Other Spirits Archives

Famille Cabanne Fins Bois Lot 89

15th December 202514th December 2025Coldorak

The fourteenth pouch of our Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar brings back a cherished name: Famille Cabanne, this time with a Fins Bois Lot 89. Last years calendar still lingers in memory thanks to Richard Delisle Lot 53 – Famille Cabanne in disguise – which delivered an absolutely stunning experience. Their Lot 24 Grande Champagne, a 100-year-old marvel, impressed even more and left us speechless until it came time to put the glass content into words. Now a new Fins Bois from the same family steps up, and expectations run very high for this Lot 89.

Frapin XO VIP Cognac

13th December 202513th December 2025Coldorak

We mark the halfway point of the Cognac-Expert 2025 Advent Calendar with a pour from one of Charente’s most enduring dynasties: the Frapin XO VIP Cognac. Hailing from a family whose winegrowing roots stretch back centuries, this Grande Champagne expression carries the weight of serious history. Now, let’s see if the liquid in the glass lives up to the VIP title.

J. Dupont XO Art Déco Cognac

12th December 202511th December 2025Coldorak

The eleventh pouch revealed a J. Dupont XO Art Déco Cognac, as we’re nearing the end of the first half of our Cognac-Expert 2025 Advent Calendar already. Once again, we try a Cognac from a long-standing Cognac house, and we add a new name to this humble blog. Let’s talk about their history, before reviewing the J. Dupont XO Art Déco cognac.

WV Baker La Fût-sée Lot 91 Cognac

11th December 202510th December 2025Coldorak

Day 10 of the Cognac-Expert 2025 Advent Calendar introduces a newcomer with a sky-high backstory: WV Baker Lot 91 La Fût-sée. Founded by former pilot Benjamin Baker, this young independent bottler hunts down hidden gems across the region. Today’s dram, a 34-year-old Bons Bois single cask, promises to showcase Baker’s knack for sourcing cognacs that soar.

Godet 29-Year-Old Single Cask Cognac

10th December 20259th December 2025Coldorak

Day 9 of the Cognac‑Expert 2025 Advent Calendar lines up another Borderies heavyweight: a Godet 29‑year‑old single cask. Two earlier Godet single casks already set the bar high – a very good 43‑year‑old and an excellent 17‑year‑old – so this one arrives with serious expectations, sitting almost perfectly between them on the age spectrum. Time to see whether this 29‑year‑old carves out its own place in that line‑up or even manages to steal the spotlight.

Bertrand XO Carafe Cognac

9th December 20259th December 2025Coldorak

We launch the second week of the Cognac-Expert 2025 Advent Calendar with an exciting debut: with the Bertrand XO Carafe Cognac, a nearly 300-year-old house making its first appearance on More Drams. Presented in a superb and elegant decanter – a vessel I rarely champion over classic bottles, yet this one commands genuine admiration – the question remains whether the cognac within matches the refinement of its presentation.

Seguinot Réserve De La Famille Cognac

8th December 20257th December 2025Coldorak

We conclude our debut week of the Cognac-Expert 2025 Advent Calendar with a Seguinot Réserve de la Famille cognac. Though Seguinot represents a fresh addition to the More Drams portfolio, the house commands deep respect within Cognac circles – a distinction you’ll discover in our background section below. The calendar has delivered consistently very good expressions throughout this opening week, so let’s see if day 7’s pouch carries that momentum forward with one of Seguinot’s most treasured releases, the Réserve de la Famille.

Guynot XO Exception N°37 Cognac

7th December 20256th December 2025Coldorak

Day 6 of the Cognac-Expert advent calendar shifts the spotlight back to Guynot, with the XO Exception N°37, a limited-edition Fins Bois cognac. After spending time with their Guynot XO Elegance a few months ago – a 45-year-old Fins Bois that aligned beautifully with our preferences – today’s dram lets us explore a younger take on the same house style. As an XO, it brings together eaux-de-vie with at least a decade of age, even hinting at a way greater age, setting the stage for a more energetic interpretation of Guynot’s Fins Bois character.

Vallein Tercinier Lot 96 Cognac

6th December 20255th December 2025Coldorak

Day 5 of the Cognac-Expert advent calendar delivers a familiar name with a prestigious twist: a Vallein Tercinier Lot 96 Cognac. While we explored one of their Lot 96 single casks a few months back – a solid Fins Bois expression – this pouch elevates the game with Grande Champagne terroir, the crown jewel of cognac crus.

Landreau XXO Grande Champagne Cognac

5th December 20254th December 2025Coldorak

We continue the journey to Christmas with the fourth pouch of our Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar, where we discovered the Landreau XXO Grande Champagne Cognac. A few months ago, we enjoyed the Landreau L’Âge D’Or, alongside the Maze Churchill Origine N°1 found in yesterday’s pouch (hence the absence of review yesterday). This time, the Landreau XXO offers a younger expression, giving us a chance to see if the same high quality carries through lower in their range.