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

RAPPER NAS TALKS ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE VISITING HENNESSY'S FACILITY IN COGNAC

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones better known as Nas is an American rapper and actor. Since 1994, Nas has released eight consecutive platinum and multi-platinum albums and sold over 25 million records worldwide. His tenth studio album, Life is Good was released in 2012.  Nas is also an entrepreneur through his own record label, retail sneaker store, and magazine publishing.

His musical career began in 1991 when he was featured on Main Source’s track "Live at the Barbeque". His debut album Illmatic released in 1994, received universal acclaim from both critics and the hip hop community. It is frequently ranked as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql8m4SK_30k&w=560&h=315]

Nas is often named as one of the top hip hop artists. MTV ranked him at number 5 on their list of The Greatest MCs of All Time and fourth on MTV's "Hottest MCs in the Game" list (2012/2013).

NAS and Jay-Z have been criticizing each other for many years. In fact, one may say that they have a great deal in common per the above but also having made a strong reputation for their engaged lyrics.

NAS is one of the celebrity icons used by Hennessy in their ‘Wild Rabbit’ program launched last year.

Sources: http://www.hennessy.com/us/nas-a-journey-to-cognac

Quick Video Visit of Baron Otard Cognac House in Cognac

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

The Calvagnacs: The Gallic Version of a Scottish Whisky Tour

For many decades people have visited France for wine tastings or winery tours of Bordeaux, Burgundy, etc...  Now, this has become an international hobby and even the focus of a vacation.

More unique has been people touring spirits production regions, with Scotland and the Bourbon's trail leading the way in this matter. However, I have been meeting or directing an increasing number of people to what I would call "The Calvagnacs' Trail" that is the Gallic version of a Scottish whisky distillery tour = Calvados + Cognac + Armagnac. These trails are often visited separately but I think it makes sense to organize to tour them all at once because of the local proximity of all things in France.  It takes about 10 hours of driving from the north to the south of France. I am not saying you can do the Calvagnacs' trail in one day but you could do it if well organized in 4 days and up.

I am not sure of any enterprises doing this already but it would be a fun thing, as we see people worldwide growing interest for distillation and spirits.

For further reading and entertainment I stumbled across this very nice article in the Washington Post which relates this matter.

Washington Post, Paul Abercrombie, Published: May 4 2012,  "France’s cognac country: So much to drink in". http://tinyurl.com/76hcn32

Cognac Paradis - The Calvagnacs: Calvados Cognac and Armagnac Maps

Sources:
map: www.calvados-lauriston.com
map: www.thecognac.fr
map: www.armagnac.fr