Malternative Belgium is a company founded by Pieter Knapen and Ysatis Thijs, dedicated to cognac. Established in 2020 as an independent bottler, Malternative Belgium combines passion and time to select and bottle cognacs. The company operates both an online business and an ‘experience store’ in Hasselt, where visitors can taste and learn about cognac in a cosy environment. The journey of Malternative Belgium began in 2009 with an interest in spirits, leading to their involvement as distributors for a reputable cognac brand in 2016. However, their vision extended beyond mere distribution; they aimed to share the rich stories and experiences that cognac offers. Through their network of small, family-owned producers in the cognac region, they source high-quality spirits (Cognacs first, but also now Calvados) under their brand. We review today three ‘old’ cognacs from Malternative Belgium, but we’ll review more recent ones in the coming weeks.
Jean-Luc Pasquet Lot 67 #8 ‘Le Voyageur’ Malternative Belgium (2021) Review
This Petite Champagne cognac embodies the spirit of family and friendship. Count Pierre de Joyet, born into French nobility in 1921, grew up in a castle in Ruffec and cherished a family vineyard in Jurignac, Petite Champagne. Despite his father’s doubts, Pierre became a doctor and mastered multiple languages. He served as a medical officer and later as a ship’s doctor, known for his refined manners. After his father’s death, Pierre and his sister Thérèse inherited the vineyard. Though inexperienced, they believed in their terroir and sought help to manage it. Pierre hired Jean Glemet, who, along with his brother Roger, became close friends and vital in restoring the vineyard. The Glemet brothers expanded the vineyard and nursed it back to health. Upon Pierre’s passing in 2014, the vineyard was bequeathed to the Glemet brothers. They planned to honour Pierre’s legacy but, with no heirs, decided to sell the meticulously restored property.
Distilled from the 1967 harvest of grapes from Pierre de Joyet’s vineyard, the cask was bought by Jean-Luc Pasquet and matured in a humid cellar, hence the low ABV (40.6%). It was then selected and bottled by Malternative Belgium on March 26, 2021, filling 438 bottles. Sold out, so your only chance is at auction. The original retail price was €239, and I bought my bottle at auction a couple of years ago.
Colour:
Polished mahogony.
Nose:
Neat: The nose begins with a vibrant burst of sour tropical fruits – passion fruit, pineapple, mango, guava, and orange. This is followed by herbaceous notes reminiscent of fruit tea and liquorice, complemented by hints of leather and floral undertones. A subtle aroma of vanilla pods rounds out the nose.
Palate:
Neat: Despite its lower ABV, the mouthfeel is remarkably velvety. Tropical fruits are slightly subdued compared to the nose but are still present. Notes of bergamot and apricots emerge, alongside precious woods and cigar box aromas. Rosewater and a medley of spices and mint, with stunning citrus notes shining through.
Finish:
Lingers with a harmonious blend of citrus, woods, tropical fruits, bergamot, and a touch of wood spices.
Comments:
Every time I pour a dram of this Jean-Luc Pasquet Lot 67 cognac bottled by Malternative Belgium, it feels like a new discovery. Its complexity and depth never cease to amaze me, revealing nuances that make me enjoy each pour. I’m so captivated by this cognac that I’m considering searching for a backup bottle at auction to ensure I can continue to savour it for a few more years.
Rating: 8.5/10
Daniel Bouju Lot 60 Grande Champagne #14 ‘Le Brûlé’ Malternative (2022) Belgium
The cognac house of Daniel Bouju has been producing artisanal cognac for over 200 years, spanning seven generations. Established in 1805 in Saint-Preuil, a small village in the heart of the Grande Champagne region, the winery was founded by the Allard and Chauvin families. The family has carefully selected and expanded their vineyards over the years, now cultivating 30 hectares planted with Ugni blanc grapes. They are committed to sustainable viticulture, minimising pesticide use and maintaining natural vegetation to encourage soil health. The distillation and ageing processes remain true to traditional methods.
Malternative Belgium selected this Daniel Bouju Lot 60 Grande Champagne and bottled it in 2022 at its natural cask strength (50.5%), naming it ‘Le Brûlé’ because this cognac was matured in very heavily toasted barrels (‘bousinage’). Unfortunately, sold out.
Colour:
Between brown sherry and treacle.
Nose:
Neat: The nose starts with a tantalising aroma of sour cherries, their tartness reminiscent of citrus and tropical fruits. Rich notes of precious woods and cigar box intermingle with the deep, molasses-laden scent of Jamaican rum. A beautiful rancio character emerges, accompanied by a symphony of spices and the aroma of high-quality chocolates.
With water: Surprisingly, the alcohol becomes more pronounced and intense. The chocolate notes are amplified.
Palate:
Neat: The palate offers a rich tapestry of flavours, including brown sugar and molasses, complemented by leather, tobacco, and cedar wood. Old herbs and liquorice, strongly toasted wood, dark cherries, dried figs, and prunes.
With water: The mouthfeel is superb – creamy and coating, with all the aforementioned flavours enhanced by notes of butterscotch and caramel liqueur.
Finish:
Lingers with the sweetness of brown sugar, a medley of spices, and the richness of dark chocolate. It evokes the sensation of a ristretto enjoyed in a quaint Venetian plaza, with a gentle peppery warmth that seems to last forever.
Comments:
Another fantastic discovery from Malternative Belgium! I must confess, I wasn’t familiar with Daniel Bouju before, but thanks to our Belgian neighbours, that oversight has been corrected. This cognac has a more pronounced woodiness compared to Pasquet, yet it remains beautifully balanced and bold. I’ll definitely be looking for a bottle of this to my collection!
Rating: 8.5/10
Vallein Tercinier Lot 55 Fins Bois #29 ‘Arôme Exquis’ Malternative Belgium (2024) Review
This cognac was distilled in Chermignac in 1955 by Vallein-Tercinier, using wine from their finest vines in the Bons Bois appellation. The vineyard plot, situated near the municipal cemetery and known as ‘La Champagne,’ boasts soil characteristics similar to those in the Petite Champagne region. The cognac aged 55 years in Limousin oak casks within a humid cellar, then, since 2010, it has been stored in four dame-jeannes (demi-johns) to preserve its quality.
This Vallein Tercinier was then selected by Malternative Belgium, who bottled it in 2024, at its natural cask strength (41.5%). Despite its more expensive original retail price compared to the first two (€599), it’s almost sold out everywhere, but Passion for Whisky still has some (and at the time of writing it’s on offer).
Colour:
Auburn.
Nose:
Neat: The nose opens with many yellow fruits – apricots, nectarines, and peaches in syrup, complemented by a zesty citrus tang and the tropical sweetness of mangoes. Subtle nutty aromas of roasted almonds emerge, alongside a gentle rancio character and a soft, chalky minerality.
Palate:
Neat: The palate mirrors the nose with a rich profile of yellow-fleshed fruits, enhanced by warm spices such as pepper and nutmeg. Notes of varnished wood and coffee beans, strong, over-infused tea and minty dark chocolate. Herbaceous notes of eucalyptus add some freshness.
Finish:
The finish lingers with the pleasant bitterness of over-infused tea, accompanied by varnished wood, oranges, and dried mangoes and apricots. The finish is of medium length.
Comments:
This Vallein Tercinier Lot 55 truly lives up to its name with an exquisite nose that captivates the senses. However, the palate and finish, while very good, don’t quite reach the same level of excellence as the nose. But this Malternative Belgium bottling is still a very good one, there’s no doubt about that.
Rating: 7.5/10
Thanks Benoît & Pieter! Pictures and sample for the Vallein Tercinier courtesy of Malternative Belgium.
