Brandy

One-Of-A-Kind Remy Martin Louis XIII Decanter for Sale at $70,000

On March 12 in Singapore the renowned House of Rémy Martin will offer a unique decanter of its famed Louis XIII cognac (above) from the 1930s for sale at about $70,000. The precious elixir will be on offer at the Master of Spirits event organized by DFS, one of the world's leading travel retailers, in partnership with Changi Airport. The Baccarat crystal decanter contains Louis XIII Grande Champagne Très Vieille Age Inconnu cognac dating back to the mid-19th Century, a crown jewel of the House of Rémy Martin.

The decanter, certified by the Rémy Martin's cellar master Pierrette Trichet, was created from a series of carafes that were served as part of a royal banquet in 1938 at the château de Versailles in the presence of His Majesty King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. It comes presented in a unique seamless full-grain leather and rare wood box set. In addition, Rémy Martin will offer for sale two of the last remaining carafes of Louis XIII Rare Cask and one magnum decanter of Louis XIII Black Pearl at the prestigious event.

Tags: Asia, Baccarat, brandy, cognac, decanter, France, Louis XIII, Louis XIII Black Pearl, Louis XIII cognac, Queen Elizabeth, rare spirits, Rémy Martin, Remy Martin Black Pearl, Remy Martin Louis XIII, royalty, Singapore, spirits, Versailles

Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Hosts Star-Studded Grand Opening

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The place to be to ring in 2011? For many of Hollywood's elite, it was The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the city's newest and most glamorous resort, which kicked off a grand opening celebration with concert performances from JAY-Z and Coldplay, plus guest surprises by Kanye West, Beyonce and John Mayer.

Coldplay kicked off the evening with a 12 song set, which included Yellow, In My Place and Clocks. To ring in the New Year, JAY-Z joined Coldplay on stage for a rendition of Lost, followed by a countdown to midnight. JAY-Z took the stage for the first hours of 2011 and was joined by Kanye West for an impromptu freestyle performance of Run This Town, Can't Tell Me Nothing and Runaway. As Kanye left the stage, John Mayer joined pal JAY-Z with his guitar for several songs, including Public Service Announcement and 99 Problems. The ultimate collaboration of the evening came when Beyonce joined her husband on stage for Young Forever. She continued to wow the crowd, bringing Coldplay frontman Chris Martin back out for an acoustic duet of her hit, Halo.

Gallery: Cosmopolitan Las Vegas Grand Opening

Tags: Aaron Paul, Abigail Spencer, Alex Rodriguez and Cameron Diaz, Armie Hammer, Aziz Ansari, Ben Folds, Ben Lyons, beyonce, BJ Novak, Blake Lively, Bonnie Somerville, Brandy, Busta Rhymes, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, Charlotte and Samantha Ronson, Cheryl Hines, chris martin, Chris Matthews, Christina Milian, coldplay, cosmopolitan, cosmopolitan resort and casino, Dr. Dre, Ellen Pompeo and Chris Ivery, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Emmy Rossum, Florence + the Machine, Forest and Keisha Whitaker, Gail Simmons, Gayle King, Giada de Laurentiis, Gwyneth Paltrow, Haylie Duff, Holly Robinson Peete, Jackie Warner and Colin Cowie., James Marsden, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Jeremy Piven, Jessica Szohr, john mayer, Justin Bartha and Ashley Olsen, Kayne West, Kellan Lutz, Kirsten Dunst, Kristin Davis, Lance Bass, Las Vegas, Lisa Ling, Marc Salling, Mark Wahlberg, Mel B, new years eve, new years eve 2011, New Years Eve party, Nick Zano, Olivia Munn, Rachael Harris, Rachael Taylor, Rashida Jones, Rihanna, Selita Ebanks, Shiri Appleby, Sugar Ray Leonard, Taraji Henson, Teri Polo, Timothy Olyphant, Whitney Port, Wilmer Valderrama

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Charbay Launches Brandy No. 83

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Charbay, a family run artisan winery and distillery in Northern California, has launched its Premiere brandy program with their 27-year-old Brandy N0.83. The new brandy is part of Charbay's small-batch luxury Medallion Collection of artisan spirits. The No. 83 has been aged in French oak since 1983. For 27 years, Charbay's owner and Master Distiller, Milorad (Miles) Karakasevic, guarded over them and said: "We'll release when I say they're ready. Soon, but not yet."

