COGNAC IS EXPANDING VINEYARD AREA

Cognac Economy is Up

Cognac sales have been rising for four years, thanks to exports. Plans were approved this week to expand its vineyard areas by almost 3,500 ha next year, in addition to the present 75,000 ha in the appellation.

Sales of cognac

In the 2017-18 season (August to July), cognac sales grew for the fourth consecutive year, up 8.2% in volume and 5.4% in value over the previous year. Exports accounted for 98% of sales, still driven by the North American market, with Asia the fastest-growing region.

A record high of 205.9 million bottles were shipped during the campaign, for a turnover of 3.2 billion euros, according to the BNIC.

Source: Vinexpo Newsroom

CALIFORNIA BRANDY IS COMING BACK: SAVE WHISKY DRINK BRANDY

Save Whisky Drink Brandy

California Brandy is coming back!

I have known it for a long time and it is starting to look like I was right.
Why I anticipated this revival?

When I came to California in 1996 for the first time I was surprised by the concept of 'single grape varietal'. A concept rather foreign to me as I was coming from the traditional blended grape varietals from the local appellation which is the way wines are presented in France. This discovery was later to become my impetus for producing Monteru Single Grape Brandyin 2008.

As I ventured into the wine world in the early 2000s in California and later into the distilled spirits it appeared to me that it was just a matter of time before California would reclaim the brandy category it once had.

===>The evidence were:

• California and its concept of wine and entrepreneurial way of life,
• California single grape varietal wine thriving business,
• Micro-brewery and later Micro-distillation boom,
• Spirits venturing into single ingredients such as Rye, specific type of Potatoes, wheat versus corn and etc. I noticed a real interest for studying the process and original ingredients,
• Regain and later explosion for the Mixology, combined with the search of better ingredients,
• People interests for organic, handmade, farm-to-table, sustainability, ... eventually culminating to local is better than far away things. A concept which is well executed by brands such as Tito's Vodka (starting from Texas) or FEW (starting from Chicago's suburbs) for instance.

All of these factors combined and symbiotically moving have increased my confidence in the return of brandy.

Recent Links:
The definitive guide to California brandy old and new
in San Francisco Gate
By Lou Bustamante, October 22, 2018
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/The-definitive-guide-to-California-brandy-old-and-13323980.php

California brandy is better than ever. Will consumers notice?
in San Francisco Chronicle
By Lou Bustamante, Oct. 20, 2018
https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/California-brandy-is-better-than-ever-Will-13323976.php?fbclid=IwAR0hGYCS3fCwsy_yeChrX7DnTTvlvXvRxCjme1HK_fS35Yg1758euKLyQAU#photo-16334737

HENNESSY IS 98th ACCORDING TO INTERBRAND TOP 100 BRAND

Interbrand Logo

Source: https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/

by Nicola Carruthers

9th October, 2018

Hennessy (no.98/100), Jack Daniel's (no.84/100) and Johnnie Walker (no.97/100) have been ranked among the top 100 most valuable global brands on the Interbrand Best Global Brands 2018 list.

Brown-Forman-owned Jack Daniel's - which was ranked 84 on the list - moved two places down from last year to make it the highest-ranking spirit brand for the third year in a row. Interbrand valued the brand at US$5.64 billion, up 6% from 2017.

Diageo-owned Johnnie Walker made the list at 97, falling by one place from last year. Returning to the list for the ninth consecutive year, Johnnie Walker was valued at US$4.73bn - up 7% on last year.

A new entry to the list was LVMH-owned Hennessy Cognac at 98, valued at US$4.72bn.

Smirnoff vodka, which is also produced by Diageo, dropped off the top 100 list after ranking at 97 last year.

The spirits brands are three of six alcohol brands to make the list, which also includes beer brands Heineken, Budweiser and Corona.

"I'm very proud to see Johnnie Walker recognised by Interbrand as one of the 2018 Best Global Brands," said John L Williams, global brand director for Johnnie Walker.

"Johnnie Walker has been the world's most popular Scotch for more than 60 years - a true global giant, and yet one that is crafted by a small team of 12 whisky masters with the finest malts from the four corners of Scotland.

