Remy Martin Centaure Extra Old

NOSE
The aromas are those of stewed fruits, recalling the smells of hot apple pie and quince pie, and honey from the white blossoms of elderberry or acacia.

TASTE
Notes of fruit and honey with balanced, oak-matured aromas.

BODY
Smooth and harmonious.

Source: http://www.remymartin.com

ANDREW TAN IS THE OWNER OF THE LARGEST BRANDY COMPANY IN THE WORLD

Andrew Lim Tan is a Chinese Filipino billionaire with business interests in real estate, liquor and fast food. In 2011, Forbes magazine rated him fourth on the list of the "Philippines 40 richest" with an estimated net worth of $2 billion.

This year 2016, Andrew Tan’s company successfully acquired Spain’s oldest and largest brandy company, i.e., Fundador.

Acquisition makes Emperador the biggest brandy company in the world.

Emperador Brandy and Fundador Brandy

“A new era begins not just for Fundador, but the whole brandy and sherry industry in Spain. This is an era that will bring in more innovation and new ideas,” Andrew Tan said. “If the world’s best whiskies are aged in sherry casks in Jerez, then many of the brandy products now aged in sherry casks in Jerez should become the best brandy in the world. In Bodegas Fundador, we have a sizable inventory of brandy that has been aged for more than 50 years. 

Once they are bottled, they should become one of the most valuable brandies in the world.”

The agreement includes the Fundador, Harveys, Terry and Tres Cepas brands, as well as production operations in Jerez and Tomelloso, Spain.

“A recent review of our portfolio of brands and supply chain footprint led us to believe that our Spain-based brandy and sherry business could be of greater value to another company,” said Steve Fechheimer, Head of Strategy and Corporate Development at Beam Suntory. “Our teams in Jerez and Tomelloso are outstanding, and I am confident that the operations and the brands produced there have a very bright future as part of Emperador Inc.”

Emperador Inc. is the world’s largest brandy producer through the Emperador brand. “We are very excited about adding the iconic brands of Fundador (the Philippines’ premier imported brandy brand), Terry Centenario (Spain’s number one selling brandy), Tres Cepas (number one brandy in Equatorial Guinea) and Harveys (number one selling sherry wine in the United Kingdom) to the Emperador portfolio,” said Winston Co, President of Emperador Inc. “We look forward to continuing to invest behind the acquired brands, welcoming the transferring employees to Emperador and engaging with the local community.”
The all-cash transaction was valued at 275 million Euros.

Sources: BeamSuntory.com, Kickerdaily.com

AMERICAN CRAFT SPIRITS INDUSTRY HAS ALMOST X10 IN 10 YEARS

The last time I check just about 4 or 5 years ago there were approximately 250 distilleries in the USA.

Now this week the Spirits Business announces 1315 distilleries in the USA.

What happened?

The US craft spirits industry is booming according to The American Craft Spirits Association (ASCA) and the International Wine and Spirits Research (IWSR).

American Craft Spirits Association Logo

Through collaboration these two organizations are currently running a research called the 'Craft Spirits Data Project'.

Main Findings from the Craft Spirits Data Project:

• The U.S. craft spirits industry is growing rapidly. As of August 2016, there were 1,315 craft distillers active in the U.S. The U.S. craft spirits market reached 4.9 million cases and $2.4 billion in retail sales in 2015, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.4 percent in volume and 27.9 percent in value between 2010 and 2015. The market share of U.S. craft spirits reached 2.2 percent in volume and 3.0 percent in value in 2015, up from 0.8 percent and 1.1 percent in 2010, respectively.
• Exports offer an additional runway for growth. Exports of U.S. craft spirits reached 523,000 cases in 2015, adding more than 10% of additional volume to U.S. craft distiller total sales.
• Employment and investment are on the rise among craft distillers. In 2016, the industry employed over 12,000 full-time employees (FTEs). Investments by the U.S. craft industry have reached close to $300 million in 2015, which primarily covered the build out of tasting rooms and other visitor experiences, equipment to increase production capacity, and associated labor costs.
• Geographically, the study found the US craft distilling market to be “concentrated”, with the top five states (states containing the highest number of craft distilleries) making up 35.6% of the category: California, New York, Washington, Colorado and Texas.
• The next five states – Oregon, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio and Florida – comprise an additional 16.5% of the market.

Source: The Spirits Business; Craft Brewing Business

MILLENNIALS NEED EDUCATION SAYS ERIC VALLAT CEO OF REMY MARTIN

Remy Martin wants millennials in the U.S. to drink cognac. It hopes that its U.S. launch of La Maison Remy Martin, which educates consumers on the intricacies of cognac, will propel sales. Remy Martin Chief Executive Officer Eric Vallat spoke with Bloomberg's Ramy Inocencio about growing in the US and elsewhere.

