The Cognac Show comes to London

Cognac connoisseurs prepare to remplissez vos bottes as the sophisticated spirit enjoys an entire show devoted to it in London this month.

As Cognac continues its worthy renaissance, the conveniently named The Cognac Show will invite budding beginners and serious sipping stalwarts alike to central London on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 April.

Along with Cognac education, masterclasses, new products and cocktails, the show invites guests to indulge a selection of super-premium old and rare bottles. A genuine who’s who of Cognac, the list of luxury liquids is long with Hennessy, Godet, Ferrand, Frapin and Merlet amongst the many in the room. 

It’s also a chance to shake the hands and say merci beaucoup to some of the spirits’ superstars, with the likes of Baptiste Loiseau, Cellar Master for Rémy Martin, in attendance.

“I’m looking forward to sharing the heritage of our great cognacs,” says Baptiste. “from VSOP to 1738 Accord Royal and XO. Additionally I’ll be presenting my latest creation Carte Blanche à Baptiste Loiseau Merpins Cellar Edition, with only 300 bottles available in the UK.”

And he’s right to look forward to it all, having had a sneak preview sip of the Carte Blanche, I can safely say it’s a delicious distillate, rich spicy aromatics of ginger and cinnamon on the nose, and a warm, full honeyed palate, with a lightly dry finish to ensure it lasts and lasts.

Such tasting opportunities are no more than the spirit deserves and this celebration of Coganc’s glorious heritage combines with the ambitions to motivate a modern drinker.

Cocktails are likely to be stunning with mixed drinks marvel Tony Conigliaro of 69 Colebrooke Row and Termini fame presenting a pop-up of his recently opened Bar Luciole in Cognac, France.

The show has been organised by Dawn Davies, buyer for Speciality Drinks, who also gives is the excellent Whisky Show. “This will give you the chance to taste over 150 cognacs and learn from the producers themselves,” says Dawn. “a chance to understand what makes their products stand out and why Cognac is such a fascinating spirit.”

The show will run from April 27 to 28, for more details on the event and tickets visit cognacshow.com

Tasting Highlights

Hine

As well as presenting a thought-provoking sampling of its “early landed” (matured in the UK) next to the same vintage was aged in Jarnac, Hine will also offer up its Triomphe (￡445, Whisky Exchange) as the Dream Pour. And it is indeed un Triomphe.

This is also the opportunity to try the 2005 & 2006 single estate Bonneuil, taken from the Hine vinyards and specifically bottled just as a single estate bottling after 10 years.

Remy Martin

The second in Remy Martin’s limited edition Carte Blanche series will be revealed at the show. Cellar master Baptiste Loiseau has created Remy Martin’s most unique blend ever using eaux-de-vie from the house’s Merpins cellars.

Frapin

Taste The Whisky Exchange’s first ever exclusive bottling of Cognac, a single-cask of 1993 vintage Cognac from the house of Frapin, hand selected by Sukhinder Singh, owner of the hugely successful Whisky Exchange, and Specialty buyer Dawn Davies.

Says Dawn: “For our first ever Cognac single cask we chose to work with Frapin because it’s a house with cognacs of real class and quality. This one was hand selected in the cellars of Frapin from a variety of single casks and is a vintage cognac from 1993 and from Fontpinot – Frapins own vineyards. 

The cognac itself is incredibly intense and smooth with notes of frangipane, autumn leaves, orange peel  and sweet spice. We chose it for its quality but also to appeal to the whisky drinker.”

Martell

Proving there is quality across the board in the category, Martell will unveil their latest creation, Blue Swift (￡40.95, Whisky Exchange), the first-ever Martell VSOP matured in French Oak casks and finished in Kentucky Bourbon casks.

Tom Sandham is one of the Thinking Drinkers, an award-winning drinks writer and comedy duo who will perform their new show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and across the UK this year. For dates visit thinkingdrinkers.com