{"title":"Cognac","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"h-by-hine-vsop","title":"H by Hine VSOP - 70cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eVSOP\/Similar Cognac\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the lower-priced VS category accounts for the lion’s share of global Cognac volumes, the entry point to quality Cognac for most people remains VSOP, encompassing Cognacs aged for at least four years, and often far longer. Beyond the classification, some producers are now preferring to focus instead on provenance – in terms of sub-region or vineyard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Jarnac-based house of Hine makes much of its wine connections, and this comes through in a range of Cognacs that prioritise aromatic floral and fruit flavours over oak influence. H by Hine is Hine letting its hair down, producing an exuberant and versatile VSOP that is at its best in a range of traditional and modern cocktails.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing Suggestions:\u003c\/strong\u003e You’re spoilt for choice here, because this is as happy as a frozen shot as it is providing the base for a vibrantly fruity Sidecar, or just mixed over ice with ginger ale and a twist of lime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery lively and forward on the nose, with plush sweet fruit, vanilla, honey and ginger. The vibrancy continues on the palate, which is beautifully balanced, soft and silky with light spice and white pepper. There’s caramel on the finish with some peppery floral aromas. A delightful and accessible Cognac.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Urban Bar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":37167245525152,"sku":"UBA9001","price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0467\/5066\/2816\/files\/H_by_Hine_VSOP_-01-min_296c5874-17c4-4e6c-9e23-c26791a2d6c4.jpg?v=1741890652"},{"product_id":"maxine-trijol-extra","title":"Maxime Trijol Extra - 70cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eExtra\/Vintage Cognac\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCognac’s hinterland beyond XO is one of great variation, but with the common thread of aged eaux-de-vie that have often spent many decades in cask. These are highly sought-after Cognacs for the top end of the market, characterised by that almost indefinable ‘rancio’ character that only comes with great age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVintages also inhabit this part of the market, but not always. These are Cognacs that run counter to the dominant local technique of blending, expressing the character of an individual harvest in a way that is reminiscent of fine wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA family-run Cognac house for well over 150 years – most recently under Jean-Jacques Trijol and his two daughters – Maxime Trijol is unusual in carrying out the entire production process, from vineyards (Grande and Petite Champagne) to bottle. In a comprehensive portfolio of excellent Cognacs, Extra is a classically fine expression of Grande Champagne.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing Suggestions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Just a good glass, and time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeady aromas of jasmine and violet leap out of the glass, alongside bright fruit and an umami hint of rancio. The texture is pure velvet, with ginger and drying oak filling out the mid-palate before the power builds with an irrepressible lift of forest floor rancio. Mouthfilling and intense, the gloriously endless finish brings dark chocolate and a spike of menthol.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Urban Bar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":37167258763424,"sku":"UBA9222","price":206.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0467\/5066\/2816\/files\/Trijol_Extra_Btl_Shot-01-min_eb838cdf-88ab-4eed-afd1-8868cdfa38c8.jpg?v=1741890626"},{"product_id":"merlot-brothers-blend-vsop","title":"Merlet Brothers Blend VSOP - 70cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eVSOP\/Similar Cognac\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the lower-priced VS category accounts for the lion’s share of global Cognac volumes, the entry point to quality Cognac for most people remains VSOP, encompassing Cognacs aged for at least four years, and often far longer. Beyond the classification, some producers are now preferring to focus instead on provenance – in terms of sub-region or vineyard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou might know Merlet best for the company’s range of fruit liqueurs, but the family has been distilling eaux-de-vie in the Cognac region for well over 150 years. The ‘Brothers’ in question here are Gilles Merlet’s sons Pierre and Luc, and this Cognac is billed as ‘a new style for a new generation’. That means highly approachable and mixable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing Suggestions:\u003c\/strong\u003e We’re in classic Cognac cocktail territory here, particularly juleps, slings, sazeracs and old fashioneds. Or, for a more relaxed feel, simply over ice and\/or tonic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA surprisingly shy nose of delicate florals, fruit and something darker and spicier lurking in the background. By contrast, the palate is relatively big and boisterous, with sour cherry, cola cube and a drying finish. All about character rather than complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Urban Bar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":37167258960032,"sku":"UBA9282","price":49.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0467\/5066\/2816\/files\/Merlet_Brothers_Blend_VSOP-01-min_ff273f2d-c981-4d32-9b5f-f75a9a5a4535.jpg?v=1741890625"},{"product_id":"camus-ile-de-re-fine-island-cognac","title":"Camus Ile de Ré Fine Island Cognac - 70cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eVSOP\/Similar Cognac\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the lower-priced VS category accounts for the lion’s share of global Cognac volumes, the entry point to quality Cognac for most people remains VSOP, encompassing Cognacs aged for at least four years, and often far longer. Beyond the classification, some producers are now preferring to focus instead on provenance – in terms of sub-region or vineyard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost Cognac is created via the art\/science of blending, but this is one of a new generation of products focused on provenance and character. It undergoes a double maturation on the Ile de Ré – an Atlantic island just off the coast at La Rochelle – which is far from Cognac’s heartland, but the idiosyncratic conditions make for a distinctive style with a marked maritime streak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing Suggestions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Perfectly mixable and adds a point of difference to a sidecar or sazerac, but this is an intriguingly characterful Cognac that’s worth tasting neat to appreciate all of its nuances.