In those 27 years Charbay has created a variety of other spirits including artisan vodkas with flavors such as blood orange and green tea as well as Tahitian vanilla bean rum, black walnut liqueur and pomegranate desert wine and Karakasevic's son, then 10, is now a master distiller. N0.83 is available at the Still House in St. Helena where they distill the brandies for their ports, dessert wines and aperitifs. It comes in two bottle sizes: 750 ML/$350 and 375 ML/$185 a bottle.

Tags: Artisan Spirits, brandy, charbay, domaine charbay, spirits

Warm Up with Kellan Irish Whiskey

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

In cooler weather we often turn to whiskey and brandy to help keep us warm. Kellan Irish Whiskey is a relatively new and delectable addition to the U.S. market, so far only available in a handful of states but rapidly gaining ground.

Kellan is a unique blend of malt and grain Irish whiskey, double distilled and aged over four years in American oak barrels previously used to mature bourbon, a common practice with Scotch whisky but relatively rare with Irish blends, which can lack fullness as a result.

The double distillation method helps maintain the natural flavor of Kellan's raw ingredients, while the bourbon barrels help impart a rich character resulting a full-bodied Irish blended whiskey that has a smooth malty and sweet start, with a perfect balance ending in a tingle of honey citrus fruit.

Kellan is produced at the Cooley Distillery, one of the only three distilleries in Ireland, and the only independent distillery in the country. Cooley was recently honored with the prestigious title of World and European Distiller of the Year at the 2008 International Wine and Spirits Competition Awards.

Tags: brandy, Cooley Distillery, distillery, Ireland, Irish whiskey, Kellan Irish Whiskey, UK, whiskey, whisky

Remy Martin Unveils VSOP Hot Holiday Bottle

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

The famed French cognac house of Rémy Martin, founded back in 1724, has been part of countless holiday celebrations over the centuries. This season the venerable fine champagne cognac's VSOP expression, the best-selling VSOP cognac in the United States, is getting a glowing makeover for the holidays. The new limited edition Rémy Martin VSOP Hot Holiday bottle (above) is appropriately dressed in red for the festivities. The colorful cladding also recalls the fact that Rémy Martin VSOP has been a symbol of style and sophistication since its introduction in the exuberant Paris cabaret scene in 1927. The cognac itself is amber in color with rich flavor and a refined aroma. Smooth and easy-to-drink with appealing notes of vanilla, violet, apricot, peach and licorice, it's silky and warm on the palate with a well-balanced taste and long finish. Perfect on its own or over ice, we also enjoy it with soda and lemon or in a Sidecar.

Tags: brandy, cocktails, cognac, France, holiday 2010, holidays, Remy Martin, spirits

Mt. Vernon Adds Peach Brandy To Rye. Sells Rye for $25K at Auction

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Auctions

George Washington was not only the first President, "Father of our Country" and hero of the American Revolution, he was also a passionate distiller of rye whiskey and brandy.

At a reconstructed distillery [pictured] at Washington's estate, Mt. Vernon, there has been an effort to recreate both the rye and peach brandy that Washington made, sold, consumed, served and gifted to common folk as well as luminaries of his day.

Last summer, Mt. Vernon sold a limited edition of 470 bottles of the recreated rye whiskey. The bottles sold out in two hours at $85 each. And earlier this month, bottles #1 and #2 sold as a pair at auction for $25,000 to, ironically, an anonymous U.K. buyer.

But this month saw industry craftsman and leaders gather at Mt. Vernon to see if they could recreate a peach brandy that was as close to Washington's own recipe as they think possible. There is no written recipe for Washington's brandy, but the hope is that by distilling it in a still that is a close replica of the first President's and from juice from the local peaches Washington would have used, the "spirit" of the brandy will be close to what it was 240 years ago.

