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when the use of single vintages was fully liberalised, can be<br />
trusted – and then only from the most reputable firms and<br />
producers, such as Hine, Delamain and Frapin. The figures<br />
representing the ages of the cognacs are those provided by<br />
the producers and so are inevitably approximate averages<br />
because virtually all the cognacs involved are blends.<br />
*Indicates a particular favourite of mine in other words<br />
what the Guide Hachette calls a coup de coeur.<br />
Only a few British merchants specialise in cognacs.<br />
Three of the best are:<br />
Brandy Classics (indicated by BC), 87 Trowbridge Road,<br />
Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 1EG. Tel: 01225<br />
863986, db@brandyclassics.com. David Baker imports<br />
several small and reputable producers and has his own<br />
brands, Hermitage and Siècle d’Or (qv).<br />
Eaux de Vie (indicated by Edevie), 207 Old Marylebone<br />
Rd, London, W1. Tel: 0207 724 5009.<br />
Single Estate <strong>Cognac</strong>s (indicated by SEC), 59 Thornhill,<br />
South Marston, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN3 4TA. Tel:<br />
01793 831 756, www.secognac.com.<br />
The growers in the Grande Champagne that form the Les<br />
Compagnons du <strong>Cognac</strong> are indicated by C du C, info@<br />
GC<strong>Cognac</strong>.com.<br />
The Big Four (Hennessy, Martell, Rémy Martin and<br />
Courvoisier), and most other firms of any size, all provide<br />
facilities to visitors to their distilleries. Visitors are generally<br />
welcome in even the smallest firms and producers provided<br />
they phone up to give due warning and show real interest<br />
in the producer’s cognacs.<br />
The telephone numbers I have given are for callers outside<br />
France and of course I’d be happy to taste new cognacs and<br />
include any producers whom I have inadvertently omitted.<br />
My email address is nicholasfaith@btintenet.com.<br />
GC Grande Champagne<br />
PC Petite Champagne<br />
FC Fine Champagne – at least half GC, the rest<br />
exclusively PC<br />
FB Fins Bois<br />
BB Bon Bois<br />
VS A minimum of two years old<br />
VSOP A minimum of four years old<br />
XO Napoleon Extra, etc. At least six years old, though<br />
the cognacs from reputable firms will average<br />
above that age<br />
ABK6<br />
SNC du Maine Drilhon<br />
Domaine de Chez Maillard<br />
16440 Claix<br />
Tel: +33 545 66 35 72<br />
VSOP: nice grapey feel, a hint of caramel and burn.<br />
Family Reserve 55%: FB the rest PC. Fresh, peachy on<br />
nose and palate lots of liquorice on the finish.<br />
Les Antiquaires du <strong>Cognac</strong><br />
Lartige<br />
16200 Jarnac<br />
Tel: +33 545 36 55 78<br />
GC: long, flowery, dry with a hint of spice.<br />
Fins Bois: very long, complex, fruity.
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