What We Know
- Aged a minimum of 2 years in humid cellars
- Fin Bois and Bon Bois, blend
- 40% ABV
- Multiple awards from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, International Spirits Challenge, and the IWSC
Nose
Vanilla bean, honey, cinnamon, allspice, almond, graham crackers, grape skin, apple, lemon zest, candied orange peel, ripe banana, honeydew, raisin
Palate
Caramel, vanilla, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, rose pedal, fruit blossom, marzipan, red apple and lemon juice, grapefruit pith, dried mango, dusty road (gravel)
Finish
A little bit of lavender, apple and orange, dries out fairly quick
Overall Thoughts
Bright clover honey color with flecks of straw yellow and copper. Right out of the gate this Cognac starts with strong fruit and vanilla/honey aromas. There’s no hiding the Fin Bois in the blend as I got those grape skins on the nose and palate fairly quickly. The Cognac is light in body, but still holds a round texture. Not much in terms of nuts or herbal notes, but that makes sense with the given terroir and younger age. I got a little rose pedal and lavender on the finish which was a nice surprise. It was just a glimmer, really quick, before being over taken by the apples and candied orange, but it was there nonetheless.
Of all the fruits, the apple was very upfront. If you’ve ever tried a Red Delicious apple, that was what kept coming to mind. Not very tart, more succulent and juicy. After sitting for a bit, a banana note became more apparent. I did want a little clearer distinction between some flavors.
There is plenty going on in this Cognac. At times, the top notes are very forward, covering some of the softer flavors. You’ve got to really search around to find everything. It’s a solid contender within the VS category. It tastes young, in all the right ways, and highlights the freshness of the Fin Bois terroir. This Cognac would work wonderfully in long drinks to draw out its flavors even further.