Tags: brandy, George Washingtons Rye, Mount Vernon, Mt. Vernon, Peach Brandy, rye, rye whiskey, Washington Peach Brandy, whiskey, whisky

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Pierre Ferrand Launches 100-Year-Old Cognac

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Pierre Ferrand, one of only a handful of Cognac houses in France specializing in old Cognacs from the coveted Grande Champagne region that are not blended with lesser varieties, has come out with a new 100-year-old bottling.

The limited edition L'Hommage de Pierre Ferrand was born of Cognac distilled prior to World War I stored in the shade of Ferrand's Logis d'Angeac cellar for more than a century.

Bottled in an exquisitely crafted, numbered crystal carafe, only 10 bottles will be available for sale in the U.S. by special order for the suggested retail price of about $3,000 apiece.

The aged spirit has taken on a beautiful dark shimmering bronze color after its long repose in its wooden cask. Exceptionally smooth, it has aromas of prune and candied fruits. Each bottle comes in a wooden case with a certificate of authenticity.

"We wanted to offer something supremely special from our cellars," notes Alexandre Gabriel, president/owner of Cognac Ferrand. "We chose a beautiful bottle to contain this rare Cognac [but] the taste is even more beautiful than the bottle."

Tags: brandy, Cognac, Cognac Ferrand, crystal, France, Pierre Ferrand, spirits, World War I

The Classicist: Hennessy and Berluti Create the Ultimate Cognac Experience

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Shoes, Men's Style, The Classicist

Famed French cognac maker Hennessy, the world's oldest cognac house, has unveiled a $23,000 limited edition XO Mathusalem bottling in a bespoke leather trunk by famed shoemaker Berluti. The two luxe brands, both part of the LVMH luxury goods empire, teamed up to create the ultimate cognac experience; only 150 pieces will be made most of which will be sold in Asia and Russia. The XO Mathusalem comes in a six liter (1.6 gallon) hand-blown crystal decanter, originally designed for Hennessy by the Marquis de Geoffre in 1947 for Hennessy; each bottle has its edition number engraved upon it. Designed by Olga Berluti (the fourth generation of the Berluti family) every Hennessy Mathusalem by Berluti chest is signed by her. She based her design for the chest on a 400-year-old salt box she had inherited from her parents – a Venetian tradition whereby such boxes are presented to newlyweds who toss the salt over their shoulders for luck.

Etched with engravings and ancient maps, as a symbol of the treasured cognac contained within, the handmade chest features a crocodile-motif clasp and is designed to store a collection of watches or other precious objects and be handed down as an heirloom. "We wanted to create something that will remain beyond the sharing of the cognac," Hennessy chairman and CEO Bernard Peillon said at the chest's recent unveiling in China. "The chest and cognac become something very personal. Once you finish the bottle, you can keep the memory of it. Olga wanted to create something special that tells the story of her growing up in Venice and her family building gondolas. You can say it's a work of art. We like the poetry of it and the romanticism in Berluti's personal story." Each chest takes 70 hours to build and inside each one is a catenella, a wooden element found in Venetian gondolas upon which is carved the gondolier's initials and the boatyard's hallmark. A certificate of ownership accompanies each trunk as well.

Gallery: Hennessy Mathusalem by Berluti

Tags: Berluti, bespoke, brandy, cognac, crystal, decanter, france, Hennessy, leather, LVMH, trunk, Venice

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Father's Day Favorite: Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

When selecting a Father's Day gift of high-end spirits – so much more appealing than the old necktie standby – for the dad with discerning tastes, single malt Scotch or small batch bourbon is perceived to be the safer choice, while for some Cognac implies a prescribed level of connoisseurship which the paterfamilias may not possess. Cognac appeals precisely because it's a bit different however, and a special bottling connotes extra thought on the part of the giver. No father who favors a glass of something good could fail to appreciate Rémy Martin's 1738 Accord Royal. The name is a nod to King Louis XV's decree of that year rewarding Rémy Martin's excellence. The 1738 Accord Royal is a Fine Champagne Cognac blended from nearly 240 eaux-de-vie aged between 4 - 20 years in Limousin oak barrels, producing a smooth, rich and mellow spirit with notes of oak, chocolate, cinnamon and ginger.

