The history of Hine Cognac starts in the 18th Century, when a young man by the name of Thomas Hine from Dorset arrived in Jarnac to undertake administerial work for a Cognac producer. He soon fell in love with the proprietor’s daughter Françoise-Elisabeth and married into the family. Now the son-in-law of the owner, Thomas was able to take on a senior role and used his financial skills to make major changes, developing trade beyond France. In 1817, he officially changed the name of the company to Thomas Hine & Co.

For over 260 years, generations of dedicated craftsmen and women have kept a keen eye on ensuring the longevity of our independent and family-owned heritage and recognized know-how that make our Maison’s cognacs one of a kind. This rich VSOP Cognac is best enjoyed in a traditional tulip glass as a digestif or late into the evening. It’s the perfect accompaniment for sumptuous chocolate desserts or a hot espresso. XO (Extra Old)– The youngest vintage in the blend has spent a minimum of six years inside the barrel. While most of the Cognac brands are entrenched in historical, traditional methods, to say Kelt is more interested in contemporary innovations is a major understatement. Instead of simply aging in a dank, cold barrelhouse, Kelt embarks on what it calls a ‘tour du monde’ where the juice matures for 3 months in Limousin barrels at sea. Yes, you read that right. It’s ocean-aged. The result is a rich, mellow, fruity cognac with notable flavours like vanilla, dried fruits, and rich, warming oak. While some spirits rely on specific terms (like bottled in bond) or age statements, cognac comes in VS (aged for at least two years), VSOP (aged for at least four years), XO (aged at least ten years), XXO (aged at least 14 years), and beyond. On top of these terms, there are also other offshoots like Hors d’âge which is used to describe a cognac that has matured past the official age range. There are also other phrases like Napoleon, Reserve, Extra Cognac, and Cuvee Cognac that you might find on longer-aged expressions. How Should You Drink Cognac?

Aside from Cognac brandy made in the south west of France, there's also Armagnac brandy, which comes from just a little further south than the Cognac region. Being such a versatile style of Cognac, Hine Rare could play so many different roles as a pairing option. I would highly recommend a little experiment, putting your bottle of Hine Rare VSOP into the freezer overnight, and then enjoy it neat to accompany certain meals. Seafood, for example, goes particularly well with this ice-cold serve: salmon tartare or a super fresh ceviche would make for a sensational experience that will enlighten your taste buds. Pierre Ferrand has become a well-known name in the cognac world in a relatively short time. While some of the other cognac houses can trace their genesis to the 18th and 19th centuries, Alexandre Gabriel founded Pierre Ferrand in 1989. In the years since, its fanbase has grown thanks largely to consistently great, well-made expressions like its Pierre Ferrand 1840. Known for its slightly spicy, fruity, honey, and caramel-centric flavour profile, it’s a great place to start with this cognac house.

When the cognac finally lands in the bottle, its adjoining age statement denotes the youngest vintage in the blend. There are three general age statements:A terrific VSOP from Hine, Rare is classed as Fine Champagne, meaning that the eaux-de-vie used are all from the Grande or Petite Champagne areas. Around twenty-five distinct eaux-de-vie have been used for the Hine Rare VSOP blend, made from Ugni Blanc grapes from the Grande Champagne (60%) and Petite Champagne (40%) appellations and aged six to twelve years in French Limousin oak barrels.

While the brand itself is much younger, the Frapin family has been crafting cognac in the town of Segonzac since 1270. Twenty generations later they’re still gaining global recognition as one of the best Cognac brands. A good starting point to get to know this brand is its Frapin 1270. This single-estate cognac was made from grapes grown, distilled, and aged all at the Frapin estate. Aged in Limousin oak barrels, we love it for the floral, fruity, vanilla-centric flavour profile. The vast majority of the best cognac châteaux have been in the game for centuries, and Hine is certainly no exception. Since 1763, the acclaimed brand has been turning grapes into greatness by way of abundant resources and expert production techniques. Virtually everything this top cognac house produces strikes a distinctive accord, and no two releases in the Vintage Collection are exactly the same.

These grapes must come from one of six different terroirs in the Cognac region of Southwest France. VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale)– The youngest vintage in the blend has been aged for at least four years. After a couple of minutes, the astringency takes a more prominent role on the palate. It reveals layers upon layers of depth, just to balance off the caramelly, raisiny fruit-sweetness. The creamy mouthfeel and texture translate into rich marzipan and white nougat. All in all, this is a rather complex tasting experience, despite this being a VSOP and not a prestige XO bottling. Our British founder, Thomas Hine, chose the emblematic stag to represent Hine, most likely because of the analogy between the words Hine and hind. However legend has it that in Dorset, Thomas Hine’s home county, lived a white hart, a harbinger of good fortune and that this is why he elected the stag.

VS (Very Special) – The most common form of cognac, which has been aged for the mandatory minimum of two years.The Hine Rare VSOP was awarded gold medals in 2003 and 2007, and given 93 out of a possible 100 points by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Presentation of the Bottle Since Hine is a more mellow, wine-focused type of Cognac, I like to pair it with certain cigars, despite my usual cautiousness of spirit and cigar combinations, given the high ABV. It can be overwhelming to smoke a spicy cigar and then challenge your palate even more by pairing it with a high-alcohol, woody and tannic beverage. Not so with Hine Rare, which I would enjoy alongside a characterful Connecticut shade wrapped cigar with depth and body in the filler tobaccos. Alternatively, a Maduro that could take a layer of freshness and some extra liveliness, but is not overly spicy, leathery or beefy, would be a great match. The interesting philosophy of Hine is that a great Cognac first and foremost needs to be a great white wine. As such, the house puts a lot of emphasis and lots of effort into producing exceptional base wines, keeping their essence and translating that into exceptional eaux-de-vies. Keep up with the latest trends, best stories, and crucial updates from Man of Many direct to your inbox.