by Michael Cervin | Feb 27, 2025 | Cognac
Begun in the mid-1700s, Hine Cognac combines “around twenty” different eaux-du-vie from various sources in and around Cognac, creating a final blend to age at their Maison. That said, they don’t release an exact aging statement – they state at least four years –... 
by Rich Cook | Feb 4, 2025 | Cognac
This bottling keeps crossing my desk as a top competition performer, taking a Platinum Award with a score of 94 at the 2025 San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge after scoring big at the 2024 event as well. I reviewed it back in July of 2021, and on... 
by Michael Cervin | Jul 18, 2024 | Cognac
Proper Cognac is a sublime blend of four components: wood, spice, floral, and fruit. What sets exceptional Cognac like this XO apart is the seamless melding of each of the four components without making any one of them the star player. This XO fills all these... 
by Michael Cervin | May 9, 2024 | Cognac
As an entry-level Cognac, Maison Park does a very good job. This is a young Cognac, not an ultra aged iteration. Lots of resin dominates this with additional light floral tones and a touch of pepper spice. There are also soft notes of apricot, sugared almond, muted... 
by Michael Cervin | Mar 21, 2024 | Cognac
Cognac has long been a traditional spirit, made in traditional ways (French law is quite specific as to how), but there has been a move in the last decade to make a newer version – one that is more aggressive and less nuanced. That doesn’t mean bad, just... 
by Rich Cook | Feb 28, 2024 | Cognac
You don’t have to be a ladies’ man to enjoy this fine cognac, but you’ll see why Tim Meadow’s famed SNL character was a big fan from the first nosing. The aromatic profile leans more toasty than sweet, as it should at this grade, with notes of apple and...
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