Ludacris Cognac Pouring Stateside

by David Kiley (RSS feed)
May 7th 2010 at 8:01PM

Hip-Hop star Ludacris is starting to get some U.S. distribution for his Cognac, which launched in France last year. Clubs and high end liquor stores in Miami, Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC are now carrying Conjure, a venture the performer did with Cognac house Birkedal Hartmann.

Conjure is made from a blend of Cognacs from two to 50 years old. At $34 a bottle, though, I'm thinking that there is a lot more two-year old than 50. The nose on this Cognac has a pronounced apple fragrance. Slightly smoky, warm, but a tad sharper than more expensive Cognacs, owing, I'm guessing to the content of younger spirits.

Sweeter than older, more upscale Cognacs, the flavor profile is undoubtedly to appeal to women, especially African-American women. African Americans comprise anywhere between 60%-80% of the total American Cognac market. In 2007-2008 America imported 51.7 million bottles so even if 60% of that was consumed by African Americans.

Tags: celebrity liquor, Cognac, Conjure, Ludacris