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn contrast with the finesse of a Grande Champagne Cognac, this is all about mellow roundness, with yellow plum and hazelnut brittle. The pleasingly supple toffee character is undercut by a marked maritime salinity, which helps to elevate the softness into something more intriguing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Urban Bar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":37487295791264,"sku":"UBA9987","price":75.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0467\/5066\/2816\/files\/white-IMQ1220273_camus-ile-de-re-fine-island-gp-07l-40-vol.jpg?v=1741890541"},{"product_id":"delamain-vesper-xo","title":"Delamain Vesper XO - 70cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eXO Cognac\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor many, the XO classification epitomises Cognac’s place at the high table of luxury – a notion reinforced by the fact that eaux-de-vie now have to be matured for at least 10 years in order to earn the designation. But not all XOs are made equal, and there is a broad gamut of styles depending on provenance, distillation and, especially, maturation. These are sipping Cognacs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t find a place in some decadent high-end cocktails too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe family firm of Delamain is a quality-focused négociant for whom XO Cognacs are the entry level, most famously with the Pale \u0026amp; Dry expression that celebrated its centenary in 2020. But Vesper deserves to be much better-known: 100% Grande Champagne, it takes Delamain’s trademark perfumed elegance and turns it up to 11, offering a more muscly, intense tasting experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing Suggestions:\u003c\/strong\u003e One for long contemplation in a good tulip glass, rather than one of those hideous balloon glasses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter roughly 35 years in cask and two more ‘marrying’ the blend, this is densely packed with rich, ripe fruit, but the secondary flavours are even more impressive: woodland floor, cigar humidor and powerful rancio notes. There’s great structure here, but worn lightly, with as much delicacy and elegance as there is intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Urban Bar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":37487410282656,"sku":"UBA9829","price":144.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0467\/5066\/2816\/files\/Vesper.jpg?v=1741890540"},{"product_id":"camus-borderies-xo","title":"Camus Borderies XO - 70cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eXO Cognac\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor many, the XO classification epitomises Cognac’s place at the high table of luxury – a notion reinforced by the fact that eaux-de-vie now have to be matured for at least 10 years in order to earn the designation. But not all XOs are made equal, and there is a broad gamut of styles depending on provenance, distillation and, especially, maturation. These are sipping Cognacs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t find a place in some decadent high-end cocktails too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorderies is Cognac’s smallest sub-region or cru, and its eaux-de-vie are prized for their aromatic, spicy character. Borderies is not thought to be as ageworthy as Grande Champagne, but this XO from Camus’ own vineyards (the family is the biggest landowner in Borderies) shows the area’s great potential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing Suggestions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Worth serving neat for its quality and as a showcase for the Borderies sub-region, which offers a pleasing contrast to Grande\/Petite Champagne.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fruit here is super-ripe and rich, but undercut by some jasmine-heavy florals, baking spices and the scent of a fine pâtisserie. The palate is gutsy and broad, silkily textured, with the always forward fruit moving into dried territory, sprinkled with cinnamon and vanilla cream. It never gets blowsy thanks to the peppery floral highlights.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Urban Bar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":37487449473184,"sku":"UBA9748","price":207.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0467\/5066\/2816\/files\/CamusBorderies.jpg?v=1741890539"},{"product_id":"giboin-1997-d-apremont","title":"Giboin 1997 D'Apremont - 70cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eExtra\/Vintages\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCognac’s hinterland beyond XO is one of great variation, but with the common thread of aged eaux-de-vie that have often spent many decades in cask. These are highly sought-after Cognacs for the top end of the market, characterised by that almost indefinable ‘rancio’ character that only comes with great age. Vintages also inhabit this part of the market, but not always. These are Cognacs that run counter to the dominant local technique of blending, expressing the character of an individual harvest in a way that is reminiscent of fine wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFamily-owned Giboin owns 14 hectares of vines in the Borderies enclave, plus another 8ha at Apremont, south of Angoulême in the far east of Fins Bois. Here there is chalk, limestone and flint, elevating the quality of the eaux-de-vie with an uncommon level of elegance and finesse. François Giboin sells a healthy proportion of his production to Courvoisier, but has set aside a couple of barrels from each harvest since 1994 for bottling as a vintage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing Suggestions:\u003c\/strong\u003e One to savour while appreciating that Grande Champagne doesn’t have a monopoly on fine Cognac.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoft, velvety and eminently approachable, this is nonetheless a Cognac of some depth and complexity, with mature flavours of leather and spice (nutmeg, ginger) alongside an aromatic floral lift. More than a hint of Grande\/Petite Champagne quality, for all its more ‘humble’ origins in Fins Bois.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Urban Bar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":37487500034208,"sku":"UBA9344","price":53.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0467\/5066\/2816\/files\/Giboin.jpg?v=1741890538"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0467\/5066\/2816\/collections\/Cognac.webp?v=1715857668","url":"https:\/\/www.urbanbar.com\/en-nl\/collections\/cognac.oembed","provider":"Urban Bar","version":"1.0","type":"link"}