Tags: brandy, Cognac, Fathers Day, France, King Louis XV, oak, Rémy Martin, spirits

BIO Attitude Certified Organic Cognac

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Green

Preiss Imports, one of the nation's leading importers of specialty spirits and craft beer, has announced the impending release of BIO Attitude, Léopold Gourmel's new 100% certified organic cognac.

Gourmel is the creator of this new cognac category and aims to set a benchmark in terms of naturally-produced cognac. BIO Attitude received an approval from ECOCERT, France's organic certification agency, on the full process from the vineyard, wine cellar, distillation and aging to bottling.

Gourmel's process completely excludes the use of chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers, other than natural ones; in effect a return to the way cognac was made centuries ago before the advent of the machine age.

Gourmel's objective is to develop micro organic activity in the soil with green fertilizer, natural predators, and compost all working together. BIO Attitude is a young, refreshing cognac with a hue of cherry flowers during the April blossom. The delicate fresh notes offer a lingering finish of vanilla and fresh nuts.

Since its creation in 1972, Léopold Gourmel has chosen to respect the natural link between the roots and the bottle, and offers a non-standardized product; in their words, a cognac that is "alive". BIO Attitude is a fitting extension of this admirable philosophy.

Gourmel's vineyards maintain deep roots revealing a vertical minerality, absolute respect of each vintage, careful selection of extra fine grain un-toasted French oak casks, and absolutely no additives or artificial coloring. The BIO Attitude bottling is priced at $59.99 per 750 ml.

Tags: brandy, cognac, France, organic, spirits

Five Tips for Surviving a Holiday Office Party

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Events

Holiday office parties are just getting underway. Here are a few tips for surviving your holiday merriment.

Tip One: Start Your Night Happy, not Hungry

Food helps slow down the absorption of alcohol, giving your body more time to metabolize the toxins. Start your night with a medium sized meal, and nibble on snacks throughout the evening.

Tip Two: Choose Light (or lighter) Spirits

Sipping on drinks with lower alcohol content allows you to celebrate with colleagues without getting too tipsy. Instead of vodka (80 proof), look for liqueurs with a lower alcohol content. Some, such as VeeV, mix like vodka, but have a lower alcohol content (60 proof in Veev's case). Remember: drinks with a lower alcohol content also means fewer calories.

Tip Three: Keep Hydrated

Avoid the dehydration trap by drinking a small glass of water in between cocktails. You can also hydrate by choosing drinks with ice.

Tip Four: Stick to One Kind of Alcohol

Follow the golden rule of surviving any party hangover-free by steering clear of mixing different types of alcohol. Once you chose your favorite spirit of the night, stick with it, but drink in moderation.

Tip Five: Say No to Drinks Made with Dark Liquors

The clearer your drink, the fewer problems you will have the next morning. Dark liquors contain more toxic chemicals (congeners) than clear ones, which are widely responsible for nasty headaches. Brandy, red wine, rum, and whiskey fall in this category.

Tags: brandy, holiday party, HolidayParty, Veev, vodka

The Classicist: Cognac and Armagnac from Classic & Vintage

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, The Classicist

Founded in 1832 under Napoleon III, The House of Castarède is the oldest Armagnac house in the world, and has remained in the hands of the same family for six generations. Jean Grosperrin founded Grosperrin, one of the last independent Cognac houses, 160 years later in 1992. As a broker, Jean had developed an elaborate network of growers who opened their cellar doors for him and allowed him to buy some of their most precious stocks.

