Hine Rare French Cognac, Smooth & Elegant Fine Champagne Cognac, Best Enjoyed Neat, Rare Hine Cognac, Grande & Fine Region Grapes, Fruity & Floral Cognac, 70cl, 40% ABV

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Camus is one of the few cognac brands to have remained independent since opening in 1863, and it is fiercely proud of it. Having operated with the same philosophy through five generations, Camus offers its band of loyal consumers an unrivaled level of consistency. Dramatically different on the nose to the 2006! Much richer with dates and raisins combining with red cherries. Taste Once you’ve finished reading our review, feel free to peruse our wide range of related content such as the following resources: In the simplest terms, cognac is a type of brandy produced using white grapes. Like champagne, a cognac can only be described as such if it is made in the Cognac region, located in France’s southwest. The grape juice is double-distilled in copper stills to produce a young spirit called eau de vie (water of life), which is then aged in oak casks. Those casks must be either brand new (virgin casks) or previously used to age cognac. Compare this with the Scotch whisky industry, which can use casks previously used to age a variety of other spirits, like bourbon or even tequila.

Hine Cognac : The Whisky Exchange

Fortune favours the bold, however, and not only did Hine find himself imprisoned in the middle of Cognac country, in an established Cognac house, he also found himself in the good company of Françoise-Elisabeth, the daughter of his hosts. He went on to marry her (downright cheeky, if you ask me), but he assumed the family business from her father and gave it his own name in 1817. To have created and sustained such a legacy is ultimately the result of Hine committing themselves to the seemingly simple idea that a great Cognac is above all a great white wine. The emphasis on focusing on smaller quantity for a higher standard of quality is a Hine trademark that has served them, and their enthusiasts, very well. I defy you not to try one. As a matter of fact, Hine Rare VSOP is a perfectly versatile cognac. You could drink it with a splash of tonic water, ginger ale, or any filler of your choice, resulting in a very refreshing summer libation. The maturation of Hine Cognac also benefits from the insistence to preserve this local, familiar approach. By housing its cellar two metres below the level of the close River Charente, Hine allows high humidity to naturally engineer the conditions that lend the aging process of this Cognac to develop greater complexity and structure. With rich aromas, pronounced oak and the highly sought ‘rancio’ characteristic, Hine makes Cognac reminiscent of the early incarnations so romantically cherished in France. Among the oldest Cognac brands in the world, with a legacy that spans some 300 years, Martell rightfully takes its place as one of the industry’s most respected Maisons. Despite its towering history and famous legacy, Martell isn’t afraid of innovation.

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. Having been in the same hands since inception and operating in the same family-owned vineyards, Camus is able to offer a range of extraordinary single-estate cognacs. These cognacs contain grapes grown in the family’s private vineyards, which are cultivated in a sustainable way to ensure the preservation of local flora and fauna. This collectible bottle of Hine VSOP Fine Champagne Coganc is from the 1980s, and comes with two very round brandy glasses. You can still find the brand today, and though the label is different, the bottle shape is still very much recognisable, and the iconic stag still remains.

Hine Rare VSOP Cognac Review - Bespoke Unit Hine Rare VSOP Cognac Review - Bespoke Unit

Cognac, like other brown spirits, is shaking off its reputation as an old man’s drink. Today, US demand for the luxurious spirit is growing at a rate producers can barely keep up with. The best cognac brands have successfully caught the attention of a younger generation that is more in tune with what true luxury looks and feels like.

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These single estate and single vintage Cognacs from the Bonneuil vineyard in Grand Champagne are about producing and demonstrating Cognacs with a wine approach. Both versions we try are aged to around 19 years old and come from the same plot, meaning the only difference is the year they were harvested (so what the grapes tastes like that year). There are around 8,000 bottles released and Rudolph, who is hosting our tasting, explains the expressions need longer ageing, but are still an interesting experiment into terroir. Nose However if you’re looking for a vintage comparison between Early Landed and Jarnac aged, why not try Hine 1983 Vintage Cognac alongside Hine 1983 Early Landed Vintage Cognac . Hine Triomphe The taste is refined and elegant with dry cedar notes and a very light, white blossom honey. Suggested Serve Neat and next to the below bottling (aged in France) of the same vintage to see the difference. Price 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.