Cognac Archives

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.

Egreteau Father’s Blend Cognac

3rd December 20252nd December 2025Coldorak

Looking forward to the second dram of the 2025 Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar, we encounter the Egreteau Father’s Blend, continuing what has proven to be an exceptional series this year. Now, Egreteau needs little introduction – we’ve already explored the house in detail – but it’s worth recalling that we were genuinely convinced by the two Egreteau Fragments we reviewed back in May 2025. With that foundation of quality in mind, let’s discover what the Father’s Blend brings to the table.

Ragnaud Sabourin XXO Grande Champagne Cognac

Ragnaud Sabourin XXO Cognac

2nd December 20252nd December 2025Coldorak

We’re back to Cognac advent calendars for our second year, with this time again, the Cognac-Expert advent calendar. Before we start with the first cognac of this 2025 Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar, a Ragnaud Sabourin XXO Cognac, let me add a disclaimer, for transparency purposes. If you read my reviews last year, you saw that most of the cognacs were delicious or even utterly splendid, with just a few of them being of a lower level. But, once again, this was my own and humble opinion, based on my analysis and my preferences, so it’s not the Holy Word. If last year I had bought myself the advent calendar, I was lucky that this year it was sent to me by Cognac-Expert directly, with no strings attached. We were all clear that I would still write what I want and what I think, as I’ve always done, and as I plan to always do. Thanks again to Taylor at Cognac-Expert, who handled all that. It’s very appreciated! End of disclaimer, let’s crack on with the holy liquid that was in yesterday’s pouch!

Pasquet Très Vieille Fine Champagne Esprit de Famille Cognac de Bernadette Cognac de Jean

Pasquet Très Vieille Fine Champagne & Two Esprits de Famille

14th November 202513th November 2025Coldorak

Just after releasing the remarkable Cognac de Charles, the Cognac Pasquet house presents a Très Vieille Fine Champagne in their Confluences collection. But if Cognac de Charles was reviewed alone, we’ll review this brand new release with two older cognacs from their L’Esprit de Famille collection: the Cognac de Bernadette and Cognac de Jean, both Grande Champagne cognacs.

Pasquet Le Cognac de Charles

22nd October 202521st October 2025Coldorak

For once on More Drams Less Drama, today features a single dram: Jean‑Luc Pasquet’s Le Cognac de Charles, part of the house’s Trésors de Famille range. This cognac traces its roots to the Petite Champagne cru and tells the story of Charles Leroux, whose family left Normandy in 1960 to start anew in Charente. Charles and Monique Leroux took over the family estate in 1975, revived their small still, and pioneered organic viticulture by 1985 – long before it became fashionable. I won’t paraphrase all their history, for that it is best to let you read the story on Jean-Luc Pasquet’s website. I really encourage you to read it.

Paul Beau François Voyer Malternative Belgium

Beau Lot 70 / Voyer Lot 90 Malternative Belgium

15th September 202515th September 2025Coldorak

This week opens with two Grande Champagne cognacs, specially selected and bottled by Malternative Belgium last year – both now, regrettably, sold out. Grande Champagne represents the premier cru of Cognac, renowned for producing spirits of remarkable elegance and complexity, as we’ve seen many times in these pages. Malternative Belgium, an independent bottler with a reputation for consistently high-quality selections, is also celebrated for bringing outstanding casks to enthusiasts, and has yet to disappoint even the most discerning palates. I don’t remember reading a bad review from a Cognac they bottled. Given this pedigree, expectations run high for both the Paul Beau Lot 70 and François Voyer Lot 90 Malternative Belgium we’re reviewing today.

Cognac Pasquet L’Organic 04, 07 and 10

13th August 202512th August 2025Coldorak

Jean and Amy Pasquet have a unique approach in the world of cognac. Beyond bottling cognacs from other producers under their Trésors de Famille label, they make their own organic cognac range known as L’Organic. This core range features four distinct expressions. Three of these highlight different age statements, specifically 4, 7, and 10 years, while the fourth focuses on the grape variety, known as L’Organic Folle Blanche. Today, our attention is on the first three, including two variations of the 4-year-old, as we explore the Cognac Pasquet L’Organic 04, 07, and 10.

Richard Delisle XO GC, Club Cigare & La Truffe

14th July 202513th July 2025Coldorak

For France’s National Day, a return to cognac seems particularly fitting. Today’s focus shifts to Bourg-Charente, home to Famille Cabanne – the distillery responsible for that unforgettable and mesmerising 1924 100-year-old cognac. While they produce for renowned cognac and liqueur houses such as Grand Marnier, Courvoisier, and Otard, they also craft cognacs under their own brands: Richard Delisle and La Truffe. As we celebrate Bastille Day and contemplate cognac’s significance and tradition in France, we shall explore the Richard Delisle XO Grande Champagne, XO Club Cigare, and La Truffe XO cognacs.