Both of the elixirs are now available in the U.S. from Classic & Vintage Artisanal Spirits, a collection of boutique spirits founded by Domaine Select Wine Estates (DSWE) earlier this year (my colleague Alison Wellner wrote about their launch party).

Rich, smooth and mellow, Armagnac Castarède is crafted from the best grapes of the Bas Armagnac region and matured in cellars that are more than 100 years old. Today, Florence Castarède is responsible for this family heritage, combining know-how acquired over 175 years with new initiatives. The distillation and aging process in hand made oak barrels takes place in the Château de Maniban, situated in the heart of the Bas-Armagnac and dating back to the 16th century.

Castarède is also celebrated for its exceptional collection of vintage Armagnacs, with more than 80 authenticated vintages, the oldest dating from 1881. Vintage Armagnacs from 1893 - 1987 are available, with prices on request; the Castarède portfolio in the U.S. also consists of Armagnac Selection (SRP $64), Armagnac Réserve de la Famille, aged for over 20 years (SRP $124) and Armagnac VSOP (right), aged 10 years, (SRP $74). All are in 750 ml bottles.

Grosperrin's philosophy is to maintain small-batch integrity, without blending, leaving all varietals in individual batches in their original barrels or glass demi-johns, producing a wide array of distinctive products from all of the appellations of Cognac. The result is an impressive selection of single vintage, single barrel, and single estate Cognacs, each with a unique personality and history.

Gallery: Classic & Vintage Cognac & Armagnac

Today, the family-owned company is exclusively dedicated to the selection, aging, and distribution of rare, aged Cognac dating from 1991 all the way back to World War II, carrying all of the necessary guarantees of quality and authenticity. Classic & Vintage will import selected products from the expansive Grosperrin Portfolio at various prices; the next shipment is due to arrive in the U.S. in March.

Many people wonder about the differences between Armagnac and Cognac. Armagnac brandy is crafted from white wines produced from white grapes with high acidity and a low alcohol content. Armagnac is distinguished by the region's sunnier climate, sandy and clay soil rich in iron and four grape varieties as opposed to Cognac's two; the main difference is in the distillation process, however: single and continuous distillation for Armagnac that gives more fragrance and flavors. You can read more here.

Tags: Armagnac, brandy, Classic Vintage Artisanal Spirits, ClassicVintageArtisanalSpirits, Cognac, Domaine Select, DomaineSelect, France, Grosperrin, Napoleon

The Classicist: Keeping Warm With Cognac Ferrand

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, The Classicist

When fall and cooler weather arrive we look for something special to sip by the fire; this season we'll be reaching for a bottle of fine Cognac from Pierre Ferrand. Ferrand, considered "Premier Cru du Cognac", is lauded as a Grande Champagne specialist and is one of only a handful of Cognac houses in France that specializes in old Cognacs from the coveted Grande Champagne region that are not blended with lesser varieties. It is also quite a small house by most standards; as Ferrand President and Owner Alexandre Gabriel notes, "We are the jewelers of Cognac. It takes us a year to produce what the biggest company produces in a day." A core belief at Ferrand is the that to produce an exceptional Cognac you must first create an exceptional wine. To that end, Cognac Ferrand is perhaps the only house that has a full-time oenologist trained in making premium wine in Bordeaux.

Cognac Ferrand is very vested in the vines and the vineyards and the wines used in the distillation of its Cognac come from the heart of the Grande Champagne, long considered the finest growing area. "To produce an exceptional Cognac, we treasure our grapes and treat the vineyard as a great vintner would," Gabriel says. "Then we distill it right, age it well and blend it with precision. Only then are we ready to bottle it. Quality cannot be rushed." The award-winning result is a complex, yet subtle, aromatic spirit reflecting a unique history and great attention to every detail of production. Pierre Ferrand Cognac is double distilled in small copper pot stills according to the traditional Cognac method – one cask at a time. It takes them 12 hours to produce just one cask with each pot still. At Ferrand's estate, dating from 1776, it then takes several years for the Cognac to reach perfection in Limousin oak barrels.