<iframe src="https://www.bloomberg.com/api/embed/iframe?id=123d393b-0413-4624-9bf1-ac2ee7c06c1c" allowscriptaccess="always" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Source: <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-10-24/getting-millennials-to-sip-cognac" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>

AUTHENTICITY AND CRAFT EXPLAINED BY COGNAC REMY MARTIN WITH 'LA MAISON REMY MARTIN' INTERACTIVE

Rémy Martin Cognac is hosting an interactive experience which will allow the guests to immerse in the universe of Rémy Martin and its One Life & Live Them lifestyle. 

This interactive experience is called "La Maison Rémy Martin".

La Maison Remy Martin Logo

It is starting from late October to late November in 3 cities: New York, Chicago, and then Los Angeles .

The experience will consist in giving you a view into cognac; from the grapes on the vine, to the blending process, to the magical cellars where cognac is aged.

You will discover the century’s old artisanship behind cognac making with a contemporary lens through curated workshops and interactive programming.

The objective: get the millennials, largest drinking age group to experience the authenticity and quality of craftmanship needed to make cognac. They will learn about (1) Terroirs, (2) People and (3) Time.

Drinking cognac is an experience and a lifestyle.

Sources: http://www.lamaisonremymartin.com

MAX COINTREAU'S LEGACY

Max Cointreau passed away last Wednesday 19th October 2016 at aged 94.

He was a prominent figure in the wine and spirits since 1942, being related to Renaud Remy Martin, Frapin, Domaine Château de Fontpinot, Cointreau SA, Vedrenne and Gosset Champagne.

Frapin, Château de Fontpinot

His involvement in the cognac industry, and the drinks trade more widely, extended far beyond into political leadership as as a president of the National Union of Liquor Manufacturers, of the GIE Grandes Liqueurs de France and president of the Social Commission of the National Council of Wine and Spirit for eight years, and as the mayor of his home town Gensac la Pallue from 1969 to 2001.

Sources: Frapin, Imbibe, La Republic.fr

HENNESSY COGNAC MAKES A ONE-OFF COGNAC WITH BOURBON NOTES

Hennessy is trying to capitalize on the bourbon whiskey boom by making a cognac that emulates the tasting notes of a bourbon, a new cognac called the 'Master Blender's Selection' = MBS.

According to adult beverage research firm IWSR, sales of super-premium bourbon increased 28.8 percent from 2011 to 2015. Meanwhile, comparable cognac sales increased 9.5 percent.

A more biting 43 percent ABV, a distillation with high levels of lees, not just fermented juice but skins too. Tastings show more spices and long finish with candied apricot and almond notes, and rugged square bottle shape.

Hennessy MBS 1, Bourbon Like

Another particularity of MBS, is that these cognacs are supposed to be one-off production. This goes against the tradition of making consistent cognac made the same year-after-year.

This is a great idea, and I expect a number 2 and 3 and so forth...

Master Blender’s Selection No. 1 will be available in 375ml ($45) and 750ml ($80) sizes, with a total case run of 9,300, sold exclusively in the U.S. When it’s gone, it’s gone.

Source: Bloomberg

VISIT COGNAC WITH COGNAC TASTING TOUR

To learn about the various facets of the Cognac why not taking a day tour with one of the most dynamic and enthusiastic experts in the region: Cognac Tasting Tour.

about Cognac Tasting Tour

They offer tours starting from downtown Cognac, Saintes and many other departures.

These tours are tailored to a small group of people and very comprehensive with lunches, visits of distilleries, farms, vineyards, tasting rooms ... going from the back door of a variety of cognac producers, everywhere in the Cognac region.

They even offer accomodations to their guests in their family run B&B in the heart of the Grande Champagne in St-Preuil.

Cognac Tasting Tour Photo

Other activities offered are golf, ballon rides, but also visits of the Bordeaux vineyards as well as masterclasses in cognac tasting.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CognacTasting

Source: Cognac Tasting Tour

HENNESSY VS LIMITED EDITION SCOTT CAMPBELL

The Hennessy V.S Limited Edition by Scott Campbell embodies a shared a passion to Blend the Unexpected with artistry and expertise.

Hennessy VS Scott Campbell

The Hennessy legacy of artistic collaboration continues with Hennessy V.S Limited Edition by Scott Campbell. It is the sixth in a prestigious series that includes world-renowned artists such as Shepard Fairey, Futura, and Ryan McGinness.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWvh6qxVqFk&w=560&h=315]

Hollywood’s famous tattoo artist Scott Campbell uses his design talent usually applied to tattoos for the limited edition label VS from Hennessy. Very graphic, round lines and a touch feminine characterize Scott Campbell's style and can be easily recognized on the label.

It looks very nice and why not!

Hennessy VS Scott Campbell

Source: Hennessy.com