– Jennifer Pisciotta , Global VP of Marketing at D ' USSÉ a best-seller , serving as an excellent starting point for those refining their flavor journey ’ s with Cognac .

Distilled with lees and aged only in fine grain French oak small barrels , CAMUS ’ VS Intensity Cognac stands out by boasting an extremely high concentration in esters , resulting in flavors of summer fruits and subtle spices , according to the producer .

VS Intensity is a blend of eaux- devie reflecting the flavors of the Charente terroir , characterized by rich fruity aromas with hints of spices . The profile is the result of a distillation which aims at enhancing highly-aromatic components and of a careful tasting process by the cellar master along the maturation period to establish an ideal combination of barrels for the final assemblage of this aromatic Cognac , the distillery says .

BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN BRANDY AND COGNAC

There are many processes involved in making a good brandy , but O ' Daniel says it always starts with the fruit . “ As a distiller , my job is to express the excitement I find in the vineyards and orchards . It ’ s all about the fruit .”

One of Copper & King ’ s best-sellers , American Apple Brandy , aims at capturing those fruity notes : Finished in Kentucky Bourbon and New American Oak barrels , the apple flavor comes from real apples , with no added boisé . It ' s a great drink to warm up the soul during the cold winter months .

Just like brandy , and basically everything else , what makes a good Cognac also comes down to personal preference . For Jennifer Pisciotta , Global Vice President of Marketing at D ' USSÉ , the two most important qualities of a good Cognac are complexity and mouthfeel , which are determined by a range of factors in each step of the production process .

“ What makes D ’ USSÉ stand apart is our eaux de vie , which has long been established at our brand home the historic Château de Cognac , as well as the unique aging conditions of our dry and humid cellars , which are in close proximity to the Charente river ,” Pisciotta says . “ It requires years of experience and a perfect curation to achieve a well balanced Cognac , which was certainly the case for the first release of our VSOP . The detailed and meticulous dedication of our Cellar Master was well worth it , as our VSOP regularly receives high marks from leading industry award tasters and was called ‘ a very well executed blend of aromas and flavors with a silky mouthfeel ’ by the Beverage Tasting Institute earlier this year .”

Lauro views Cognac in three different ways : “ For sipping , I ’ m looking for longevity . The lingering leather , chocolate , toffee , and exotic spice flavors should stay in my mouth for a long time . For mixing , I would go with a younger Cognac that showcases floral notes , usually some peach and apricot flavors . For boozy cocktails , I want to go back to that chocolate , leather , port , or cherry style flavors that show up well in an Old Fashioned .”

A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR DARK SPIRITS

In the coming years , Wright believes the focus on agave and whiskey will bring more opportunities and exposure to the world of Cognac and other brandies . Cognac ’ s rich history , demanding production process and satisfying end result will gain wider recognition .

“ The continued popularity of brown spirits will strengthen Cognac ’ s position as a major player in the industry ,” Wright notes . “ It ’ s only a matter of time before a significant portion of the U . S . population discovers the allure of Cognac .”

O ’ Daniel also sees a bright future for the brandy category . Brandy has an interesting story that can be easily shared . As new producers enter the market and old producers continue to get creative with all types of barrel finishes , more consumers will want to taste all that brandy has to offer .

Even though Maison Ferrand has seen a decline in store sales for 2023 , Lamy says Cognac has made significant progress in the last five years within the U . S . spirits market . Several Cognac houses , including Ferrand , have released distinctive and appealing expressions that can help the category move forward in the near future .

“ Cognac was always respected as one of the great world spirits ," says Lamy . " I see it now being in the forefront of spirits education for consumers , which will guarantee a very bright future for the category .” •

14 Beverage Wholesaler • Winter 2023 www . beveragewholesaler . com