Gallery: Cognac Ferrand

Ferrand (which also makes Citadelle Gin in the off season) offers a wide variety of bottlings, including Ambre, Reserve, Reserve des Dieux, Selection des Anges, Abel, Ancestrale and the Collection Privée Vintages, limited edition rare Cognacs of outstanding quality, including the 1914, 1970, 1971 and 1973. They recently unveiled the Pierre Ferrand Vintage 1972 Cask Strength Cognac, one of the only cask strength Cognacs available in the United States, which sells for $600 a bottle. Only two casks of this precious Cognac remained at the historic Ferrand estate, enough to fill a mere 600 bottles. We highly suggested getting hold of one if you can.

Tags: brandy, cognac, France, Pierre Ferrand, Pierre Ferrand Cognac, PierreFerrand, PierreFerrandCognac, vineyard, wine

The Classicist: Rémy Martin Louis XIII Experience Cognac & Culinary Tour

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits, The Classicist

The famed House of Rémy Martin, founded all the way back in 1724, has a new and unique culinary journey in the heart of Cognac, France. The great gastronomic tour, part of the House's Les Rendez-Vous Rémy Martin, focuses on Louis XIII, the jewel of Rémy's cellar and the most celebrated cognac in the world, as well as the birthplace of cognac itself. The day-long Louis XIII Experience gives visitors access to the "most coveted secrets and treasures" of the renowned cognac house, centered on a private tour through Le Grollet, the Rémy Martin family's historic estate and private cellar.

Guests will experience elite tastings of the prized Grande Champagne Cognac along with a private lunch and dinner prepared by the House of Rémy Martin's Executive Chef, Philippe Saint Romas, in either the historic distillery or a private dining room. Prior to joining Rémy Martin, Saint Romas worked in world-renowned kitchens including Paris' Michelin-starred Senderens Les Ambassadeurs in the Hôtel de Crillon as well as with Alain Ducasse. Visitors also will have the chance to explore the estate's wine pressing hall and view the historic stone stills. Guests are invited to appreciate the cognacs, chosen by cognac's only female Cellar Master, Pierrette Trichet, and offered the chance to learn how to blend cognac to their preference.

Louis XIII rarest reserve cognac was created in 1874 by the House of Rémy Martin. It is described as an "intricate alchemy" blended from 1,200 eaux-de-vie, created from the chalky soils of Grande Champagne, the best growing area of the France's Cognac region. Louis XIII ages up to 100 years in specially crafted oak barrels called tierçons (above). Four generations of cellar masters perfected the unique blend of myrrh, honey, plum, honeysuckle, wood bark, leather and passion fruit that goes in to Louis XIII, making it the most complex and prestigious cognac in the world. The precious elixir comes bottled in a Baccarat crystal decanter with fleur-de-lys stopper.

Tags: brandy, chef, cognac, France, Louis XIII, LouisXiii, Remy Martin, RemyMartin, tours

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Million Dollar Coconut Brandy...Any Takers?

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Mendis is introducing the world's first ultra-premium coconut brandy, and they're not shy about making a big deal about it. Mendis coconut brandy is an all-natural, clear brandy with delicate tones of coconut, vanilla, and chocolate and a "velvety sweet texture." It's recommended neat or on the rocks, but can also be enjoyed mixed.

The very first bottle of this very first coconut brandy is going up for sale in August for $1 million dollars. So if you're the type to collect "firsts," or really love coconut flavored drinks, or just happened to have an extra million or so burning a hole in your pocket, then you might want to hurry and buy that first fancy bottle as it rolls off the product line (well, I'm sure it doesn't actually roll, do you think?) before somebody else does. Or if you're like me, and even if you had it really wouldn't spend that kinda money on a single bottle of anything, you can enter to win the second bottle for free -- along with a luxury trip to go pick it up and personal security to help you hold on to your pricey little prize.

So how much do you think it would go for on eBay?

Source

Tags: alcohol, brandy, coconut, dollars, drink, drinks, enter to win, EnterToWin, free, mendis, million, spirits, win