What We Know
- Aged minimum of 10 years with some up to 15 years
- Borderies, blend
- Distilled without the lees
- Ugni Blanc
- Mostly Limousin oak, 400L barrels
- Eau-de-vie is aged in brand new barrels with a 40 minute light toast for ten months before being transferred to used barrels for the remainder of aging
- 40% ABV
- Additives: Small percentage of caramel
- San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2015 Double Gold, IWSC 2015 Silver Medal, International Wine and Spirits Competition 2015 Silver Medal
Nose
Vanilla extract, caramel, ginger, violet, toasted coconut, toffee, chocolate covered cherry, old leather furniture, rancio, tobacco leaf, candied walnut, dusty attic, lemon peel, orange juice, baked apple, peach, overripe melon, figs
Palate
Caramel, butterscotch, cloves, allspice, ginger, violet, crème brûlée, honeysuckle, cocoa, rich pastry, oak, hazelnuts, orange zest, raisin, apricot, banana foster
Finish
Mango/papaya and vanilla bean, then finishing with figs/raisins
Overall Thoughts
Cognac Park Borderies Single Vineyard pours a deep orange-amber with rich mahogany tones. This cognac immediately surprised me with its depth and richness. The nose bursts with vanilla extract and toffee before darker notes of leather and tobacco move in. A soft touch of rancio adds aromas of forest floor and antique wood—dusty, mineral-driven, and faintly mossy. Beneath it all, baked fruit, overripe figs, and subtle violet notes round out the complexity.
The palate brings just as much depth, opening with bold baking spice, butterscotch, and a creamy sweetness reminiscent of crème brûlée. A few drops of water soften the spirit and draw out brighter notes of apricot and peach while revealing delicate floral tones of violet and honeysuckle. The finish lingers gracefully, carrying candied fruit into a lasting raisin note.
Cognac Park Borderies Single Vineyard feels beautifully rounded and expressive from start to finish. If you’ve never experienced a 100% Borderies cognac, this makes an excellent introduction to the cru. It captures the floral and violet-driven character Borderies is known for while delivering impressive weight and texture across the palate. Each sip reveals another layer of complexity. Knowing this cognac was distilled without lees, I expected a lighter-bodied, more delicate expression similar to Martell Cordon Bleu. Instead, it brought unexpected richness and depth that made the experience even more exciting.
This expression sits comfortably in XO territory, and it shows. Creamy crème brûlée notes mix with nutty undertones, candied fruit, and well-integrated barrel spice to create a profile with broad appeal. For the price point, Cognac Park Borderies Single Vineyard stands out as one of the better mid-range cognacs I’ve tasted and easily ranks among my personal favorites in the category.
