NEW ARMAGNAC BRAND TO CHECK

Armagnac L'Encantada

K&LWINES tells us all about it!

L’Encantada is a new armagnac independent bottlerwhich has been bringing out excellent Armagnacs says K&LWines.

To understand what makes this stuff special, you have to understand a little bit about Armagnac. French brandy production, especially in Armagnac, is much different than the American distilled spirits industry. There are a few large producers, but by in large, Armagnac is made by farmers and wine makers who distill some of their extra grapes in a travelling still that comes around to the farms.

Many of them just stick the casks in their barns and basements, a little bit here, a little bit there. Eventually they will bottle them, maybe for family and friends, maybe for small markets, or sell them to a larger company that bottles brandy or even makes liqueur; it's sort of a Gascon retirement fund.

L'Encantada was essentially knocking on farm doors and asking to buy these casks.  They have casks from around seven small producers, a number of which only made brandy for a limited time, and all of their brandies are bottled at cask strength without additives.

Source and Read More at: K&LWINES.com

BRANDY IS BEING REVIVED BY E&J GALLO

Argonaut Brandy is new, by E&J Gallo


[ENG] E&J Gallo, a massive and trend-making machine company in the wine & spirits industry is making news for its recent stake into the super premiun and craft brandy category in the USA. First, E&J Gallo released late July 2017 its long awaited Brandy Argonaut which is inspired by the brandy movement prior to prohibition.
Then, they acquired Brandy Germain-Robin mid-August. Clearly something huge is going to happen now!


Argonaut Brandy, 3 different styles, produced by E&J Gallo

[FR] Ca bouge dans la categorie 'Brandy' aux USA, j'ai meme envie de dire que ca bouge beaucoup.
Fin juillet 2017, E&J Gallo lance Brandy Argonaut, un brandy craft a la mode americaine, plutot Californienne devrais-je dire.
Et mi-aout 2017, E&J Gallo, encore, prend acquisition de la maison prestigieuse Brandy Germain-Robin.
Mais qu'est-ce qui se passe?

Sources: Gallo, Argonaut Brandy, Tasting Panel Magazine

DRAKE LAUNCH AN AMERICAN WHISKEY AS THE FIRST SPIRIT OF A SPIRIT LINE UP

 

Drake Virginia Black Whiskey

After George Clooney Tequila Casamigos, which he sold to Diageo for 1 billion dollars singer Drake is getting some ideas.

Diageo is set to pay $700 million initially, with the potential of another $300 million based on the tequila's performance over 10 years, according to CNBC.

Drake the Canadian rapper whose chart-topping hits have won him many Grammy Awards and Billboard Music Awards among other prizes launched in June 2016 Virginia Black Whiskey with ex-banker Brent Hocking and beverage marketing firm Promixo Spirits.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXwCKKHgG6k&w=560&h=315]

Virginia Black is now available in Burundi, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, and Zanzibar, as well as the UK and Canada, where it first launched.

Source: Virginia Black Whiskey

BOURBON-LIKE MASTER BLENDER'S SELECTION FROM HENNESSY COGNAC

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

MAISON J.R. BRILLET CREATES COGNAC AMUNDSEN FOR THE NORWEGIAN LIQUOR MARKET

When I was a teenager I dreamt of being an explorer like Indiana Jones, Neil Armstrong, Jack London, or Roald Amundsen etc.

Perhaps, Amundsen more than anyone else because he proved to be the most resilient. He was the least likely to succeed according to its critics, a perfect underdog, and the most patient, perhaps enjoying the greatest popularity after his death. He was the first to use sled dogs for his expedition and constantly innovated to survive in his environment.

Roald Amundsen

Maison J.R. Brillet, for the Norwegian liquor market, created a series of cognac named Amundsen. "In the design concept we went back to the roots, back to nature, and accentuated the taste by using the colors, shapes and movements from the grape fields and from the production" says Per Erik Larsen, the designer.

Cognac Amundsen, for Norwegian Liquor Market by Brillet

Amundsen Cognac

Amundsen Cognac

Amundsen Cognac

The project was in collaboration with Allegro Tønsberg. Amundsen cognac are now available in the norwegian liquor stores.

Sources: Per Erik Larsen

Sources: San Diego Air & Space Museum at Flickr Commons.