"It's an incredibly exciting time to work on this iconic brand - we've just unveiled White Walker in collaboration with HBO and Game of Thrones, and are hard at work in preparation for a new Johnnie Walker brand experience in Edinburgh."

The ranking is based on three key components that contribute to a brand's cumulative value:

1) the financial performance of the brands and services,

2) the role the brand plays in influencing customer choice,

3) and the strength the brand has to command a premium price or secure earnings for the company.

See the FULL LIST at INTERBRAND

LEARN MORE FROM THE NEW WEBSITE CULTURE COGNAC

Culture Cognac Website

CULTURE COGNACis a site managed by the French government (Bureau National Interprofessionel du Cognac, BNIC). It offers basic information about what is cognac and how it can be enjoyed.

"Sharing the culture around Cognac to connoisseurs and purchasing advisors throughout the world… such is the philosophy behind this magazine, created by the BNIC (association of Cognac professionals) and co-edited by the experts and celebrities that make up the ICS (International Cognac Summit) community. Since 2008, they have improved upon and gathered around innovative communication projects to transmit their knowledge and promote the Cognac designation around the world."

This site is easy to navigate and attractive. Check it out!

Source: Cognac Culture

SPIRITS BUSINESS STUDENTS IN FRANCE INTRODUCED WITH CRAFT COGNAC

Association Elixir University Eaux-de-Vie Logo

Le Garage Bar Logo

Comandon Logo

Cognac and Cocktail Event in Cognac, France.

Organised by Association Elixir from the Université des Eaux-de-Vie from Segonzac and Le Garage Bar in Cognac.

Le Garage Bar is an iconic bar in Cognac owned by the Berniers for almost 20 years. Originally, the bar was a garage dealership for DeDion, Panhard and other luxury French. Now, Le Garage Bar has kept this spirit but changed into a trendy and fun bar in Cognac where everyone can relax and taste a cognac cocktails.

Le Garage Bar in Cognac, France

You will taste the new cognac Comandon X Le Garage Bar.

When: Thursday 25th October 2018
When: Le Garage Bar: 3 rue de l'isle d'or, 16100 Cognac, France
Starting at 7pm

Le Garage Bar will serve 4 Cocktails made with the unique small batch cognac produced by Comandon, le Comandon X Le Garage, fabriqué en lot unique et avec une passion artisanale.

COMANDON X LE GARAGE COGNAC, CRAFT, SMALL BATCH, LIMITED EDITION, UN-CHILLED FILTRED, SINGLE DISTILLERY

7 € per cocktail or 12 € for 2 cocktails

Specialty foods will be availble exclusively made for this event by the chef of Le Garage Bar.

This event will profit and fund/donation to the Elixir Club, student club from the University des Eaux-de-Vie, so as to offer scholarships to finance the last year trip which is part of the curriculum for the Master 2 Management of Spritis Business in Segonzac, France.

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

LE GARAGE BAR ET L'UNIVERSITE DES EAUX-DE-VIE S'UNISSENT POUR LE COCKTAIL CLASSIC A COGNAC

Association Elixir University Eaux-de-Vie Logo

Le Garage Bar Logo

Comandon Logo

Soirée Cognac en Cocktails X avec le nouveau Cognac Comandon X Le Garage Bar.

Quand? jeudi 25 octobre 2018
Ou? Le Garage Bar: 3 rue de l'isle d'or, 16100 Cognac, France
Organise par l'Association Elixir de l'Université des Eaux-de-Vie et Spiritueux à Segonzac et Le Garage Bar à Cognac.

A partir de 19h

4 Cocktails à base d'un Cognac inédit, le Comandon X Le Garage, fabriqué en lot unique et avec une passion artisanale.

COMANDON X LE GARAGE COGNAC, CRAFT, SMALL BATCH, LOT UNIQUE, EDITION LIMITEE, LIMITED EDITION, SANS FILTRATION A FROID, UN-CHILLED FILTRED

7 € l'unité // 12 € les deux

Restauration sur place selon la carte du Chef.

Les fonds récoltés lors de la soirée seront reversés au profit de l'Association ELIXIR pour le financement du voyage de fin d'étude du Master 2 Droit Gestion Commerce des Spiritueux de Segonzac.